Barry Sheene, MBE (1950 - 2003)

1976, 1977 World 500cc Champion

BARRY SHEEN DIES FROM CANCER

Dual world motorcycle champion Barry Sheen died today from cancer. He was just 52. He had throat and stomach cancer and was too ill to act as Grand Marshall at the Australian Formula 1 GP (last Sunday). In 1969 and 70 he won the British 750cc championship. In 1973 he won the European 750 title. Three years later he won the 500cc world championship riding a Suzuki. He won it again in 1977 with 6 race victories. He won more 500cc GPs and 750 races than anyone during the period 1975-82. In 1978 he was awarded MBE (Member of the British Empire) by the Queen. After his retirement from racing in 1984 he moved to Australia where he has been a prominent sports commentator on television. He helped to launch many Australian riders including the world champion Mick Doohan. As a media commentator Sheen covered a range motor sports events including MotoGP, World Superbikes and Australian Touring cars (V8 Supercar). He still competed in special classic motorcycle events and won the International Classic race held after last year's British GP at Donington. He leaves behind a wife and two children. (MAR 10, 2003)

QUOTE CARL FOGARTY (WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPION)
" ... It's a sad day for British motorcycle racing ... He was the biggest household name that the sport has created here in Britain. Even though there had been other British world champions before him, he was the first person to make that cross-over from racer to celebrity ... Barry lived life to the absolute full and he did more in his 52 years than most people would in a 100 years ... he was also a great racer, as his two world titles prove ... He did a lot to bring the sport to the attention of the British public, especially with those two big crashes at Daytona and Silverstone, which were shown on the News at Ten. People still come up to me and think that I used to race against Barry, even though he retired so long ago, which is a measure of how well known he still is even to a new generation of fans ... We always got on fine and had a laugh whenever we met up, even if we might have done a bit of verbal sparring in public .. "

QUOTE MICK DOOHAN (WORLD 500cc CHAMPION)
" ... Barry left his mark as a motorcycle racer, but he was much more than that .. He was a guy who put a smile on a lot of people's faces. He's going to be missed ... We had a lot of fun together and he also helped me a lot over the years with how I went about my racing ... "

QUOTE KENNY ROBERTS (WORLD 500cc CHAMPION)
" ... Barry made me dig down deeper than I'd ever dug to win races. He pulled so much extra out of me - it wouldn't have been the same without him .... I will remember Barry as just being Barry - very sharp, very quick and never boring ... "

QUOTE TROY CORSER(WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPION)
" ... He was a big inspiration on my career and he found me the chance to come to Europe, start my career and be successful at what I'd always wanted to do as a youngster ... Whilst it's great to be going back to Australia to race later this month, I don't think this year will now have quite the same upbeat feel as in the past due to Barry's loss ...He didn't come to England often so it was always good to catch up with him once a year in Oz. Our thoughts and love are with his family and friends .. "

QUOTE WAYNE GARDNER (WORLD 500cc CHAMPION)
" ... He was my hero, someone I looked up to and I had a lot of good times with him ....I really thought he would have pulled through this one. I knew it needed a miracle but I also knew he was the sort of guy to pull things off. I'm just so sad ... "

QUOTE DAMON HILL (WORLD F1 CHAMPION)
" .. he took his usual stance against the world and everything that was thrown at him .. he refused to take conventional treatment (canver) and was going to do it his way, which was pure Barry ... He would never listen to what anyone else would tell him to do and was determined to be himself. He was an incredibly brave person."

QUOTE ALAN JONES (WORLD F1 CHAMPION)
" .. he was just a fun loving guy ... he enjoyed life to the fullest... "

QUOTE TONY COCHRANE (HEAD AUSTRALIAN TOURING CAR SERIES)
" .. Barry Sheene was an amazing character who touched the hearts and minds of everyone who came into contact with him ... He was a man I was close to and admired greatly. He achieved so much in the time he was here and his courage in fighting this shocking disease to the end was characteristic of his unique approach to life ... "

QUOTE NEIL HODGSON (BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPION)
" ... ... I really wanted to win this race as a tribute to Barry Sheene, who passed away recently .."
(after winning the 2003 World Superbike race 1 and 2 in Australia)