The largest motorsport festival in the world offers four days of adrenaline-charged action for petrolheads from far and wide. The four day event at Goodwood House near Chichester is a celebration of historic and classic motorsport, attracting a pedigree of entrants that is unmatched the world over.
A spectacular setting, the airy country estate sees 200,000 visitors flock to the grassy parklands, to enjoy an immersive long weekend of speed, action and adrenaline. Famed the world over for bringing together an eclectic mix of machinery, both on four-wheel and two, alongside a list of names that reads like a who’s who of modern and historic motorsport.
With many headlines being stolen by the hill-climb record being conquered by the all-electric McMurtry Automotive Spéirling, there was a superb collection of rare, pedigree and collectable motorcycles, with a roster of riders to enchant even the most casual of motorbike enthusiasts.
2022 saw three main categories of motorcycle entries to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Grand Prix Heroes, 100 years of the Ulster Grand Prix and Contemporary Racing Motorcycles, with almost sixty bikes brought along to fulfill the celebration of those categories. From the 500cc 1947 AJS ‘Porcupine’, the legendary British-built motorcycle that won the first riders and manufacturers titles in the World 500cc Motorcycle Road Racing Championship, through to more modern machines such as the 2021 KTM RC16, winner of MotoGP races last year at the hands of Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira.
Grand Prix Heroes
The showstopper! Headlined by Wayne Rainey, three time World 500cc champion, riding his 1992 YZR Yamaha for the first time since the crash in Misano which left him paralysed from the chest down. The specially adapted Yamaha, with shifter and rear brake controls moved to the handlebars, with a support on the fuel tank, facilitating Rainey to rest upon it for added stability. These modifications alone allowed Rainey to take centre stage, and serve up one of the biggest moments of the entire event, in front of an awe-struck crowd.
Rainey was followed up the hill by none other than Kenny Roberts Senior on a ‘78 Yamaha YZR500, Mick Doohan on a ‘92 Honda NSR500 and Kevin Schwantz on a ‘94 Suzuki RGV500. A truly incredible and inspirational sight, one that brought many a tear to the eye of the thousands watching from the sidelines.
Overcoming the physical limitations, Rainey was still able to pull a couple of wheelies to the delight of the crowd, showing the spirit of a true hero and legend. A truly special moment, and one to treasure and cherish as Rainey rolled back the years.
Modern ace Dani Pedrosa, and Goodwood regular Giacomo Agostini also added to the star-studded roster of riders in the GP class, with the legendary 1947 AJS Porcupine ridden by Stuart Graham, while Sammy Miller demoed the 1957 Gilera 500 Quattro-Cilindri and the 1954 BMW Rennsport.
Ulster Celebration
A stacked entry to celebrate 100 years of the Ulster Grand Prix, showcased the diversity and progress that the past 100 years have seen in motorcycle racing. Early entries such as the 1927 Norton CS1 and 1928 Norton Flying Squirrel provided an evocative demonstration of the formative years of the Ulster GP, while the modern age was represented by modern classics like the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Honda CBR1000RR and the formidable 2021 Kawasaki ZX10R.
A rider roster that included Guy Martin, Jenny Tinmouth, Michael Rutter, Phillip McCallen and the Dalbeattie Destroyer Ian Simpson ensured that a superb representation of racers were on hand to delight fans and add to the celebration of the Ulster GP centenary.
Road Bikes
Thursday, the first open day of the event saw a showcase of road bikes on the hillclimb, offering a demonstration of some rarely seen machinery, led by the Aston Martin Brough Superior AMB001, the first time the iconic wings have appeared on a motorcycle, in a new collaboration between Aston Martin and Brough Superior. In a limited run of only 100 units, this 997cc 8valve, 88 degree V-twin was demoed on the course. Also making an appearance, the supercharged Triumph Bonneville Bobber created by Jody Miller of Thornton 100, the hub-centre steered Vyrus 984 and Bimota Tesi H2 made interesting additions to the line up, while the ultra rare James Bond Edition Triumph 1200 Scrambler added a dash of English style to proceedings.
2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed Motorcycles Gallery
Contemporary Racing Motorcycles.
Modern racing bikes were represented too, with Peter Hickman riding the Gas Monkey Garage BMW M1000 RR, Scott Redding on a WSB spec BMW M1000 RR and the genial Sam Sunderland riding the KT450, alongside the Birchall Brothers on the LCR-Honda 500 and Maria Costello bringing along the LCR-Kawasaki F2.
