the ex-Sonauto / Patrick Fernandez - 3rd 1978 250cc World Championship
Make: Yamaha
Model: TZ250 ‘Rob North Special’
Frame number: un-numbered
Engine number: un-numbered
Year of manufacture: 1977
This bike uses one of six frames secretly built by Rob North for Yamaha International.
North constructed the un-numbered frames in Yamaha’s San Diego workshop over the winter of 1977-1978. They were supplied to various works-assisted importer teams for the 1978 season.
One went to the Canadian importer for Steve Baker, one to Venemotos for Franco Uncini, one to Yamaha USA for Freddie Spencer and one to Sonauto for Patrick Fernandez. The other pair went to Kel Carruthers and Kenny Roberts.
This is the example delivered to Sonauto for Patrick Fernandez.
Fernandez rode the bike in the following events during 1978:
19/03/1978 Venezuelan GP, San Carlos: qualified 5th / finished 3rd
16/04/1978 Spanish GP, Jarama: qualified 6th / DNF
07/05/1978 French GP, Nogaro: qualified 1st / DNF
14/05/1978 Nations GP, Imola: qualified 11th / finished 5th
24/06/1978 Dutch TT, Assen: qualified 2nd / finished 8th
02/07/1978 Belgian GP, Spa: qualified 8th / finished 4th
23/07/1978 Swedish GP, Karlskoga: qualified 6th / finished 3rd
30/07/1978 Finnish GP, Imatra: qualified 9th / DNF
06/08/1978 British GP, Silverstone: qualified ? / finished 8th
20/08/1978 German GP, Nurburgring: qualified 10th / finished 9th
27/08/1978 Czech GP, Brno: qualified 7th / finished 4th
17/09/1978 Yugoslav GP, Grobnik: qualified 3rd / finished 6th
Fernandez finished third in the 1978 250cc World Championship on 55 points.
In 2014 the bike was discovered in France. It was sold by Hubert Rigal of Classic Motorbikes in Luxembourg to Stewart Graham.
In 2016 Graham sold the bike which was now in a part-restored state to Vince Cundle of Fondseca who completed the restoration.
