LEGENDS
BARRY SHEENE
SSheene took after his ex-racer Dad, Frank, who also ran a successful tuning business. Sheene's debut was on a 125 cc Bultaco at Brands in 1968, although he crashed out after suffering from a seized engine. As a result of his father's links with the Bultaco factory, he was fortunate enough to get a works ride the following season and almost got the 125 cc world title, being beaten by Angel Nieto. In 1972 he switched to Yamaha, but his luck changed when he switched to Suzuki as an official rider. However,In 1975 while riding a Suzuki Sheene suffered an horrific accident at Daytona . He made a speedy recovery and raced again 5 weeks later. In 1976 on a works Suzuki he won five out of ten rounds to take his first world title. The following year he retained the title by winning six rounds
In 1978 (2nd) and 1979 (3rd) he experienced some great races with Kenny Roberts, who won the titles both years. Sheene then raced with a Yamaha, sponsored by Akai but found that the privateer bike was no match against the works machinery. At the end of 1981 Yamaha offered Sheene a contract and he won the final round in Sweden and finished 4th in the title. In 1982 he suffered a further serious accident while practicing for the Silverstone British GP, again he recovered but failed to make an impact in the GP's. He officially retired in 1984 and emigrated to Australia While in Australia he carved out a career as a motorsport commentator for Australian television he also competed in a number of races involving old racing bikes and riders usually winning when he did he never lost the competitive edge
He was also responsible for inventing the first back protector making his own by overlapping old visors he gave the rights to the design to dianese ,he was always at the forefront of rider safety campaigns .His love for life was legendary with rumours that his pre race preparations involved sex in the motorhome with wife Stephanie and one famous incident when along with another rider blew the toilets up at one circuit.I remember an interview on TV from hospital after his crash at Daytona when a reporter asked how he felt Sheene replied with his usual razor sharp wit with a list of his injuries that seemed to go on forever adding at the end apart from that im ok as if to say how do you think I feel I just crashed at 180mph. Barry probably did more to sex up bike racing and bring it to the masses than anyone else in history he is a TRUE LEGEND and is sadly missed by motorcyclists the world over who were attracted to bikes in no small way by Barry Sheene I include myself amongst them,
BARRY SHEENE 1950-2003
