Barry, by Steve Parrish and Nick Harris
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In 1976 Britain ruled motorsport on four wheels and two, Formula One's James Hunt being joined as a world champion by Barry Sheene on his 500cc Suzuki. Sheene retained his title the next year before retiring to Australia in 1986 to live the good life. It was not to last – in 2003 he died from cancer, aged 52.
This biography, written with the co-operation of his widow, Stephanie, is startlingly candid at times, revealing how scared he was of dying, and how his cheeky chappy image disguised an often insecure, avaricious and downright cruel personality. But it does full justice to his brilliance on a bike, although the narrative thread is occasionally muddled, before his career tailed off due to injury, indifferent machinery and spats with manufacturers.
Former team-mate Steve Parrish and Nick Harris were part of the close-knit Sheene coterie known as The Squadron, whose birding, boozing and practical jokes are frankly chronicled. Their motto was "We'll never die wondering". Let's hope that was true for Sheene.
Published by Orion in hardback, £18.99
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments