The Superbike World Championship for modified "production" bikes was inaugurated way back in 1988, with high performance machinery normally destined for the road taking to the tracks for the first time to dispute a full championship season. The American Fred Merkel riding a Honda won the first two editions in 1988 and 1989. This was followed by a Ducati triple with titles for Raymond Roche in 1990 and Doug Polen in 1991 and '92. In the years that followed the likes of Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser, Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss came to the fore aboard equally well-known bikes also raced in the same period by Pier Francesco Chili, perhaps the best-known Italian Superbike rider prior to the advent of Biaggi and Melandri. These 25 years are revisited for the first time in an official book that, season by season, reviews the technical, sporting and human stories of each championship through the ever-accurate texts of Claudio Porrozzi and above all the spectacular images of his brother Fabrizio, for years the official SBK World Championship photographer. Championship standings and statistics complete a book that is sure to be source of reference for all fans.

Relive the highs and lows of a thrilling WorldSBK season in the Official 2019 Yearbook, including round by round analysis of all three World Championship classes. Whether you are a fan of Kawasaki or Ducati, green or red, Rea or Bautista, 2019 had something for everyone and ultimately produced one of the greatest duels in WorldSBK history. A look back through the World Superbike archives, as well as an in depth look underneath the fairings of all seven manufacturers that took part in the three World Championship classes enhances what is a must read for any fan. Each World Champion has a dedicated chapter, with a comprehensive rider guide and exclusive never seen before photos. All of the statistics, all of the records as well as a look back at the riders who remain iconic as far as WorldSBK is concerned are all included in the Official Yearbook of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship.

Injury. Adrenaline. Addiction. These are the things that fuelled one man's race to international stardom as he pushed boundaries and took life on and off the bike to the limits. Starting out as a talented youth riding the desert tracks of California, his reckless nature and incredible talent earned him a position in the rarefied world of professional motorcycle racing. Despite the success in his professional life, his personal life was crumbling around him - John was battling with depression and temptation, which began to threaten his career, health and marriage, ultimately bringing him to a life of alcoholism, addiction and even smuggling. In his remarkable memoir, one of the world's most renowned riders takes us on a raw and unique journey to the extremes of fast living. John 'Hopper' Hopkins is an icon for motorsport fans worldwide. He won't let anything hold him back. He has broken almost every bone in his body (twice), suffered a bleed on the brain, and had a finger amputated... yet he continued to race. Finally, at the age of 35 - with his latest crash at Brands Hatch in 2017 putting him in rehab for two years - he decided to hang up his helmet. Leathered tells the incredible story of an unparalleled career. From bone-crunching injuries and alcohol-fuelled antics to the breakdown of his marriage, it unveils the true stories behind the lurid headlines.

The story of a classic motorcycle racer who was fortunate enough to be able to ride many of the best machines from the period, at the highest level, and on many of the most famous road racing courses in the world. There are tales of success, friendships, and the loss of racing pals. Machine preparation and mechanical failures feature heavily, and the story recounts the author's frustrations and joys. Andy Reynolds maintained and built many of the bikes he raced, and ultimately retired from riding to become both a machine scrutineer and a sponsor. All aspects of motorcycle racing are covered in the author's easy-to-read and entertaining narrative, and it is a fascinating read for any motorcycle enthusiast. Come into the world of Classic Racing Motorcycles - but bring your cheque book and medical insurance!

The Isle of Man TT - the world's most dangerous race - as seen through the eyes of Cummins, Martin, McGuinness and Dunlop. THAT NEAR DEATH THING is a life-affirming journey to the heart of the world's most dangerous race. The Isle of Man TT is a throwback to a maverick era that existed before PR platitudes and PC attitudes. WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR-shortlisted author Rick Broadbent gets inside the helmets of four leading motorcycle racers as they battle fear, fire and family tragedy for a gritty sort of glory. Guy Martin is a tea-drinking truck mechanic and TV eccentric who 'sucks the rabbits out of hedges', but must now deal with the flipside of fame; Conor Cummins is the local hero facing a race against time as he battles depression and a broken body after falling down the mountain; John McGuinness is the living legend fending off the ravages of middle-age for one last hurrah; Michael Dunlop is the wild child living with one of the most remarkable legacies in sport. They tell their astonishing stories in a book that provides the most rounded, intimate, behind-the-scenes account yet of the last great race. Rick Broadbent has delivered the final word on the Isle of Man TT, one that really gets to grips with an event that continually pulls unsung riders and fans back year after year to witness That Near Death Thing.

