From Michael Scott, author of Haynes' highly successful biography of Barry Sheene, here is a fabulous series of character studies of the premier motorcycle racers, from bomber pilot Les Graham, who won the first 500cc World Championship in 1949, to Nicky Hayden, boasting the Number 1 plate in 2007 MotoGP, and on to the 2007 champion. Famous names like Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts Senior, Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi are studied, but so are lesser-known heroes who rode the storm to brief glory.
Table of Contents
Umberto Masetti, the erratic genius who was scared of bikes; Geoff Duke, an icon who set the standard and upped the pace; Gary Hocking, a tough colonial with a caseful of dreams. Phil Read, who had the longest career but felt he never belonged; Barry Sheene, the gifted all-rounder; Marco Luchinelli, who out-rode and out-partied them all. Franco Uncini, the intelligent racer with the gift of tact; Wayne Rainey, the golden genius who could never be satisfied; Kevin Schwantz, the fragile giant. Valentino Rossi, clowning genius; Nicky Hayden who believed in the power of dreams and broke Rossi's dominance.
Author Biography
Michael Scott writes brilliantly about people, most recently in the well-reviewed Barry Sheene: Motorcycle racing's jet-set superstar. He is the long-time editor of Motocourse, and lives in London.
