As a part of the upcoming 2007 Australian GP, Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team will pay tribute to Suzuki two-time (1976 and 1977) 500 cc MotoGP World Champion Barry Sheene at Phillip Island. Rizla Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen will ride a unique Rizla Suzuki GSV-R inspired by Suzuki XR-14 Grand Prix bike used by Barry Sheene during the 1970s. Chris Vermeulen considered Barry Sheene as his hero and mentor, when the latter persuaded Vermeulen to visit the UK and pursue a motorbike racing career.

The 2007 Suzuki 800cc GSV-R will feature numerous design cues in honor to Sheene. The bike comes with Rizla blue and white paint. The bike will be unveiled on October 11th at the Rizla Suzuki pit-box.

Vermeulen commented: "This is a great honour for me to ride the latest generation of Suzuki GP bike in a colour scheme inspired by my hero, Barry Sheene. Barry did a lot to make sure I became a success when I arrived in the UK and I miss him a lot. I rode one of his XR-14 Grand Prix bikes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year and that was certainly a privilege, but to ride my bike in the same livery is just awesome. Thanks to Suzuki and the team for letting this happen, I just hope that we can do credit to it!"

Paul Denning, Team Manager of Rizla Suzuki says how Chris Vermeulen entered the team:
"Towards the end of 1998, when I was running our fledgling Suzuki British Superbike team, my wife took a call at home and yelled that it was Barry Sheene on the line. ‘Yeah, right, of course it is’ was my response but sure enough it was Barry himself telling me that I had to get this new Australian kid on our bike for 1999. We couldn’t then, as our deals were done, but it was a great pleasure to shake Chris’s hand to become a Suzuki Grand Prix rider just a few years later and I’m sure that Barry would have approved. This one-off livery looks stunning and it’s a pleasure to be able to run it in Australia, Barry’s second home."

Check out Barry Sheene’s career highlights below

Year     Class     Classification     Machine     Victories
1971     50 cc     7th     Kreidler     1
1971     125cc     2nd     Suzuki     3
1974     500cc     6th     Suzuki     0
1975     500cc     6th     Suzuki     2
1976     500cc     1st     Suzuki     5
1977     500cc     1st     Suzuki     6
1978     500cc     2nd     Suzuki     2
1979     500cc     3rd     Suzuki     3
1981     500cc     4th     Yamaha     1
1982     500cc     5th     Yamaha     0
1984     500cc     6th     Suzuki     0

Anyway, you should watch out for the upcoming Australian GP on Sunday, October 14th. The race is the round 16 of the 2007 MotoGP World Championship season.