Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128206
On his return to British racing, Sheene moved from club races to national events within a couple of months. By November he had been noticed by MCN for the first of many feature stories; "Barry Sheene is a born natural... following in his father's footsteps." And then some. The year of 1969 was to prove decisive. The Sheene entourage comprised 125, 250 and 302cc Bultacos, and Barry was racing every weekend, often at more than one track, piling up wins and top finishes and narrowly missing the British 125 title (to Chas Mortimer). He was clearly going places. And he'd had to think deeply about his commitment. Bill Ivy had dropped in at Queens Square the previous Christmas. It was the last time Barry saw his idol. Ivy was killed during the year when his Jawa seized in a crash in practice at the Sachsenring, and a grief-stricken Sheene came close to turning his back on bike racing. He decided instead to commit himself to it whole-heartedly, quitting his job to scratch out a living on prize money. From that point on, he would give everything to racing. Things moved fast. Sheene always had his eye on the main chance and never left any stone unturned. Luck often seemed to fall his way throughout his career. It was usually because he'd seen it coming and given it a push. Many rivals would attest to this over the years to come, after they'd been beaten off the track as well as on it. In 1970, he and Ginger Molloy were gifted factory Bultacos in full 350 size, and Barry cut a dash as always. But his real focus was on the National 125 Championship, and this time he did win it, mainly racing the little Bultaco. During the year, a loan from Frank helped him to scrape together £2,000 ($3200) to buy an ex-factory Suzuki 125 twin from Stuart Graham, son of first World Champion Les - a world-class motorcycle that he held in reserve for big-time races. Like his GP debut at Spain's Montuich Park, where he was a close second to champion Angel Nieto. And a national meeting at Brands Hatch, where he finished second while tugging at the stump of a broken throttle cable to keep the thing going. This determination much impressed the watching Suzuki GB chief Maurice Knight. The resultant relationship would lead to the very top of world racing. It also meant that Suzuki was well disposed when Barry and Franko asked for another ex-factory bike - a beast of an air-cooled 500cc twin that had already ended two careers, those of a highly disillusioned Stuart Graham and a badly injured Malcolm Uphill. They rebuilt the crashed wreck, only to agree with previous SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH 8:00am to 2:00pm We are rolling out our inventory of scratched, dinged and discontinued merchandise and apparel at amazing prices! Mark that calendar for a date you won't want to miss. CASH ONLY! AN ATM WILL BE ON THE PREMISES Complete 4-stroke Systems _ - FROM $150 \\ 2-stroke Pipes FROM $25 4-stroke Mufflers FROM $50 Apparel FROM $5 ----------------------------------------------o o o Name Address City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ State Zip _ o Phone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Order Date Send to: po. YES! Start my subscription immediately to Cycle News. 1 year/50 issues lor $45.00. (can be billed 2 monthly payments) Every week for two years (l00 issues for 580.00) Six months second class (25 issues for 523.00) This is a o New Subscription ::J Renewal o IQIl1/II RIt.IIIfJI, Inc. o Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084 o Toll Free Subscription Hotline (800) 831-2220 Enclosed is my check or money order 24-hour FAX Order Line (714) 751-6685 • E-mail; Subscribe®cyclenews.com Signature Please bill me 1 payment of $45.00 Bill 2 payments 01 522.50 _ Charge my o o Visa Mastercard V1SA ~ ~ One year (SO i$ucsl. 2nd CblS6 UllUld", or Mexico MC/Visa# Expiration Date and all othe'!' fOTClgn countrit.~ 592.00 (US Funch), lsI clalNO and ainnall r31CS available upon request. ~-----------------------------------------------~-n ... _ s • MARCH 26, 2003 e y e I ... 33