PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia -- World superbike championship fans and officials paid tribute on Sunday to former world motorcycling champion Barry Sheene, who died on March 10 aged 52.

A friend of Sheene's, Mike Farrell, rode one of the Briton's former racebikes around the Phillip Island track before the first of two races on Sunday in round two of the superbikes championship.

"We have many many great memories of Barry and he has done so much for motor sport in this country," managing director of Phillip Island Motor Sport Fergus Cameron told reporters.

"His love of racing, his ever-competitive spirit and his unique humour will always be remembered at Phillip Island."

Sheene, world champion in 1976 and 1977, was diagnosed with throat and stomach cancer in July last year, but had vowed to fight the disease through alternative therapies and his religious faith.

He retired from racing in 1984 and later moved to Australia where he became a popular television personality.