In the late 1950's John Surtees was the dominate rider in top-level British and European motorcycle racing. A precocious talent, he began riding competitively on Vincents in the early 1950's, then REGs and NSUs and Nortons A precocious talent, he began riding competitively on Vincents in the early 1950's, then REGs and NSUs and Nortons. The technical side of Surtees's career - the bikes he rode and his considerable skills as a mechanic and engineer - is covered in detail. The book gives a fascinating insight into the intense motivation that often gave Surtees the edge over his rivals and laid the foundation for the success that followed. In many ways Surtees is the precursor of later generations of fiercely dedicated, perfectionist riders like Kenny Roberts Snr and Mick Doohan, and the time is right for a reassessment of his contribution to the sport.

Geoff Duke was the first man to win three 500cc world titles in succession, the first motorcyclist to win the coveted Sportsman of the Year award, and only the second motorcyclist to be honoured with an OBE. Additionally, he set new standards of smoothness, which remain unsurpassed to the present day, and pioneered the use of a one-piece leather racing suit. Upon his retirement from racing at the end of 1959, he was to remain closely involved in the sport and at various times carried out the tasks of consultant, team manager, clerk of the course - he was a true ambassador. Geoff Duke: The Stylish Champion is lavishly illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, making it a must-read for any motorcycling fan.

Motorcycle racing in Great Britain began in 1907 with the opening of Brooklands near Weybridge in Surrey, the first purpose-built circuit in Europe and the inaugural staging of the Isle of Man TT. Then, during the interwar period came venues such as Cadwell Park, Crystal Palace, Syston and Donington Park. However, it was after the end of World War Two in 1945 that circuit racing really established itself. There was an influx of former wartime airfields including Boreham, Haddonham, Ibsley, Thruxton, Silverstone, and Snetterton but also Brands Hatch, Alton Towers, Scarborough, and Outton Park to name but a few. North of the border came Beveridge Park, Errol and Charterholl, while across the Irish Sea, the Ulster Grand Prix and the North West 200 were bolstered by a myriad of new road courses.

It is a subject that Mick Walker had wanted to cover for many, many years, because he had always thought that the sidecar boys (and a few girls!) seemed to get a raw deal, both with the organisers and the press. In actual fact the sidecar event was often the highlight of a days racing and were generally loved by spectators. Once the motorcycle had become firmly established, the next question was how could it carry more people? The earliest examples of the 'sidecar' arrived just after the turn of the 20th century, and by 1903 a couple of firms were already offering them for sale. The first sidecar world records were established in 1922 by Cyril Pullin at Brooklands Learn all about the history of sidecars racing and its competitors from the beginning in Mick Walkers latest book.

Derek Minter is one of the gretest-ever motorcycle racing stars. After becoming double British Champion in 1958, he became the first man to lap the Isle of Man TT circuit at over 100mph on a single-cylinder bike. During 1962 he not only became triple British Champion, but he also won the 250cc TT on a privately entered Honda - beating the might of the Honda works team in the process. By 1965 he held the lap record for virtually every British short circuit, and by the time he retired at the end of 1967 he had ridden for many manufacturers, including MZ, Moto Morini, Bianchi, REG, EMC, Honda and Norton. Derek Minter: King of Brands is a fitting tribute to one of racing's heroes.

Invercargill, at the far southern end of New Zealand. It's the late 1960s and two blokes sit in a modest shed drinking tea. The old bloke is telling stories about his life; the young bloke, a junior reporter, is typing earnestly on his Olympia portable typewriter. Dramatic tales abound - of youthful scrapes, motorcycle races and ingenious repairs, of international travel and friendships and road trips, of high speeds and accidents and meetings with dutiful policemen. Burt Munro became known around the world through the 2005 movie The World's Fastest Indian, but had long been known to motorcycle fans as a colourful character and speed record-holder. Our young journalist, Neill Birss, moved away from Invercargill and the interviews he had typed out were never published. In fact, they were lost during the move and only resurfaced under strange circumstances many decades later. Here they are in this book - the lost interviews with Burt Munro, legendary Kiwi motorcycle rider - his voice as fresh and his stories as vivid as the day he told them to the young reporter. Also available as an eBook.

No Breaks: A Lost Season in British Speedway is a story of survival. Once the country's second most popular sport, filling Wembley Stadium for meetings, speedway now gets by on crowds numbered in the hundreds. It's been banished to industrial estates in towns like Redcar and Scunthorpe and generally forgotten by the mainstream media. And yet, going into 2020, things were looking up: several star riders were returning to race in Britain for the first time in years and a new, long-term TV contract was in place. Then the coronavirus lockdown happened, cancelling the league season and threatening the sport's very existence. Starting in September 2019, No Breaks hears from those who earn a living from speedway - the riders - and those who continue to keep it alive against the odds: the promoters and fans. Month by month, the book explores British speedway's current health - itself a reflection of wider society - while shining a much-needed light on many compelling and positive stories.

