Historic GP motorcycles at the 2023 Revival | Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy

Before the ‘Le-Mans’ style start got underway, Freddie Sheene, the son of double World Champion Barry Sheene led the warm-up lap. Riding a bike his much-missed father rode to victory at Goodwood Revival 20 years ago.

It was an emotional beginning, especially so for Barry’s long-term GP teammate, Steve Parrish. Who had announced that Sunday’s showdown would be his last competitive historic motorcycle race.

The other big story was that sadly, despite an impressive early showing in Part 1, the untimely retirement of the Hornby/Dunlop MV Agusta 500/3 meant the rider pairing would be competing on a replacement Norton Manx machine instead.

The same stacked list of VIP riders including current Isle of Man TT and Manx GP titans Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness, Michael Rutter, Dean Harrison, James Hillier and Davey Todd were all primed to go following the mandatory pitstop, taking over from their amateur/retired partners who would begin the race.

With many notable battles throughout, particularly between Dean Harrison and John McGuinness, it would eventually be Russell/Rutter who would take Part 2 and overall victory. Despite a strong, late move for 2^nd on the day ahead of Bain/Brogan, Thomas/Todd would eventually finish 3^rd overall, with English/Plater slotting into 2^nd overall.

It was Michael Dunlop, now the 2nd most successful TT racer ever, and only one more IOMTT victory behind his late uncle Joey Dunlop, who was centre of attention in Friday’s Official Practice. Why? Because Dunlop and his Revival-winning partner Andy Hornby struggled to get their iconic 1966 MV Agusta 500/3, a bike expected to be the quickest, out on track at all. They were then set for a tantalising start from the back row of Race 1.

The best times of Official Practice were laid down by motorcycle racing’s most exciting new young talent, Davey Todd. Taking the 1960 Norton Manx 30M to pole position with his partner George Thomas. Closely followed by Bain/Brogan and Russell/Rutter on another pair of Norton Manx 30Ms.

Come Saturday morning, the grid of pre 1966 GP motorcycles were glinting and glistening beneath a full sun. Riders openly sweating in black leathers. Fastening their helmets in anticipation for what was set to be a highly competitive test of mechanical guile and high precision racing.

As the flag dropped, the veteran McGuinness took a quick lead, to then drop back to mid-pack with what seemed a mechanical concern. Before lap one had finished, Dunlop on the mighty MV was already in the top six. Taking the lead by lap three to show not only the rider’s natural class, but the MV’s dominant performance that made it such an icon.

Threading their way through with the Goodwood Chicane amongst thick clouds of cement dust, each rider was testing the circuit’s grip on thin, threaded, classic tyres. With gritted teeth, the front three of Dunlop, Brogan and Todd continued to tussle back-and-forth, before the MV’s gremlins bit back and caused Dunlop to retire the bike.

With handovers complete, it would eventually be the Matchless G50 of Glen English/Steve Plater that would take the win in dramatic fashion. Passing the Norton Manx 30M of Michael Russel/Michael Rutter into the final Chicane. George Thomas/Davey Todd completed the Race one podium.

Photography by Jochen Van Cauwenberge.