A motorcycling legend and all round sound bloke, Barry Sheene died from cancer earlier today. If ever anyone epitomised being arsed, he did.
With a vengeance.
I first noticed him when I was just gettin into bikes and he was making bike racing famous with his playboy antics, charm and falling off at 160m.p.h. and getting his legs filled with metal.
More recently, I've read his outspoken columns in the bike press, enjoyed his spats with motorcycling's powers that be (and Phil Read!), and watched him get back into racing on a Manx Norton in Classic bike races. His performances the past two years at the Goodwood Revival meetings were as polished as ever - last year he flew over from Australia, despite his illness, and won!
He had no pretensions (still changing into his leathers in the paddock) and was happy to chat and joke with everyone, pose for photos etc. Compare that with the old scroat Phil Read who had a face like a bashed crab and positively radiated 'I used to be famous, don't talk to me' vibes. Read lost, Baz won.
Lots more could (and will) be written, so suffice it to say it's a sad day for bike racing and be-ing arsed.
Posted by frazerr at March 10, 2003 12:35 PM