Press — Barry Sheene

Suzuki is bringing a number of Barry Sheene’s race bikes to this year’s Barry Sheene Classic at Oliver’s Mount – which takes place on 25-26 July – in what is set to be the largest collection of Sheene bikes ever assembled.

Returning as title sponsor of the event, Suzuki will bring along the 1976 and 1977 world championship-winning XR14s, the 1984 XR45 – the last GP bike Sheene raced in anger – and a 652cc XR23A which was raced in the Trans Atlantic series. All four bikes were recently restored to their former glory thanks to Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme and former Grand Prix technicians Nigel Everett and Martyn Ogborne.

Suzuki has released a video of its latest Barry Sheene restoration project, with two more of the former champion’s RG500s returned to their former glory at Motorcycle Live 2019.

Nigel Everett and Martyn Ogborne, themselves ex-Grand Prix technicians, worked in conjunction with Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme to rebuild the last 500 Sheene raced for Suzuki in Grand Prix – the 1984 XR45, recognisable for its DAF sponsorship – and a special XR23A from 1979, which was a big bore RG500 raced in the Trans Atlantic series and Formula 750 Championship

Three more of Barry Sheene’s race bikes have arrived at Suzuki GB from the family home in Australia, and two of them will be restored at this year’s Motorcycle Live, which takes place at Birmingham’s NEC from 16-24 November.

Watch the arrival and uncrating of the three bikes on YouTube here

Sheene’s last Grand Prix bike – a DAF Trucks-sponsored 1984 Harris-framed XR45 RG500 – arrived alongside a 1978 XR27 RG500 and a special XR23A 652cc big bore RG500, raced in the Trans Atlantic series and F1 Championship in 1979.