THE GODS OF GRAND PRIX

The last bike ever raced by Barry Sheene, a Manx Norton, crosses the auction block

- DUNCAN QUINN

The very last bike the great Barry Sheene rode to victory was recently auctioned by Bonhams in the UK, his 2001 FWD Manx Norton 500cc Racing Motorcycle 'FW02, which was specially prepared for the two-time World Champion and took him to first place in the Lennox Cup motorcycle event at the 2002 Goodwood Revival Meeting. If ever there were a case of two icons working together in perfect harmony, this was it.

This 2001 FWD Manx Norton was a customized version of the latest of Norton's first racing machines built in Birmingham, England in 1927. When Cycle World got their hands on a couple to test in 1962 they found that, "Before the day was out, we had acquired a pretty good idea as to why the Nortons win, and a real appreciation of how skilled, and brave, are their riders. Their main conclusion about this hair-raising superbike was, "All in all, the Norton Manx is a machine that beggars description. It goes very fast, and it handles like nothing the average street or dirt rider has even imagined could exist. It is, beyond any doubt one of the best." The Manx Norton's success was due to its remarkably simple 500cc single cylinder engine known for its power and reliability.