Why would anyone want to do something as dangerous as motorcycling? For those who love to ride, no explanation is necessary. For everyone else, there’s Why We Ride. Designed as both an explanation for outsiders and an anthem for those within the fold, this new book presents the insights of Mark Barnes, PhD, a motorcycling clinical psychologist. As a popular columnist at Motorcycle Consumer News for more than 20 years, Dr. Barnes articulates the elusive physical, emotional and interpersonal elements that make the world of the motorcyclist such a rich and exciting place. His wide-ranging text covers both sports psychology and the psychoanalysis of common riding experiences, including the results of Dr. Barnes’ own empirical research. Heartfelt and thought provoking, here is a straightforward account of what makes real motorcyclists tick.

Historic, wildly dangerous, nerve-wracking, heroic and uniquely thrilling, the Isle of Man TT is one of the greatest sporting events in the world. Featuring input from past and present riders, TT teams, manufacturers and fans alike, James Driver-Fisher reveals why the Isle of Man's greatest ever races mean so much to so many TT devotees. The entire history of the races, from the first battle in 1907 through to the summer of 2019, is covered, focusing on an expert selection of the most memorable events of all. Famous road racers relive the closest of victories and heart-breaking defeats. Unbelievable comebacks from legendary riders sit alongside race weeks when records have tumbled, and events when the biggest names have first burst on to the scene. As well as the inside view from those directly involved in the thrills and spills, Memorable Isle of Man TT Races also draws on the memories and expertise of diehard fans who have grown up with TT in their blood - vividly bringing to life the iconic races' atmosphere through the years.

For over 100 years the world's best motorcycle racers have pitted themselves against the gruelling 373/4 -mile Isle of Man Mountain Course at the annual event known worldwide simply as 'the TT'. The Tourist Trophy meeting - to give its proper name - represents perhaps the greatest challenge that the sport of motorcycle racing can offer. The top names in road racing - Collier, Wood, Duke, Hailwood, Agostini, Hislop, Jefferies, McGuinness, Hutchinson and the Dunlop dynasty - have all considered the pursuit of a Tourist Trophy to be the ultimate goal. From riding the earliest single-cylinder, belt-driven machines with outputs of under 10bhp, to coping with today's sophisticated four-cylinder machines giving well over 200bhp, generations of riders have risked their lives to satisfy the desire to go faster than the next man and to win a TT. In the process they have lifted lap speeds by almost 100mph. Exactly how that huge increase has been achieved is told within these pages, set against the background of the triumphs and the tragedies of the TT history.

One Man’s Mountain’ is a powerful and energetic memoir describing how what seem to be distant and unachievable dreams can become real and develop into a life’s experience that is way beyond what was thought possible. The book depicts life’s experiences leading from war-time to normal peacetime living. An ordinary suburban lifestyle enables the writer to explore and adventure on two wheels and brings to life a competitive spirit, which causes the writer to see and develop an ambition. The goal to be achieved centres upon an island in the Irish Sea, yet seems beyond reach. The difficulty is that it combined the need to ride and earn a living! Yet strangely, work and play relate.

If you can recall the golden era of motorcycle sport then this is undoubtedly the book for you. Featuring sixteen scramblers and one and six days trials stars, this is a must read for all who lined the circuits on muddy Sundays and were glued to their TV sets on Winter afternoons. Author Andy Westlake is regarded as one of the UK's leading classic motorcycle journalists and this book is the perfect follow-up to his two previous books "Off Road Giants" volumes one and two. In this third volume Andy has once again managed to track down and interview some of the stars of this golden era in off road sport, including the former works Greeves rider and 250cc European champion Dave Bickers, ex works BSA star John Banks, and has even journeyed to Spain to interview Les Archer, the man who lifted the European 500cc crown on his works Norton in the mid 'fifties. A superbly written book brought alive by many excellent period photographs.

This second volume uncovers and traces the direct links between man and machine. Keith's unique ability to unravel complexities and establish simple, essential principles, provide both street and race riders with real tools to think about, and understand for themselves the problems of riding. The author says: "The ten years since the publication of TWIST OF THE WRIST have been exciting ones for motorcyclists. That volume was my first attempt to create a 'technology' of riding: I knew there was one, it was simply a question of finding it. But TWIST OF THE WRIST II contains more real riding technology and addresses the source of our classic rider problems."

