A superb and rare image of the absolutely magnificent and unforgettable Barry Sheene on his 1974  Suzuki XR14 / RG500 Square Four factory Grand Prix racer, photographed in the pits before the start of the Belgian Grand Prix, which was ridden on the circuit of Spa-Francochamps.

The 1976 and 1977 500cc world champion Barry Sheene was born in London, England, in 1950, and became the British 125cc champion aged just 20, and finished second in the World Championships for that class a year later. A spectacular crash at the Daytona 200 in 1975 threatened to end his career, breaking his left thigh, right arm, collarbone and two ribs, yet he recovered and was racing again seven weeks afterwards. In 1976 he won five 500cc Grands Prix, bringing him the World Championship. He repeated as champion in 1977 with six victories. After the 1979 season, he left the Suzuki works team, believing that he was receiving inferior equipment to his team-mates. He shifted to a privateer Yamaha machine, but soon started receiving works equipment. In 1981, Kenny Roberts was the reigning World 500cc Champion for the third time, and Barry Sheene, now on a competitive Yamaha, was determined to regain the championship. Ironically, Sheene and Roberts battled all season and let Suzuki riders Marco Lucchinelli of Italy and American Randy Mamola beat them for the top two spots. Roberts finished third and Sheene fourth for the 1981 championship. A 1982 crash largely ended Sheene as a title threat, and he retired from GP racing in 1984.

On this gorgeous image we see the famous “ Sheene machine “  with his Suzuki XR14 / RG500 works square four 500cc GP racer. In the 1960s Suzuki had gathered a wealth of two stroke technology knowledge and expertise. This became very useful in the 1970s, when the factory decided to seriously attack the 500cc road racing world championship. Using the successful 1960s square four engine design as a base, they developed a bike that would change the motorcycle racing world: the RG 500 square four! This magnificent racing machine debuted during the 1974 French Grand Prix. In the hands of Barry Sheene it finished 2ND behind the MV Agusta of Phil Read. A magnificent debut for the new machine. Within 3 years it would give Suzuki its first 500cc world title with Barry Sheene (see photo), and as an over the counter production racer it would become the first choice for many privateers. No wonder Suzuki gained another seven manufacturers' titles in succession!

The Japanese Suzuki company started manufacturing motorcycles in 1952, the first models being motorized bicycles. During the 1950s, 1960s and the better part of the 1970s, the company manufactured motorcycles with two-stroke engines only, the biggest two-stroke model being the water-cooled triple-cylinder GT750. A large factor in Suzuki's success in two- stroke competition was the East German Grand Prix racer Ernst Degner, who defected to the West in 1961, bringing with him expertise in two- stroke engines from the East German manufacturer MZ. Suzuki hired Degner, and he won the 50cc World Championship for them in 1962.

However, it wasn't until 1976 when Suzuki introduced its first motorcycle with a four-stroke engine, the GS400 and GS750. Since then, Suzuki has established a reputation as a manufacturer of well- engineered sport motorcycles. Suzuki's racing machines have become legendary.  From the 1960s small capacity 50cc and 125cc two strokes to the magnificent RG500 Square Four two stroke, a machine that played a vital role in the 1970s world championship roadracing scene. In the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000's Suzuki wrote history with riders like Kevin Schwantz and, more recent, Kenny Roberts Jr.

We have more photos listed on Ebay of Suzuki, the XR 14 RG 500 Gamma Square Four , Barry Sheene and other brands with various riders. You can always contact us if you have any requests.

This is your rare chance to own this photo that reflects a very interesting and historic piece of motorcycling’s glorious history. Therefore, it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 6" x 8" (ca. 13x 19 cm).