Two-time motorcycle world champion Johnny Cecotto is making a special appearance at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show this weekend, giving fans the chance to see the racing legend alongside one of the most important machines of his career – his 1978 Formula 750 World Championship-winning Yamaha OW31.
In a fantastic late addition to the line-up, Venezuelan racing star Johnny Cecotto will be appearing at Staffordshire County Showground on Saturday, October 10, where he’ll take to the main stage at 3.15pm.
And there’s another reason for motorcycle racing enthusiasts to get excited. A selection of machines from the Johnny Cecotto Collection will be going under the hammer at the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale on Sunday, October 11, including the spectacular ex-works Yamaha OW31 that carried him to world championship glory in 1978.
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Cecotto will also be attending Sunday’s Bonhams Auction, making this a rare opportunity to see both the rider and his remarkable racing machinery at the same event.
Who is Johnny Cecotto?
One of the outstanding talents of 1970s Grand Prix motorcycle racing, Johnny Cecotto burst onto the international scene in extraordinary fashion.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1956, Cecotto began racing motorcycles as a teenager before making his mark on the world stage in 1975.
That year, at just 19 years old, he sensationally claimed the 350cc Grand Prix World Championship riding a Yamaha TZ350, becoming the youngest world champion in motorcycle Grand Prix racing at the time.
He also finished fourth in the 250cc World Championship that season, demonstrating his exceptional versatility across the two classes.
His remarkable rise continued in 1976 when he won the prestigious Daytona 200, before joining Yamaha’s factory Grand Prix team in 1977.
Racing against some of the biggest names in the sport, including Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts, Cecotto established himself as a formidable competitor in the premier 500cc class, finishing fourth in the championship in 1977 and third in 1978.
But it was in Formula 750 racing that he secured his second world title – aboard a Yamaha that has now become one of the star attractions of this weekend’s Stafford auction.
The very special Yamaha OW31
Taking centre stage in the Johnny Cecotto Collection is his magnificent 1978 Yamaha OW31, the factory racing machine on which he won the Formula 750 World Championship.
And this is no ordinary historic racing motorcycle.
The OW31 is a genuine ex-works Yamaha with an exceptional competition history, having remained in Cecotto’s ownership since his racing career.
Powered by a liquid-cooled, 748cc two-stroke inline-four engine, the YZR750 OW31 represented some of Yamaha’s most advanced racing technology of the period.
With more than 115PS on tap, the machine was a formidable weapon in the hugely competitive Formula 750 category.
In 1978, Cecotto rode the OW31 to the world championship title, scoring victories including Imola and the prestigious Coppa delle Nazioni.
Now this remarkable piece of racing history is heading to the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale, where it carries a pre-sale estimate of £220,000–£300,000.
For enthusiasts of 1970s Grand Prix machinery, the opportunity to see a genuine championship-winning works Yamaha – and the man who raced it to glory – is something very special indeed.
From two wheels to Formula One
Cecotto’s achievements weren’t confined to motorcycle racing.
After switching to four wheels in the early 1980s, he progressed through Formula Two into Formula One, making his F1 debut in 1983.
In 1984, he became a teammate of future three-time Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna at Toleman, before a serious accident at Brands Hatch brought his Grand Prix car racing career to a premature end.
He subsequently enjoyed considerable success in touring car racing, adding yet another chapter to an extraordinary motorsport career.
But for motorcycle enthusiasts, Cecotto will always be remembered as one of Yamaha’s great racing stars of the 1970s – and the man who conquered the Formula 750 World Championship aboard the awesome OW31.
Don’t miss Johnny Cecotto at Stafford!
Visitors to the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show on October 10–11 will have the opportunity to experience this remarkable chapter of motorcycle racing history first-hand.
Johnny Cecotto will appear on the main stage at 3.15pm on Saturday, October 10, before attending the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale on Sunday, October 11.
And with the Classic Racer GP Paddock also part of the weekend’s attractions, there’s plenty more to keep racing enthusiasts entertained.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan of two-stroke Grand Prix racing or simply appreciate extraordinary motorcycles and the people who raced them, this is one surprise appearance you won’t want to miss.
The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show takes place at Staffordshire County Showground on Saturday and Sunday, October 10–11, 2026.
