Trivia

He was awarded the M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1978 Queen's Honours List for his services to motorcycle racing.

Son of Frank Sheene a GP motorbike mechanic and was riding by the age of five

Only Brit to win the 500GP Championship

1975 suffered his first major 175 mph+ crash in Daytona, Florida breaking his left thigh, right arm, collarbone, and two ribs but, incredibly, he returned to riding within six weeks. Won the first of his two 500cc world championships for Suzuki the following year

In 1982 surgeons rebuilt his shattered legs using metal plates and screws

At one point in his career, he was racing with metal plates in both knees, 28 screws in his legs and a bolt in his left wrist

Between 1975-1982 he won more international 500GP and 750GP races than any other rider

Raced under #7

Claims to have invented the back protector which is used by motorcycle racers of all skill levels back in 1973. He used old helmet visors and formed them in a way they could only bend in one direction. He then sold it to Dainese a manufacturer of protective gear for motorcyclist in 1977.

In 1984 he retired and moved to Australia in the hope of relieving some of the pain of injury induced arthritis

Inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame October 2001

He won two consecutive 500cc World Championships in 1976 and 1977.

Diagnosed with cancer in July of 2002 and chose to fight the disease with a natural diet regime and other therapies, in lieu of the more common chemotherapy treatments.

Children: sons, Sidonie and Freddie.

Colourful, exuberant character who used his good looks, grin, and Cockney accent to good effect in self-promotion. Combined with an interest in business, he was one of the first riders to make large amounts of money from riding.

In later years, he became involved in historic motorcycle racing, usually thrashing awed amateurs behind him.

Champion: 500cc (1976, 1977) and Formula 750 (1973).

In 1973, Barry Sheene became motorcycling champion with Suzuki in Formula 750, the Japanese manufacturer's first title in the inaugural season and in 1976, he was also crowned champion in the 500cc class, Suzuki's first title in the premier class.