The post-war era was British speedway's golden age. Ten million spectators passed through the turnstiles of a record number of tracks at the sport's peak. With league gates as high as 80,000, speedway offered a colourful means of escape from the grim austerity of the times. A determinedly clean image, with no betting and rival fans mingling on the terraces, made speedway the family night out of choice. The sport thrived despite punitive taxation and Government threats to close down the speedways as a threat to industrial productivity. A three-division National League stretched from Exeter to Edinburgh and the World Championship Final attracted a capacity audience to Wembley. Test matches against Australia provided yet another international dimension. Even at the height of its popularity, speedway was a sporting edifice built on unstable foundations, which crumbled alarmingly as the 1950s dawned and Britain's economic and social recovery brought competing attractions like television.

The Phenomenal Sunday Times No1 Bestseller 'It was the start of the third lap of the 2010 Senior TT, the last race of the fortnight. The last chance to get a TT win for another year, and I was pushing hard. Ballagarey. The kind of corner that makes me continue road racing. A proper man's corner. You go through the right-hander at something like 170mph, leant right over, eyes fixed as far down the road as I can see. But this time something happened. This time the front end tucked ...' Guy Martin, international road-racing legend, maverick star of the Isle of Man TT, truck mechanic and TV presenter, lives on the edge, addicted to speed, thoroughly exhilarated by danger. In this book we'll get inside his head as he stares death in the face, and risks his life in search of the next high. We'll discover what it feels like to survive a 170mph fireball at the TT in 2010, and come back to do it all again. He'll sweep us up in a gritty sort of glory as he slogs it out for a place on the podium, but we'll also see him struggle with the flipside of fame. We'll meet his friends and foes, his family, his teammates and bosses and we'll discover what motivates him, and where his strengths and weaknesses lie. For the first time, here is the full story in Guy's own words. From the boy who learned to prep bikes with his dad, to the spirited team mechanic, paying his way by collecting beer glasses in pubs, to the young racer at the start of his first race and the buzz he's been chasing ever since. This thrilling autobiography is an intense and dramatic ride.

For nearly two decades 'A Twist of the Wrist' has been the high performance rider's bible of cornering. Enthusiasts worldwide have used Keith Code's unique perspective on the cornering art to improve there own skills and enjoyment. When Keith began his investigations into cornering in 1976 he left no stone unturned. Code translated his research into the world's number one rider training organisation, The California Superbike School. In addition, his private tutoring work with dozens of roadracers who later became champions is part of the sport's history. This studio recorded, 4 CD audio set is read by the author and contains dozens of new notes and comments that enhance the original work and includes four time World Champion Eddie Lawson's comments on the text.

The million-copy selling truck fitter returns ***Featured on Channel 4*** 'I can't stop biting off more than I can chew. Maybe I'm wearing everything out, but I believe the body is a fantastic thing and it will repair itself and I'll go again. If it's running too rich, I don't stop what I'm doing, just weaken the mixture and carry on.' Since we last heard from him, Guy Martin has restored a 1983 Williams F1 car then raced Jenson Button in it; helped to build a First World War tank; ridden with Putin's favourite biker gang the Night Wolves; competed on the classic endurance circuit; stood on top of one of Chernobyl's nuclear reactors and taken part in his last ever Isle of Man TT. Then there's the stuff he really can't wait to get out of bed for: 12-hour shifts for a local haulage firm and tatie farming in his new John Deere tractor. Besides all this, he's saved his local pub from closure and become a dad. But let him tell you his own stories, in his own words: 'You're getting it from the horse's mouth. No filter. I hope you enjoy it.'

