It’s 50 years since the late great Barry Sheene won the first of his two 500GP titles, and there’s a big commemoration of the anniversary at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Barry’s son, Freddie, will attend the event and is set to ride a selection of his father’s historic race bikes up the famous Goodwood Hill.
To mark the occasion and celebrate Barry’s legacy with the legendary Italian brand Dainese, Freddie will wear a one-off Sheene replica leather suit. And that suit will then be auctioned off on 8 August at Silverstone on the eve of the British MotoGP, to raise funds for the Two Wheels for Life charity.
“I travelled over to Dainese’s Italian HQ in early April to get measured for the suit,” said Freddie. “It was so cool to see my father’s old leathers and photos of him everywhere, and it was an honour to meet Lino Dainese, with whom my father worked so closely. It was a very special day.
“I’ll be wearing this one-off Custom Works suit, worth more than £5000, at Goodwood, riding one of dad’s bikes and then will donate it to Two Wheels for Life to help them raise funds to help support the amazing work they do in Africa. It’ll be fitting to hold the auction at Silverstone, as I know the circuit hosted some of my father’s most memorable races. Let’s hope the suit finds a good new home, for a great bid.”