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Petronas FP1

Rare superbikes for sale

In 2001, the Malaysian oil company Petronas had a racing motorcycle developed for MotoGP, which later competed in the Superbike World Championship. Numerous FP1 homologation motorcycles are now to be sold.

2In 002 the four-stroke engines made their debut in MotoGP and the Malaysian oil company Petronas wanted to get involved with their own motorcycle. In cooperation with Peter Sauber’s Swiss Formula 1 team, a corresponding motorcycle with a 989 cm³ three-cylinder was developed. But Petronas turned around during development and preferred to ride the bike in the Superbike World Championship. Sauber got out and the Swiss engine manufacturer Suter joined, which in turn was replaced by Ricardo in 2004.

No chance in the SBK World Cup

Because the superbike had a capacity limit of 900 cm³ at the time, the three-cylinder was reduced to 899 cm³. The multiple Superbike World Champion Carl Fogarty was also brought on board as a team partner. In 2003, however, the FIM surprisingly increased the capacity limit to 1,000 cm³ and the FP1 fell behind even before its debut. Nevertheless, the Foggy Petronas Racing Team took go in the Superbike World Championship from 2003 to 2006. After 5 years and an investment of around 30 million dollars, Petronas then discontinued its involvement.

Motorcycles rediscovered

The prerequisite for the homologation of the FP1 as a racing machine, however, was a small series of at least 150 road-legal motorcycles, half of which were made in Great Britain and half in Malaysia. However, very few of them got onto the streets because there was no distribution network and various legal difficulties.

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The FP1 competed in the Superbike World Championship from 2003 to 2006.

That could change now, because Lanzante Motorsports in England has announced on its Instagram account that it wants to sell "some" of these FP1 models. All should be street legal and equipped with a comprehensive package of parts. According to Lanzante, he has rediscovered these machines – rumors say that 60 machines had been in a warehouse in Great Britain for years – and is completely reprocessing them. In the racing version, the three-cylinder should have achieved a good 185 hp, the road version should still bring it to 138 hp.

When, where and at what price the FP1 machines will be offered, Lanzante has not yet given any details. Machines traded up to now have fetched prices between around 30,000 and 40,000 euros.

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