SUZUKI is bringing a collection of Barry Sheene’s race bikes to the Barry Sheene Classic at Oliver’s Mount this July. The gathering of classic metal is rumoured to be the largest collection of Sheene bikes ever assembled in one place.
Bikes in the show will include 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. Alongside these recently restored examples, Suzuki will also display a 1978 XR22 and a rare RT67 - a 125cc machine that Sheene raced to second place in the 125 World Championship in 1971. Team Classic Suzuki will also be showing off a number of other bikes raced by the two-time world champion, many of which will be ridden during the parade laps.
The Team Classic Suzuki RG500 raced at the Classic TT will also be featured, as well as the F1 Classic TT-winner and Katana endurance racer.
Suzuki GB aftersales marketing coordinator, Tim Davies, commented, “The annual Sheene festival at Oliver’s Mount is always a good event, but this year it feels like it’s going to be a real celebration of arguably this nation’s greatest ever racer. I don’t think there’s ever been a greater assembly of bikes raced by Barry in one place, and it’s going to be great to not only see so many on display, but so many paraded around a circuit that he enjoyed racing at. I, personally, am really looking forward to it.”
Mick Grant, Oliver’s Mount racing director and multiple TT winner, said, “To see the greatest gathering of Sheene bikes ever assembled will be spectacular. I’ve got so many great memories racing with Barry around the ‘Mount’, it will feel like stepping back in time again. I’m looking forward to getting back in my leathers and riding some of Barry’s bikes.”
The 2020 Barry Sheene Classic takes place at Oliver’s Mount on 25-26 July. For more event information click here.
