Kenny Roberts to ride Festival of 1000 Bikes

Kenny Roberts is to ride on track in front of a UK crowd for the first time since 1983 at the VMCC Festival of 1000 Bikes.

The treble world champion will be riding a 1981 Yamaha YZR500 OW60 as the star guest around the classic Mallory circuit on July 10. His appearance will only be the second time he’s ridden on circuit in such an event since 1983.

King Kenny is the latest star to sign up for the increasingly high-profile event – also confirmed are fellow Transatlantic Match riders Mick Grant, Graeme Crosby and Stevie Baker to ride in the Past Masters demo laps.

Also from the 500GP hall of fame are Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read, who will be riding classic Yamaha racers, and also on track will be British hero John Cooper, who memorably beat Ago to the 1971 Mallory Race of the Year win – the pair will be head to head on track again, with Ago switching to an MV for the demo.

More star riders to ride alongside King Kenny are to be confirmed by the Vintage Motorcycle Club soon.

See next week’s MCN, on sale Wednesday January 19, to read the story of why Roberts is getting back in the saddle of a Grand Prix bike.