Barry Sheene
Barry Sheene ( born September 11, 1950 in London, England; † March 10, 2003 in Australia) was a British motorcycle racer.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Barry Sheene rode successfully in several Grand Prix World Championships. He began his World Cup career in 1970 with the 125cc with a second place in Barcelona. In 1973 he won the FIM Formula 750 In the years 1976 and 1977 Sheene was world champion in the 500cc class at Suzuki. After another successful years with the 500s he moved in 1984 back from Grand Prix racing.
Privately, he was known as a party animal and chain -smoking. After his marriage to Stefanie McLean, he was quiet and went to Australia, mainly because of the climate. He suffered from arthritis. After his race time he became a successful businessman.
Sheene died in 2003 in his adopted home of Australian cancer. He left behind two children.
Chris Vermeulen, whose friend and patron Sheene was launched in 2008 and 2009 in memory of him with his start number, the number 7