Barry Sheene diagnosed with cancer.

Double world motorcycle champion Barry Sheene has been diagnosed with throat and stomach cancer, according to sources in his adopted Australian homeland.

According to news.com.au, Sheene discovered he was suffering from the disease a month ago, after visiting doctors following a trip to England to appear at the British Grand Prix. The 51-year old Briton reported difficulty in swallowing and was diagnosed following a series of tests.

Famed in the 1970s for his bike racing exploits, Sheene won two world 500cc titles in the face of competition from American Kenny Roberts. Perhaps as famously, however, the Cockney was also renowned for his off-track lifestyle and on-track accidents, the latter eventually convincing him to move to the warmer climes of Australia in order to ease the pain of multiple broken bones, operations and the onset of arthritis.

Since emigrating, Sheene has carved out a niche for himself as part of Channel Ten television's motorsport coverage, and becoming the voice of the MotoGP series in Australia. His expert commentaries have also seen him expand his horizons to co-hosting the RPM show and providing expert analysis of the Shell V8 Supercar series.