Barry Sheene – Weary Rider

For fans of the late, great Barry Sheene, Suzuki GB are offering a chance for you to be able to see his race-winning GP bikes and his two FIM world championship medals

Suzuki will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Barry Sheene’s first 500cc motorcycle grand prix roadracing world championship, which the British rider won in 1976, by showcasing a collection of Sheene’s championship-winning bikes at this year’s Motorcycle Live in the UK. Seven of Sheene’s racebikes will be on display, including the two Suzuki XR14s that took him to world championship glory in 1976 and 1977. Also forming part of the display will be the XR05, which used a Seeley chassis and TR500 engine, and the XR14 that Sheene raced the season before his championship-winning years in 1976 and 1977. Other display bikes will include the Heron Suzuki XR27 that Sheene was racing in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone when he made the famous ‘V’ gesture to rival Kenny Roberts in 1979, as well as the XR35 and XR45 which Sheene rode in 1983 and 1984.

Sheene’s two FIM world championship medals will make a rare public appearance, alongside seven sets of leathers worn by the twice 500 Grand Prix champion, and two helmets that don the famous duck graphic. ‘We’re all incredibly excited to see this display pulled together at Motorcycle Live this year. It’s going to be really great way to celebrate the achievements of arguably Britain’s greatest world champion. Sheene is still a hero to many motorcyclists and we feel privileged to be able to put this feature together at the biggest bike show of the year,’ says Suzuki GB aftersales marketing coordinator, Tim Davies. For Motorcycle Live tickets and more information, visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

In July this year, there will be a rare opportunity to see Barry Sheene's 500cc championship-winning bikes from 1976 and 1977. Oliver's Mount is where the action will be, next month!

Forty years ago, Barry Sheene won the first of his two 500cc motorcycle grand prix roadracing world championships. For Barry, and British fans of motorcycle GP racing, 1976 and 1977 were the glory years – no other British rider has ever won the 500cc crown after Barry's last championship win in 1977. Now, as part of 40th anniversary celebrations of Sheene's first world title, his championship-winning racebikes will be displayed during the Barry Sheene festival at Oliver’s Mount next month. The bikes have already arrived at Suzuki GB from Australia and are now being readied for display in July.

'With it being 40 years since Barry’s first world title, this year’s Barry Sheene festival marks a very special anniversary. The display of his two championship-winning bikes is the first time that they have been displayed together at such an event in the UK,' says Suzuki GB’s Tim Davies. 'Suzuki's commitment to the Barry Sheene festival at Oliver's Mount is absolutely fantastic and for them to step it up again this year by displaying Barry Sheene's actual race winning machines is every roadracing fan's dream. This could be the only opportunity in our lifetime that we see these machines and we are very proud that Suzuki has chosen Oliver's Mount to display them,' added Scott Beaumont, Oliver’s Mount’s Marketing Director.

The Barry Sheene Festival will take place at Oliver’s Mount on 23-24 July, 2016. For more information visit Oliver's Mount
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