Looks like there's going to be a biopic (to use the popular portmanteau) of Barry Sheene. I spent a day with him once, at Donington, very memorable. And Sideburn's deputy ed, Mick P, spoke to him on a monthly basis for a few years, as he ghostwrote his column for Bike magazine.

It's hard to tell how far the movie is into production, though reports say casting hasn't started yet. The film's official website, sheene.com says...

A NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM ON THE MOST CHARISMATIC AND INFLUENTIAL MOTORCYCLE CHAMPION OF ALL TIME
• Based on the book “Barry: The Story of Motorcycling Legend Barry Sheene” by Barry’s team mate and good friend Steve Parrish and MotoGP commentator Nick Harris
• A British / Australian CoOProduction produced by Will Stoppard (Deep Springs Pictures GB) and Rod Morris (I. O. Films AU) • Acclaimed writing team of Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement (“The Commitments”, “The Bank Job”, “Across The Universe”) attached to write the script

More day job related fun...

'Never thought I'd be drawing Barry Sheene anytime soon - did this pic for Martin Kelner's screen break column in The Guardian, he reviewed this doc on Sheene and Hunt-did you see it? I caught it here
While drawing Barry's brilliant barnet I felt strangely moved remembering him and the big posters I had on my wall as a little kid, wish I still had them now, they were from rather bloodthirsty and exploitative comics with names like "SPEED" and "CRUNCH". one of these comics even had a strip in it called Death Wish about a sinister stuntman dressed all in black . . .'
Chris Watson

This book was bought for me as a Christmas present when I was perhaps 12 years old. It has the period-obligatory intro by Barry Sheene, but what caught my eye the most, amid the blatant Heron Suzuki product placement, was Sue. The book is a pretty good basic instruction manual and as Sue grew to thoroughly enjoy being dirty and her tool manipulation went from fumbling to competent, so my skills followed a similar trajectory. Though mainly under the covers by torchlight. Complications only became apparent in later years when just the sight of a Ram Air cylinder head would cause trouser havoc. I'm better now. MP

Finally made it back to the Lewis Leathers shop in Paddington, London. Established in 1892, it has seen both historical achievement and historic demise. Their jackets were made famous on the backs of the Grand Prix greats, and became synonymous with the 60s caff racing Rockers, and later the likes of The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, and all the rest. In 1993 the original shop on Great Portland St closed down for good.
Then, Derek Harris who had been quietly beavering in the wings of L.L. as an export agent, scraped up the ashes and valiantly went forth. The leathers are still all British made, and 99% obsessively faithful reproductions of the original garments - It is expensive kit, but it's relative. You can't find bargain originals at autojumbles or on eBay anymore, and the leather and stitching is mostly shot by now anyway. "It's quality son, but not as we know it". I splashed out on some kinky boots - the traffic warden that was about to give me a ticket for leaving my bike on the pavement outside, just bent down and kissed them instead.
Lewis Leathers, 26 Chilworth Street, London W2 6DT, England
tel: 0044(0)2074020200
For our Japanese friends Hiroyuki the charming pattern cutter also has his own Rockers website for all that impossible to find regalia.
Our Italian friends Good Guys in Rome are also stocking Lewis Leathers. BP

my all-time fave World Champion, Barry Sheene's Suzuki leathers from 1977