Barry Sheene

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Sheene's career began in earnest when he entered his first road race at Brands Hatch in 1968 at age 17, riding a Bultaco. After a crash in the 125cc class caused an engine seizure, he immediately switched to his 250cc machine and finished third, securing his first victory the following weekend. To stand out, he adopted a helmet featuring Donald Duck and racing number 7 in 1969, drilling a hole in the chin piece to smoke Gitanes cigarettes while waiting on the grid. His father, Frank Sheene, served as his mechanic throughout his career. In 1970, they borrowed £2,000 to purchase an ex-factory Suzuki RT67 used by Stuart Graham, launching Sheene's international career. He forged a lifelong friendship with American champion Gary Nixon after meeting him during the 1971 Transatlantic Trophy, often wearing Nixon's t-shirt under his leathers for good luck.

In Their Own Story

The 1971 Isle of Man TT marked a turning point in Sheene's public image. After crashing out while lying in second place, he outraged traditionalists by declaring the dangerous street circuit unworthy of Grand Prix status and vowing never to return for world championship points. He later proved his value to promoters as a gate attraction, using his influence to force safety improvements at race tracks. In 1971, he won the 50cc Czechoslovakian Grand Prix by over two and a half minutes after being hired by the Kreidler team to support Jan de Vries in the championship battle against Ángel Nieto. That same season, despite winning the Swedish and Finnish Grands Prix to lead the 125cc standings, he finished second in the world title chase. He rode with a broken rib at Mallory Park to finish third while his rival Nieto clinched the championship, earning Sheene's immense respect for the Spaniard.

Reader's Guide

Sheene joined the Suzuki factory team in the 1972–1973 off-season alongside Jack Findlay and Paul Smart. His career statistics are anchored by two consecutive premier class titles won in 1976 and 1977 on a Suzuki. He was the first motorcycle racer to secure commercial endorsements outside the sport, famously appearing in television advertisements for Brut cologne. Beyond racing, he championed track safety, notably objecting to the Isle of Man TT. After retiring from competition in 1984 following a career spanning 1968 to 1984, he relocated to Australia to work as a motorsport commentator and property developer. In 2011, the FIM inducted him into the MotoGP Hall of Fame. He passed away on March 10, 2003, from cancer linked to his lifelong smoking habit.

Did You Know?

• Sheene drilled a hole in the chin of his crash helmet to smoke Gitanes cigarettes while waiting on the starting grid.
• He was the first motorcycle racer to gain commercial endorsements from outside the sport, including ads for Brut cologne.
• Sheene remains the last British competitor to win the premier class of FIM road racing competitions.
• In 1970, he and his father borrowed £2,000 (equivalent to £36,720 in 2023) to buy an ex-factory Suzuki RT67.
• He wore a t-shirt of American champion Gary Nixon under his racing suit as a good luck charm.