Memorabilia

It all started way back in the mid 90's when Max Biaggi was winning the 250cc FIM World championships in 1994 and 1995 seasons on the class leading and innovative Aprilia RSV250v and our scooter and bike sales were rocketing due to his success and all the young guns on the road wanted to be like “MAX”.

The week previous to the 1996 British FIM Grand Prix round at Derbyshire's Donnington Park race circuit, Motorcycle News (MCN) had done a full double page spread article about the Riders for Health Charity “Day of Champions” which would be held on the infield section of the race track on the Thursday prior to the race weekend. What caught my eye in this article was they had announced Max Biaggi would be donating his World championship winning Chesterfield Aprilia leathers to be auctioned along side numerous other world class riders items past and present also.

Earlier that year I had decided I wanted to create a window display at my dealership, at the time I was unsure what It would be but after reading that article in MCN my mind was made up and I was determined those leathers will be center piece of my proud display, before even 1 bid had taken place, so armed with 2 pocket fulls of £20 notes and my son Charles as my body guard by my side aged 15!

We headed for Donnington Park bright and early on a Thursday morning. In the early days of the “Day of Champions” the mid 90's, things were different there would be celebrity riders football matches, free entrance to roam round the Paddock to your hearts content and the highlight of the day was the Riders for Health auction which started around 5pm and went on until around 9pm. The amount of items for auction was mountains High and enough for everybody to have a piece of motorcycle grand prix history every thing from a baseball cap worn by a rider all the way up to World Championship wining leathers which was what I was interested in.

Needless to say I came home with what I wanted, Max Biaggi Chesterfield FIM World Championship wining leathers from the 1995 season, which I paid a small fortune for, that was 1996 and ever since then I've been supporting the Riders for Health Charity every year.

Randy Mamola, one time grand prix rider through the 70s, 80s and 90s, and now Eurosport presenter, became one of the founders of the Riders for Health charity which provides Motorcycles and training projects which give the population of rural Africa medical support.

Well what you've just read is a little incite into why I decided to build a collection of Grad Prix memorabilia.  Now take a chance to read some of the Q and A's below about my collection which I hope you'll find interesting, and remember the complete collection is always on display at Kickstart Motorcycles so feel free to visit when ever we are open where we will welcome you with a nice cup of coffee or tea and make you feel welcome.

Thanks again!

Paul Reynolds

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Q: When did you first start collecting GP memorabilia?
A: 1996

Q: What was the first item you bought?
A: Max Biaggi Championship wining leathers

Q: How many items have you collected?
A: 75 Race leather, 6 helmets, 6 pairs of boots and some other special items so about 100 items in total

Q: What are these special items Paul?
A: Valentions Celebration of winning Honda's 500gp win Original fleece, 4 of Mike “the bike” Hailwoods 1979 TT replicas, Nicky Haydens very own personal Tissot Watch he was presented by Tissot for winning the world championship.

Q: Whats the most expensive item you've bought?
A: I haven't really kept track but here are the 4 most expensive items, Mike Hails TT replicas, Max Biaggi's Leathers, One of the sets of Colin Edwards leathers was particularly expensive and Randy Mamolas Cagivas Leather I bought in 2009

Q: So how much then Paul?
A: A Good business man never reveals !!! (wink off Paul)

Q: Whats your most treasured item?
A: Theres a story behind almost every item I have bought, I treasure all the memorabilia, but 2 that spring out to mind are the 4 Mike Hailwood TT replicas, and more recently something that I was given, was Randy Mamolas Pin badge he had carried with him for over 30 years, when he found out who I was and how I have supported Riders for Health all these years and bought his Cagiva Leathers he insisted that I accept this little pin badge which has great sentimental value to him self.

Q: When will you stop collecting this memorabilia
A: This is not a fair question but I will still answer it, my display cabinets are too full capacity, the electrical conduit piping on my ceiling is bending off the ceiling with so many leathers hanging from them, but while I still have money to support Riders for Health then ill keep collecting, also with many young riders I have supported during their early years eg Cal Crutchlow, Kev Couglan, Danny Kent now coming through the ranks and fingers crossed be world champions in motogp then I want part of there history in my display also

Well I hope you've like reading my answers to the question, and any questions you'd like to ask me then email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will personal answer them and put them up on this page

Thanks again

Paul Reynolds