Ex-Barry Sheene, ex-John Cronshaw, 2001 FWD Manx Norton 500cc Racing Motorcycle

Frame no. FW02 Engine no. FW02

• Frame FW02 ridden by Barry Sheene in his last (winning) race, as confirmed in writing by Fred Walmsley
• Frame FW02 and engine FW02 used by John Cronshaw in the 2002 INCA European Classic Series
• Purchased by a consortium of private collectors' from Fred Walmsley at The International Classic MotorCycle Show, Stafford, April 2003
• Current family ownership since August 2003
• Requires re-commissioning

A machine of some considerable historical significance, the Fred Walmsley Development Manx Norton offered here - 'FW02' - was ridden to victory by the late great Barry Sheene in his last ever motorcycle race, at the Goodwood Revival Meeting in 2002. World Champion in the 500cc class in 1976 and 1977, Barry had retired from motorcycle racing at the end of the 1984 season. He then turned to other forms of motor sport, including truck and touring car racing, before emigrating with his family to Australia in the late 1980s in the hope that the warmer climate 'Down Under' would help mitigate the pain of his injury-induced arthritis. Settled in a new home on the Gold Coast, he combined a property development business with a role as a television commentator on motor sport.

From the late 1990s, Sheene became involved in historic motorcycle racing, competing at events such as the Philip Island Classic in Australia and at Donington Park, Scarborough and Goodwood in the UK. In 2002 he was invited back to what would be his final competitive outing on a motorcycle, the Goodwood Revival Meeting, held in September. Barry's mount that day was this machine, one of celebrated engineer/tuner Fred Walmsley's modern Manx Norton re-creations.

The pair's relationship had begun back in 1999 when Barry had asked Fred to provide a machine for F1 World Champion Damon Hill to ride at the second running of the Goodwood Revival. Barry was riding someone else's Manx in practice, only for the bike to suffer a serious mechanical failure which Fred fixed; from then onwards Barry only ever rode machines supplied by Fred.

Barry had already scored two wins on one of Fred's bike at Donington Park earlier in 2002 before receiving his cancer diagnosis in July. His request for Fred to provide a machine for the Goodwood Revival came out of the blue. Fred and his rider John Cronshaw were at Most in the Czech Republic having just won the InCA European Classic Series when the call came in, necessitating an overnight dash back to the UK to get a bike prepared for Barry in time for Goodwood.

Both of the engines used in the European Classic Series were rather tired, but Fred managed to put together a motor using the best bits of the two. Unfortunately, the cobbled-together engine proved unsatisfactory, so on the Friday after practice Fred had to borrow one of his '90-bore' motors that he'd sold to Norton specialist, the late George Cohen. Barry used George's engine at Goodwood that weekend, finishing second in the Lennox Cup on Saturday and winning it on Sunday to take overall victory. Barry Sheene died in hospital in Australia in March 2003 aged 52. The Lennox Cup was later renamed the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy in his honour.

In April 2003, at the International Classic MotorCycle Show, Stafford, Fred Walmsley sold 'FW02', now reunited with its original engine, to a small consortium of private collectors' - each of whom paid one third of the cost. Shortly thereafter, in August 2003, 'FW02' was sold to a private collector, since deceased. The machine is offered for sale by his widow.

Rider Nick Allison rode the Manx at Le Mans in April 2004, achieving two podium finishes, while Marcus Bisson demonstrated it at the Greve de Lecq hill climb in Jersey in 2003 and 2004. Its last outing is believed to have been the 2005 Sheene Run through Rugby town centre. The Norton has also been displayed at various other events. Not used for some years, the machine will require re-commissioning, at the very least, before further use and thus is sold strictly as viewed.

As presented today, 'FW02' departs from its 2002 specification in various ways, most notably the engine, front wheel, forks, controls, gearbox and swinging arm are not those used by Barry Sheene.

As stated above, the engine is the bike's original (as used by John Cronshaw), Sheene's 2002 Goodwood engine having been retained by the late George Cohen. Close examination of contemporary photographs - particularly with regard to the fairing's decals and their placement - suggests that the fairing is the one fitted to Barry's bike at Goodwood in 2002 (please speak to Bonhams for further clarification). Prospective bidders should satisfy themselves as to the motorcycle's original components and mechanical condition.

Included in the sale is a race fairing (with former 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner's name and scrutineer sticker for The Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy at the 2003 Goodwood Revival), seat (with applied sticker for The Sheene Run, 2005) and alloy fuel tank.

The machine also comes with a substantial history file, which contains provenance documentation from Fred Walmsley dated 4th May 2003; 24th March 2006 and further correspondence on 17th May 2022 (perusal recommended) among many other documents, photographs, press cuttings, etc.

Much missed, Barry Sheene has left behind a racing legacy admired by everyone connected with motorcycle sport, and this Manx Norton, the last machine he rode, represents a fitting coda to a glittering career.
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