Review
A revealing portrait of a racing legend
- Barry
- Sphere
Barry
When Valentino Rossi dedicated his 2005 World Championship win to Barry Sheene, it was a fitting memorial to the man who, perhaps more than any other, made motorcycling the hugely successful sport it is today.
Sadly, he died of cancer in 2003, aged only 52.
Barry Sheene won the British motorcycling 125cc championship at the age of twenty and twice became World Champion in the 500cc class, despite two life-threatening crashes.
Barry’s story is told here by the people who knew him best - Steve Parrish, fellow bike racer, Nick Harris, who ended up working alongside Barry as a television commentator and Barry’s widow, Stephanie. There is no doubt that these three give an honest account of who Barry really was. Some fans might find it disconcerting to find Sheene portrayed as someone who was often obsessive, insecure and a bit of a spoilt brat. However this same honesty serves the story well when it comes to revealing facts about their off-season partying antics and problems within the sport itself. Tales of frequent and avoidable close brushes with death, below par venues, badly engineered machinery and organisational chaos will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s a gripping tale, full of revealing insights into the man and the time. However, the one criticism I will make is, having the input of three people makes for sometimes confusing reading. It is not always clear whose story or opinion we are getting. Still, it’s a sacrifice worth making for such a revealing insight into the man himself.
