Barry Sheene

Barry Steven Frank Sheene MBE (11 September 1950 – 10 March 2003) was a British World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, who remained as Britain's last champion in 1977 until Danny Kent in 2015.

After a racing career stretching from 1968 to 1984 he retired from competition and relocated to Australia, working as a motorsport commentator and property developer.

Early life

Sheene was born off the Gray's Inn Road, London, the second child of parents Frank (resident engineer at the Royal College of Surgeons, himself a former competitive rider who retired in 1956 and an experienced motorcycle mechanic) and Iris. He grew up in Queen Square, Holborn, London. Before entering road racing Sheene found work as a messenger and delivery driver.

Racing career

Sheene first started to race in 1968, winning his first races at Brands Hatch riding father Frank's 125 cc and 250 cc Bultacos. He improved to second behind Chas Mortimer in 1969 in the 125cc class on the Bultaco.

He became the British 125cc champion at age 20 in 1970, riding an ex-works 1967 Suzuki twin, previously ridden by Stuart Graham in the 1968 GPs and in selected 1969 events, that he purchased for £2,000!. In 1971 still riding that RT67 Suzuki twin, he finished second in the 125 cc World Championship, probably missing the title due to injuries sustained in a well paid non championship race at Hengelo (Netherlands) and during the Race Of the Year at Mallory Park (compression fractures of three vertebrae and five broken ribs).