By Phil Huff (15/02/2004)
February 15 2004

The widow of motorsport legend Barry Sheene will wave the chequered flag at the end of next month's Australian Grand Prix, and has singled out Jenson Button for some glory. Motorcycle racer Barry Sheen was due to wave the flag at last year's Albert Park race, but was too ill to attend, and died the next day following a long battle with cancer.

A year later, in a fitting tribute to the double 500cc World Champion, Stephanie Sheene will wave the chequered flag at the end of the Australian Grand Prix.

"I'm not a person who seeks the limelight," said Stephanie Sheen, "but I was very touched when the Australian Grand Prix Corporation invited me to wave the flag at the end of this year's Formula One race in Melbourne.

"Motor racing was Barry's life and passion and he had been looking forward to this honour last year," she added, "but unfortunately he wasn't well enough to do it. I'll feel very proud and humble to 'do the honours' for him on March 7.

So who does she want to see win?

"I've got to say Jenson Button, because he's the favourite driver of my daughter Sidonie, son Freddie, and I. Jenson's a friend and it would be lovely to wave that flag as an Englishman won his first Grand Prix. He's been going very well in testing in Europe and Barry would be so thrilled to see him win.

"I'd love to see Mark Webber, the Aussie, do really well, too - especially as he's racing for Jaguar, a great British name.

"But I'd also be very happy to see Michael Schumacher win again," she added, "because he's just the superstar."