Motorsport
Feb. 26 British Superbike Challenge: An appeal has been launched to raise capital of £1.3 million to put the first new British motorbike for 11 years on the market. The 1000 cc 140 mph Hesketh Vee-Twin has been developed as a challenge to the German and Japanese superbikes which now dominate the international market. It is designed by the team that launched James Hunt on his Grand Prix career Lord Hesketh lost about a third of his original £3 million inheritance from his father on Grand Prix racing, and has now spent more than £500, 000 on the development of the new bike during the last 2 1/2 years. Lord Hesketh hopes to have the bike on the market by next summer, selling at about £4, 000 each. It is hoped production will reach 1, 000 a year by March 1982, rising to 2, 000 by 1984. Motorcycle sales are currently booming in Britain, but a present almost 90% of the market is taken up by Japanese bikes. Photo shows Lord Hesketch with his new superbike
