When Valentino Rossi dedicated his 2005 World Championship win to Barry Sheene, it was a fitting memorial to the man who perhaps more than any other made motorcycling the hugely successful sport it is today. Sadly, he died of cancer in 2003, only aged 52. Barry Sheene won the British motorcycling 125cc championship at the age of twenty and twice became World Champion in the 500cc class, despite two life-threatening crashes, both of which he overcame with great courage and determination.