Top race bike stolen

Thieves have stolen a world championship Yamaha from the offices of British Motocross sponsors and GP organisers Bike-It International.

The 1997 Yamaha YZ 125 was due to be exhibitied at the British Motocross grand prix on June 17-18 in Winchester, and to be the centrepiece of a lunchtime procesion through Southampton on Thursday June 15.

The bike itself was ridden by Paul Malin to take the British 125cc championship in 1997. It’s a complete one-off and has been preserved in showroom condition since the last time it was ridden, nine years ago, for some of the final races in Malin’s seven year career with Yamaha.

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The burglary took place in the early hours of Friday, May 26, 2006, and detectives are currently checking CCTV footage.

“To have this bike stolen is devastating,” said Bike-It’s Steve Dixon. “The sentimental value to it is hard to believe, having been the wining bike nearly 10 years ago in the 1997 championship. the bike just cannot be replaced.”

Despite the theft a stand will still be built to display the bike at the British Motocross GP in the hope it can be recovered or the thieves have a change of heart. If you have any information, please contact Romsey Police on 0845-0454545.