Former world motorcycling champion Barry Sheene has died after a long battle against cancer. The 52-year-old won the World Motorcycle Championship twice in the 1970s and became famous for overcoming his numerous crashes on the track. Sheene, who was awarded the MBE in 1978, had cancer of the throat and stomach.
Sheene was regarded as almost indestructible on the track, and at one stage in his career he had metal plates in both knees, 28 screws in his legs and his left wrist. He began racing motorbikes at the age of five and claimed the world title in 1976 and 1977.
In 1981, he became the last British racer to win a 500cc GP and he remains the last rider from the home nations to win the world title. He returned to the sport in the 1990s in his 40s.
He died in hospital on Queensland's Gold Coast in Australia. Sheene leaves a wife, Stephanie, a daughter Sidonie (18) and a son Freddie (14).
Filed by Johnny Proby
