Fifty years after his first world championship triumph, the late Barry Sheene will be celebrated in fitting style across all three of Goodwood’s flagship motorsport events in 2026. It is a rare and deeply symbolic tribute to a rider who was not only a champion on track, but a cultural icon far beyond it.
Sheene claimed the 500cc Grand Prix World Championship in 1976 and 1977 with Suzuki, becoming a household name and, to this day, remaining the last British rider to win the premier class. Awarded an MBE in 1978, his fearless riding style, resilience through injury, and unmistakable personality made him one of the most recognisable figures in motorsport history.
Goodwood will mark the anniversary across the Members’ Meeting (April 18–19), the Festival of Speed (July 9–12), and the Revival (September 18–20). According to the Duke of Richmond, founder of the Festival of Speed, Sheene was “an absolute force of nature,” remembered as much for his warmth, humour, and irreverence as for his talent and determination.
The connection between Sheene and Goodwood runs deep. He raced there many times and won his final competitive race at the circuit in 2002, just months before his death at the age of 52. In his honour, the Revival’s motorcycle race was renamed the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy the following year.
Each event will bring his legacy to life in a different way. The Members’ Meeting will see up to 30 500cc Grand Prix machines from his career on track, alongside a tribute to fellow British icon James Hunt. At the Festival of Speed, ten of Sheene’s GP bikes will tackle the famous hill climb, with riders including his son Freddie. The Revival will showcase his championship-winning Suzukis on the historic circuit once more.
Beyond Goodwood, Sheene’s impact will also be honoured at the 1000 Bikes Revival at Mallory Park in July 2026, coinciding with the venue’s 70th anniversary. Half a century on, Barry Sheene’s legacy remains as vivid, inspiring, and human as ever.
