Motorcycle Forums

Silverstone

Always used to be the fastest GP track in the world when the Bikes used to race there in the 80s,then when they moved the GP to Donington from 87 onwards,Silverstone changed the circuit earlier that year by adding a left/right chicane just after the Daily Express bridge to slow things down before Woodcote and that started the ball rolling on f*cking up a once unique GP track.Over the years the circuit has undertaken some changes which for me at least ruined it.That stupid little chicane before the start and finish used for the Bikes is shameful so at least they are getting rid of that.Whatever they do to the track now won't make it as good as it used to be.Remembering the days when I saw the likes of Sheene,Roberts,Mamola,Spencer and all the other greats from the 70s and 80s coming flat out into view underneath what used to be the Daily Express bridge and then screaming through woodcote is a memory that won't be repeated,not just because those riders have long retired (or died in poor Bazzas case) but because the circuit isn't like it was.Maybe now the old track would be a bit too dodgy for modern GP bikes anyway.There never was much run off into woodcote,then again not many riders crashed there  often,well Sarron did in the wet in 86 but then again we expected him too the way he rode through there the previous few laps !!! It wasn't "is he going to crash" it was "when is he going to crash" ! A brave lad in the rain was Christian Sarron,f*ckin mentle but brave none the less.Ah,happy days :-)

Spa Sheene

Spa was the fastest and Barry Sheene's record of the fastest lap on a GP circuit will never be broken, since they changed the track years ago.

Silverstone sounds like being a awsome track, just a pity we will not have a British rider taking part in the Motogp race!

Lets hope Badley & Co can do the business.

ago15/richard67/waveteam

firstly Agostini15 you are spot on Silverstone was a fantastic place until they messed it up,I really hope they bring it back to it's former glory,the people who have only known Donington gp's and think that they were good don't know what they missed and if they get it right we are in for a real treat,and Richard67/waveteam you have touched on my favourite topic! yes it was the great Barry Sheene Spa 1977 137.15 average lap(i'm a bit of a rain man on Bazza sorry)and your also correct that it still stands as the circuit changed ,but some going 32years ago? Also agostini15 your so right anyone who had the pleasure of seeing him around Silverstone at woodcote wiil know he was awsome,my favourite time was in qualifying at the 81 gp he was inch perfect through there another titbit for you his fastest lap on the last lap of the 79 gp stood for a good few years as well, my all time hero must be an age thing, but he was a smashing bloke and i was privileged to have known him ,one name i'm proud to drop anytime ! any way best go the stig is showing a soft spot !!!  can't have that can we

Silverstone, too wide, too flat, too boring and as for that ludicrous chicane, what clown thought that one up is anyones guess. Oulton Park but without those two unnecessary chicanes is up there with the best of circuits, this country's Spa Franco., sorts out those who can 'do it' and those who can't. I can remember seeing King Kenny wheeleing over the brow of the hill going down to Knicker Brook. The world's best can give their best there !.

thestig08

I was there that day, the look on Hartog face, I think he must have S**t himself!

Big Sheene fan myself stig08, spent a lot of time with Barry in the pits back them, he encouraged me to go racing, Yamaha TZ250A. Sadly I never really had the chance to get into it fully before having to retire early, long story!

I have loads of Sheene stuff I have collected over the years, also a album full of signed pictures from the great man, some of these were personal ones we took at different meetings, great days. I know of an ex racer who as one of Barry's old Suzuki's in his barn, would love to get my hands on that!

Not always agreed with you comments on this forum stig but being a Sheene fan I can understand why, Barry always said what he felt, never held back.

"Don't wait for your boat to come in, swim out and meet the bloody thing" Barry Sheene