"Hey mom, I think I might be good at writing. One day, I think I'll write a book." --John Marshall Foster, 2015 In her second book Inside His locked Box: The Marshall Racing Project 33, Susan E Foster gives voice to her late son, John Marshall Foster, who committed suicide following a miraculous recovery from a harrowing motorcycle accident. It was not the accident that led him to end his life. It goes much deeper. Marshall was battling thoughts of suicide long before the crash. Now through a series of revealing conversations, text messages and essays written by her son, Susan shares an in-depth and profound look inside his life. From his own written words, readers will learn what triggered Marshall's journey while also highlighting what his mother and siblings endured during a very difficult and tumultuous time in their lives. What followed piloted the launch of The Marshall Racing Project 33 (MRP33), a special event created in Marshall's honor benefitting Mental Health Awareness. The special event involved the surprise unveiling of Marshall's wrecked motorcycle completely refurbished by the founder of Marshall Racing Project 33, Ever Gomez, who played an important role in Marshall's life. Painted in Marshall's favorite color green and numbered 33 for Marshall's birthday (March 3rd), Ever continues to race Marshall's bike delivering the important message that when you feel most hopeless, you are positioned for your coming breakthrough, there is always a reason for hope and life matters. Your life matters. *A portion of sale net proceeds go to: The Marshall Racing Project 33 (MRP33) benefiting Mental Health Awareness

"Hey mom, I think I might be good at writing. One day, I think I'll write a book." --John Marshall Foster, 2015 In her second book Inside His locked Box: The Marshall Racing Project 33, Susan E Foster gives voice to her late son, John Marshall Foster, who committed suicide following a miraculous recovery from a harrowing motorcycle accident. It was not the accident that led him to end his life. It goes much deeper. Marshall was battling thoughts of suicide long before the crash. Now through a series of revealing conversations, text messages and essays written by her son, Susan shares an in-depth and profound look inside his life. From his own written words, readers will learn what triggered Marshall's journey while also highlighting what his mother and siblings endured during a very difficult and tumultuous time in their lives. What followed piloted the launch of The Marshall Racing Project 33 (MRP33), a special event created in Marshall's honor benefitting Mental Health Awareness. The special event involved the surprise unveiling of Marshall's wrecked motorcycle completely refurbished by the founder of Marshall Racing Project 33, Ever Gomez, who played an important role in Marshall's life. Painted in Marshall's favorite color green and numbered 33 for Marshall's birthday (March 3rd), Ever continues to race Marshall's bike delivering the important message that when you feel most hopeless, you are positioned for your coming breakthrough, there is always a reason for hope and life matters. Your life matters. *A portion of sale net proceeds go to: The Marshall Racing Project 33 (MRP33) benefiting Mental Health Awareness

At 10 o'clock on the twenty-eighth of May 1907 the first Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motorcycle road race began. The riders pushed off on their 500cc single cylinder bikes and ten laps and 158 miles later, Charlie Collier aboard a Matchless would be declared the victor. This book is a history and celebration of the bikes of those early years of the TT races. It covers the events and personalities that led to the creation of the race and its challenging course; the early success of the British motorcycle manufacturers: Norton, Velocette, AJS and Matchless and their riders. The origins of the Italian Fours: Gilera and MV Agusta Quattro are covered and the influence and reign of the Japanese manufacturers too are covered: Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki. There are also details of the technical developments that enabled the bikes to conquer the mountain course with world-record beating times.

Graham Jarvis has been at the peak of off-road motorcycling for the best part of twenty-five years and has won the fabled and ridiculously perilous Erzberg Rodeo a record-equalling five times. Since moving into the high-octane world of Hard Enduro in 2011, Graham has won its five major races - the Erzberg Rodeo, the Red Bull Sea to Sky, the Red Bull Romaniacs, the Tough One and Hell's Gate - no fewer than twenty-six times. It has made him one of motorsport's most successful riders. In CONQUERING THE IRON GIANT, Graham takes us from his early years in Canterbury, where he started out on an old BMX bike that his dad had rescued from the tip, to competing against up to 1,800 riders in races where dozens are often airlifted to hospital, and only three or four finish . . . with Graham usually at the head of the field.

The Spanish rider Carlos Checa triumphed in the 2011 World Superbike Championship aboard the Italian Ducati. Second and third places in the standings went to the excellent Marco Melandri, in his first year in the SBK series, and to Max Biaggi, winner of the 2010 edition. The 2012 season opened at Philip Island in Australia, inaugurating a championship that will also see a race in Russia at the brand-new Moscow Raceway. Once again, this edition of the Superbike World Championship Official Book is intended as the reference volume for the world of production-derived" racers, the bikes that have for many years now represented the beating heart of motorcycle sport, combining fierce competition with high technology, without neglecting the close ties with road-going machinery. Race by race, the book describes the 2012 season, above all through the spectacular photos taken by Fabrizio Porrozzi, complemented by the ever-pertinent texts of his brother Claudio. As well as reporting on the major championship, the book also features chapters devoted to the other categories (Supersport, Superstock 1000, Superstock 600) completing the packed World Championship programme.

