Silverstone – longest and one of the fastest tracks on the calendar – rang again to the ring-a-ding-ding of two-strokes, when a parade of past heroes ran a demonstration laps on contemporary machines, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Barry Sheene’s first of two 500cc World Championships.

The line-up included not only legend Mick Doohan on his equally legendary Honda NSR500, but also Wayne Gardner, Randy Mamola, Sheene’s son Freddie, and many of Sheene’s contemporaries, including Graeme Crosby, Paul Smart and Stan Woods.Sadly Kenny Roberts was absent. The man who displaced Sheene in 1978 is recovering from a recent heart attack, not to mention being embroiled in a bitter legal battle with his younger son Kurtis.

Wayne Gardner, Simon Crafar, Mick Doohan, Wil Hartog and Graeme Crosby
Wayne Gardner, Simon Crafar, Mick Doohan, Wil Hartog and Graeme Crosby

By Michael Scott