A used set of Barry Sheene Team Suzuki leathers from his 1977 World Championship-winning season, bearing his name and lucky racing number '7', finishe

A used set of Barry Sheene Team Suzuki leathers from his 1977 World Championship-winning season, bearing his name and lucky racing number '7', finished in the red, white and gold colours of team sponsor Texaco-Heron, complete with much worn plastic knee pads and all that year's co-sponsors logos: AGV, Champion, Dainese, Faberge, Marlboro and Michelin; sold with two press cuttings relating to the auctioning of these leathers in 1980 (3) These leathers were used by Barry during 1977, his second consecutive and final 500cc World Championship-winning season with the Suzuki Team. They were later donated by him and auctioned as the star lot in aid of the Mal White Fund in December 1980 at The Road Racing Show in Birmingham, as confirmed by the press cuttings included in the lot. They have remained in the possession of the auction buyer until this day. Barry Sheene was the original Lewis Hamilton, and was just as famous. Born in 1950, he began racing bikes at eighteen and, in unprecedented style, almost won the 125cc World Championship at his first attempt in 1971, only losing out in the final round. Come Superbikes and 500cc machines, his good looks and pop-star image soon made him incredibly popular, particularly with teenage girls. An infamous 175mph accident caused him multiple injuries in 1975 and much surgical metalwork was used to save his legs. Thereafter, he raced wearing fibreglass leg protectors and set off airport security scanners wherever he went. The resulting media attention made him even more popular and 'splash-it-on' TV commercials guaranteed he would become a household name. Despite all this, Barry Sheene had lost none of his natural ability. The following year, still riding for Suzuki, he raced to five GP victories and his first 500cc World Championship, a feat he duly repeated in 1977 with six victories to his name. He was at his irrepressable best. Though he retired in 1984, he never lost touch with the sport he loved before succumbing to cancer in 2003.