Barry Sheene's RG500s back in Britain

The Suzuki RG500s ridden by Barry Sheene to the 1976 and 1977 500cc World Championship titles will return to the UK for the first time in more than 30 years to be at this year’s OCTO British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The iconic machines will be on display from the Day of Champions on Thursday September 1 through to the end of the Grand Prix weekend, on Sunday evening, September 4. 

Sheene took the 1976 world title as much of the UK followed his progress as he recovered from a sensational, televised 175mph crash at Daytona in 1975 during testing for the 200-mile race.

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His 1976 title came after Sheene dominated the early part of the season, winning the first three rounds, in France, Austria and Italy. He then added a win at Assen in Holland before scoring a fifth win of the year in Sweden to secure the title, ahead of Finland’s Tepi Lansivouri.

Sheene went about the defence of his title in 1977 in similar fashion, taking six wins, in Venezuela, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium and Sweden to secure his back-to-back titles from Americans Steve Baker and Pat Hennen.

Sheene took the machines to Australia’s Golf Coast with him when he emigrated in 1985, and this year’s 40^th anniversary of his first world title has offered the perfect opportunity to return the machines to the UK.

“It’s a privilege to have the machines at this year’s British Grand Prix, itself an event that offers so many fond memories of Barry’s career,” said event director Chris Herring.

The machines remain in the original Texaco Heron Suzuki team colours and will be presented in a special tribute area to Sheene at the Silverstone Grand Prix.

Book your tickets now for this year’s OCTO British Grand Prix.

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