Slow Burn tells how the superbike racing motorcycle developed out of the roadgoing sports-tourer to become one of the most successful competitions in all forms of motorcycle sport. As well as offering world championship class competition in its own right, superbike racing has been a highly competitive training ground for grand prix riders as well as helping manufacturers, distributors and dealers develop and improve their motorcycles. Superbike racing is to the motorcycle industry what touring car or NASCAR competition is to the car world - race on Sunday, sell on Monday. All the big names were drawn into the sport during its formative years and have been there ever since - Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati and Aprilia have all used superbike racing to test their street bike designs. And some of the biggest riders in the sport - Wayne Gardner, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz and Eddie Lawson all started out on big, unruly superbikes, learning how to power slide their way around the world's toughest tracks. It's all in superbike - and it's all in Slow Burn.

Never in the history of motorcycle racing has there been a more popular champion than 'Mike-the-Bike' Hailwood. In this new study, which comes almost 30 years after Mike's untimely death, Mick Walker examines his long career. From his first race, aged 17, at Oulton Park in April 1957, to his final race at Mallory Park in June 1979, Mike rode in more races than any other rider, and he could ride any bike. In his time he straddled everything from a 49cc Itom single-cylinder two-stroke to a 1000cc Dunstall-Suzuki GS1000 four-cylinder superbike. He could switch capacity sizes and makes at the same meeting on the same day. His many achievements he could count 12 TT victories, 10 World titles and 76 Grand Prix victories. Mick Walker's book describes Mike's long and varied career, concentrating on the racing years and the motorcycles.

Following the retirement of the legendary Carl Fogarty, Chris Walker has become Britain's most popular motorcycle racer. Incredibly brave, outspoken and with talent to burn, Chris is frank about his hell-raising exploits on and off track, his legion of fans and his action-packed career in World and British superbikes. Chris Walker's first book recreates his zest for life, passion for bikes, but most-of-all, his unique sense of humour. It includes not only the inside story of his racing, but revelations of his and fellow riders' more 'racy' exploits. Chris will also expose some of the inner demons that are rarely shown to the public. Major storylines include: A childhood surrounded by bikes, and his first girlfriend: 'She was 13 going on 21 and had the biggest boobs I have ever seen.' A catalogue of broken bones: just weeks after spending four months in plaster following a serious road bike accident, he almost severed his other leg when motocrossing. The inevitable attention of the opposite sex: 'Girls would not have been knocking on my motorhome door offering a blow-job if I hadn't been racing bikes...' The classic season-long ding-dong battle with arch-rival Neil Hodgson, which went to the courts over disputed points. The loyal support, and exploits, of his five-strong 18-stone posse of mates known as the 'Big Lads' and the less-welcome attentions of a fully-fledged stalker. A switch to Carl Fogarty's race team: 'The bike caught fire during practice at Silverstone and I jumped off to avoid serious injury - but not before all my pubic hair had burnt off!' His battles with the debilitating Bell's Palsy. His long-awaited first World Superbike win from the back of the grid at Assen in 2006. Updated and told in Chris's inimitably self-deprecating style - and with all the drama of the opening races of the 2008 World Supersport series - the book breaks the mould of recent motorcycling autobiographies.

The definitive life story of the seventies world 500cc motorcycle champion Barry Sheene - the Brit whose death-defying crashes and playboy lifestyle made him the most famous bike racer on the planet. Written by the only journalist to have ridden on the roads with him, and featuring interviews with closest friends, team mates and former rivals. Born in London's East End in 1950, Sheene was introduced to motor sport at the age of five, with his father Frank building him his first ever motorbike. His story traces his humble beginnings as a maverick opposed to every educational influence, through an apprenticeship as a part-time rider and full-time mechanic, to a works team racer, with a host of diversions in pursuit of the opposite sex. It charts his success between 1975 and 1982, a golden period during which Sheene won more international 500cc and 750cc Grand Prix titles than anyone, including the world 500cc title in 1976 and 1977. This despite the horrendous carnage from a series of near-fatal crashes from which Sheene miraculously survived and overcame, against all odds. Outside the sport, Sheene discovered an acting talent, appearing in the ITV show Just Amazing and in numerous TV commercials, making him a household name. On his retirement, he found fulfilment (and a friendlier climate for his battered body) in Brisbane as an expert motor sport commentator and an accomplished businessman. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2002 he shunned conventional treatments, preferring natural remedies, but died early in 2003. This is the complete portrait of perhaps the greatest circuit racer of them all.