Photo: Thierry Lesparre
Two-time 500-cc motorcycle champion Barry Sheene recently lost his battle with throat cancer; he was 52-years old. Born in London, the son of a Grand Prix motorcycle mechanic in 1950, Sheene started racing in 1968 and by 1973 had won the British and European 750-cc titles. Sheene suffered a devastating 200 mph crash at Daytona in 1975, yet despite breaking his thigh, wrist and collar bones, returned to racing in just six weeks and won his first 500-cc championship for Suzuki the following year. Sheene successfully defended his title in 1976 and was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for his accomplishments in 1978. After retiring in 1985, Sheene moved to Australia where he started a new career as a motorsport announcer but had returned regularly to England in recent years where he was a crowd favorite at the Goodwood Revival meetings.
