1988 Suzuki RGP500
Ex-Darren Dixon championship winning example

Introduced in the late 1970s, the Suzuki RG500 dominated 500cc Grand Prix racing with its potent two-stroke, square-four engine and multiple championships. By 1985, as national series shifted toward production-based four-strokes, demand for full factory 500s declined. Suzuki responded by halting complete RG500 production and partnering with Yorkshire's Padgett’s of Batley to supply just 12 advanced engines. These featured magnesium cases, stepped cylinders, power valves, and tuned expansion chambers for superior racing performance. Padgett’s mated these units to Harris Performance steel frames—evolving the Mk VII/VIII chassis—yielding a rare batch of bespoke RG500s built from 1985 to 1988. Celebrated for their agility and raw power, these machines excelled in national championships and club events until two-strokes were phased out of British Superbike racing in the early 1990s.

This 1988 example, chassis number 11 of the exclusive dozen, is a true icon. Ridden by Padgett’s ace Darren Dixon, it clinched the 1988 British F1 Championship, etching its legacy in motorsport history. Post-season, it sold in November 1988 to Brian Burgess for his son John, who campaigned it in the British Superbike Championship—where two-strokes lingered until the early '90s—and club races through to 1996.The engine, serviced throughout its career by expert Roger Keen, was disassembled and overhauled with fresh components by Phil Lovett, guaranteeing peak reliability. Lovingly restored to Dixon’s victorious 1988 livery with new Padgett’s-applied paint, it’s in very good condition for display or gentle track days. Highlights include the Harris steel beam frame, magnesium-cased two-stroke motor, and authentic expansion chambers—evoking the visceral thrill that made the RG500 legendary.