Grapevine: Sheene's Widow to Wave Flag in Melbourne

Barry Sheene's widow Stephanie will wave the chequered flag when the winner crosses the finish line at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne next month.

Briton Sheene, the twice world 500cc motorcycling champion who lived on Queensland's Gold Coast, died on March 10 last year, the day after the Australian F1 race.

Sheene was 52 and had fought a brave and public battle with cancer. He had been a popular television motor sports commentator in Australia in recent years.

"I'm not a person who seeks the limelight 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," Stephanie Sheene said in a statement released on Sunday.

"Motor racing was Barry's life and passion and he had been looking forward to this honour last year, 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.

"It (the offer) was lovely, and when I had time to think about it I felt a sentimental sense of duty to do it."

The Sheenes came to Australia from Britain in the late 1980s, the statement said.

Stephanie Sheene said she would like to see BAR driver Jenson Button win in Melbourne.

"Jenson's a friend and it would be lovely to wave that flag as an Englishman won his first Grand Prix," Sheene said.

"I've got to say Jenson Button, because he's the favourite driver of my daughter Sidonie, son Freddie, and I."