Catalogue entry · Lot 0017
Alan Stammers’ Valentino Rossi, A Tribute to Barry Sheene, this copy numbered 7 of 500: Sheene’s own race number.
Background
Barry Sheene was the first superstar of British motorcycle racing: 500cc World Champion for Suzuki in 1976 and 1977, famous for his number 7 and his Donald Duck helmet, and as quick with a quip as with a throttle. He died on 10 March 2003 on the Gold Coast in Australia, aged 52.
Valentino Rossi, then the reigning champion with Repsol Honda, paid his own tribute. In testing ahead of the 2003 season he wore a rainbow helmet carrying the word Pace and Sheene’s number 7, a one off design that Alan Stammers describes as worn on a single occasion. That October, after winning the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, Rossi carried a number 7 flag on his lap of honour in Sheene’s memory.
The artist
Alan Stammers grew up on a farm bordering Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk, taught himself to draw, and has worked as a full time motor sport artist since the late 1980s. He works exclusively in pencil, now from his studio in East Harling, and his drawings have been endorsed by many of the sport’s greatest names. Since 1988 much of his best known work has been published through Peter Ratcliffe’s Legends in Time, alongside a range of signed and numbered prints sold directly by the artist.
Stammers drew Rossi in that tribute helmet, and the resulting edition of prints is listed on the artist’s own site among his motorcycle work.
The lot
The drawing shows Rossi on the Repsol Honda, knee down and leaning hard into a left hander, number 46 on the fairing and the large 7 on his helmet. The sheet is captioned Valentino Rossi, A Tribute to Barry Sheene. The artist’s signature is at lower left, with the edition number 7 of 500 written beside it.
The sheet measures approximately 72 by 52 cm. It is offered unframed.
Condition
No marks or damage. Stored flat and out of sunlight, and displayed, when it has been on the wall, behind museum glass approximately 99 percent UV protective.
Provenance notes (the honest bit)
From the seller’s collection of Alan Stammers prints. Signed by the artist. No rider signature is claimed. Of all the numbers in an edition of 500, this one was chosen for a reason: 7 was Barry Sheene’s.
This lot is offered under Opening Stint’s Premium Catalog seller attestation: the seller has confirmed in writing that the account given to us is true, and a summarised copy of that attestation goes with the item to the buyer.
Summary
A tribute print carrying the very number it pays tribute to. Number 7 of 500, Rossi in Sheene’s colours of the heart, drawn in pencil by an artist who grew up within earshot of Snetterton.
It will not lap Phillip Island. It will, however, mean rather more to a Sheene fan than any other copy in the edition.
Collection and delivery
Located in Worthing, West Sussex. Available for collection, or the buyer may arrange shipping directly with the seller.