An MV three will make an appearance at this year’s Manx Grand Prix, and not in a parade, but in the Senior Classic Race, which takes place on Monday 25 August.

Mark Kay, of MV Meccanica Verghera Ltd, the MV specialists with 20 years experience of the marque, and the manufacturers of the superb Gilera Grand Prix replicas, has completed his renovation of a 1970/72 MV3 GP.

After many thousands of hours of research and manufacture, in Mark’s small Midlands workshop – as with the Gilera – every aspect of the machine is now correct and all the incorrect and damaged parts have been replaced.

Former race ace and long-time sponsor Brian Richards has been invited to campaign the MV on the Kay’s behalf. Ahead of the Manx it will be run at the Bikers’ Classic at Spa over the 4-6 July, and again at Chimay two weeks later. Classic Racer.

1968 TT. Giacomo Agostini rounds Taubman Street FottoFinders

Assuming he has fully recovered from a 130mph crash at the Skerries Road Race, the MV will be ridden by 26 year old Lincolnshire rider Gary Johnson. Gary will be making his first Manx Grand Prix appearance, following his highly successful TT course debut in 2007. Normally associated with the Uel Duncan / Robinson Concrete Honda Race team, Gary finished a highly impressive fourth in the 2008 Dainese Superbike TT. He posted a speed of 127.272mph making him the 10th fastest TT rider of all time, just slightly slower than last year’s Senior Classic winner Ryan Farquhar who currently lies 8th at 127.575mph.

TT 2008. Gary Johnson. manxphotosonline

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