Cal Crutchlow will look to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Barry Sheene by standing on the top step of the MotoGP podium for the first time in his career at Silverstone.

Crutchlow has never finished higher than second in MotoGP but achieving a win on Sunday would be a fitting way to conclude celebrations of the life of Britain’s most famous motorcycle racer.

Sheene, who died a decade ago from cancer, won the 500cc world title in 1976 and 1977 and will be remembered during a parade of his old race bikes at the Northamptonshire circuit on Sunday.

Crutchlow and his rivals for the MotoGP world title – today’s equivalent of the championship Sheene won – will then take to the track to battle for the race win.

British fans who have had little to cheer about since the end of Sheene’s career, which made him a household name, still flock in their tens of thousands to the British GP every year and Crutchlow knows what it would mean for them to see a home rider take the race win.

He said: “I am really excited for Silverstone and I know the support from the British fans will be incredible, so hopefully I can give them something to cheer about.”

The 27-year-old from Coventry, who lives on the Isle of Man, swaps the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team for Ducati next season and currently lies fifth in the MotoGP points standings.

He might have been higher but for a crash last weekend in the Czech GP at Brno when he was battling for fourth place with multiple world champion Valentino Rossi.

“It’s not the best preparation for my home race at Silverstone but I go there knowing I can challenge at the front,” added Crutchlow, who started the Brno race from pole position after topping qualifying for the second time this season.