‘Maria’ looks set to be the oddest at the NEC

No, this isn’t the latest toy delighting Japanese kids. This is a real, full-size motorcycle, and one that’s intended as a tribute to the Suzuka Eight-Hour.

If you don’t believe us, you can see it for yourself at the NEC Show (opening on November 9) where it will be on show at the Carole Nash stand (T41). The insurance firm has made a name for itself with eye-catching bikes on its show stand and this year is no different.

The bike is called ” Maria ” and is reckoned to have cost around £50,000. It belongs to the Japanese equivalent of Robbie Williams, one Tatuya Ishii. He had the bike built as a tribute to the Suzuka Eight-Hour in 1999 – and this is the first chance anyone has had to see it in the UK.

There’s a free guide to the NEC Show with MCN, published on November 7.