Rizla superbike at motor show
Ex-British superbike champion John, now 62, will be reunited with the Suzuki GSXR 1000 when he appears as a VIP guest at the Ilkeston Heritage & Classic Vehicle Show – where crowds will also get to see a Spitfire parked outside St Mary’s Church on Sunday 10 August.
The annual extravaganza of family fun takes over the centre of town as it celebrates vehicles of yesteryear – including cars, trucks, buses and bikes.
It is staged each summer by the events arm of the Erewash Partnership – a business organisation that is tasked with boosting the local economy and which gets funding from the borough council. Mayor Councillor Harry Atkinson will be attending – and the Erewash Museum will be open as it hosts exhibits.
John, from Kimberley, remains one of the all-time greats of superbike racing after winning the British Championship three times. It was in 2004 that he took the last of his big crowns riding the Rizla. Suzuki last year marked the 20th anniversary of the victory with a celebration during Motorcycle Live at Birmingham’s NEC.
Just months earlier John had ridden the Rizla again for the first time in two decades. He said: “It brought back a lot of happy memories.” Suzuki GB marketing manager Jak Tyrrell said: “There are few pairings and race bike liveries more recognisable than John Reynolds and Rizla Suzuki. And that 2004 season will always be considered one of the classics thanks to the racing and competition between John, the Crescent Suzuki team, and their rivals.”
Cllr Becca Everett, Erewash’s Lead Member for Community Engagement, said: “The heritage and classic vehicle show is a fantastic free summer event that all the family can enjoy. This will be the 11th time it has been held – and the council is thrilled to see it continue to go from strength to strength.”
Erewash Partnership chief executive Ian Viles said: “Big crowds turned out to see the show last year. By popular demand 2025 will see the return of Spitfire Mk.IX MK805, which will be displayed below the WW2 Memorial on the Market Place. Alongside will be a Rolls Royce Merlin engine from the Hucknall Flight Test Museum.
“Also returning will be ‘Hissing Sid’ – a 27-litre Hispano Suiza V12, known as ‘Sid’ for its characterful hissing after a fast run. This car is a faithful recreation of the 1920s land speed record cars, based on a Hispano Suiza 27-litre Mb12 aero engine.
“There will also be a rare D-Type Jaguar – plus a superb ex-Stanton Dennis fire engine.”