'If I had to lose my record to anyone, I couldn't be happier that it was Jonathan. Family connections aside, there is nobody more talented, more determined or more deserving.' - Carl Fogarty Within the staggeringly dangerous and high-pressure sport of professional motorcycling, Jonathan Rea's achievements are unprecedented. A legendary World Superbike Champion with more race wins than any rider in history, Rea's trailblazing success shows no sign of slowing down. Now, for the first time, this remarkable sportsman tracks his life and career. Seemingly destined for the racing world, Jonathan grew up in the paddocks - his grandfather was the first sponsor of five-times World Champion Joey Dunlop and his dad was a former Isle of Man TT winner. He owned his first bike before his hands were big enough to reach the brakes. But while racing may be in his blood, it is through sheer determination and relentless perseverance that Rea has gained huge victories in this ultra-competitive world. Topping several of the most prestigious motorcycling championships, he rules the sport - so much so that regulations are being introduced to curb his dominance. The fact that Rea has endured several potentially career-ending scrapes - including smashing his femur at the age of seventeen and being told that he would never race again - makes his achievements even more incredible. 'Dream. Believe. Achieve,' is Rea's mantra and in this gripping autobiography, we go behind the visor and into the mind of a man who has risen to the top of one of the most skilled and dangerous sports in the world.

The Hero's Body is a memoir of what it means to be a man in modern America. At just forty-seven years old, William Giraldi's father was killed in a horrific motorcycle accident. Writing here with searing honesty about grief, obsession, shame and identity, he looks back on three generations of men from the blue-collar town of Manville, New Jersey, and tells their stories in tandem: the speed-crazed cult of his father's 'superbikes', each Sunday spent racing fate along the winding back roads of Pennsylvania; the trauma of a son's ultimate loss, and William's attempts to rebuild a self in the manliest costume he knew. For a teen consumed by hardcore bodybuilding, pumping iron was so much more than a sport-it was a hallowed lifeline for a bookish tenth-grader, a way to forge himself a spot amongst his family's imperious patriarchs. A work of lasting literary beauty, lauded by the New Yorker for its 'unrelenting, perfectly paced prose', The Hero's Body is a tale of the working-class male, the codes of machismo and the unspoken bond between father and son.

Bill Snelling reflects on his lifetime passion for two-wheeling in this entertaining, motorcycle-themed autobiography. He recalls the decades of motorcycling mayhem, mud and madness that have characterised his 70-odd years iliving the dream, from the early days at Arthur Lavington's Velo shop to pounding the long-distance trials and the many race circuits he has ridden. Bill admits he was better off-road than on tarmac, but, he did win one race! He went on to work for Motorcycle Sport magazine, and as a despatch rider, before moving permanently to the Isle of Man. A great read for anyone interested in British motorcycle sports.

In the many years since Joey Dunlop's untimely death, his stature has only grown. One of the racing world's most successful riders, and certainly its leading role-model, he is sorely missed by bike enthusiasts everywhere. Joey Dunlop's racing career began in 1969, and his yellow helmet and number 3 bike quickly became synonymous with high-octane wins. He was one of the most exciting riders the sport has ever seen, drawing huge crowds to the Isle of Man TT races and to every other course he raced. Joey received an MBE for his motorcycling prowess; his racing record remains unsurpassed: twenty-six wins in twenty-five years at the TT races, and five times World Champion. On 2 July 2000 the forty-eight-year-old rider crashed during a race in the republic of Estonia. The death of Joey Dunlop triggered an unparalleled emotional response as the sporting world and his fans openly mourned his passing. He is still revered as a motorcycling legend. This book looks at Joey Dunlop's legacy and captures the rider, the family man, the winner, the humanitarian - the person behind the legend that is the 'King of the Roads'. With previously unseen photographs and updated introduction and legacy chapters, this book is a real celebration of Joey Dunlop's life and career from the public glories to the private moments.

A fascinating history of European motorcycle racing, going back to a period far removed from the world of Moto GP today: a time when many young men from all walks of life decided to give up their livelihoods in favour of earning their living by racing motorcycles on the dangerous public road circuits of the European Continent. It was a nomadic existence that involved travelling from circuit to circuit, circus fashion, hence the title 'Continental Circus.' The book begins with the pre-war period, when many young British riders travelled to the Continent to take part in the Grand Prix races, held from around 1920 and across Europe. British riders such as Alec Bennett, Stanley Woods, Jimmy Guthrie and many more, gained notable success and established their reputations on the European circuits. Moving on to the post-war era, the book details the riders from around the world who joined the Circus - self-financed 'privateers' from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The 1950s and '60s were the days of the true Continental Circus, when private riders earned their living riding all over the continent. The book also covers the development of the machines that became the essential tools of the private riders, and the eventual demise of the Continental Circus in the 1970s, due to new safety regulations and the escalating cost of racing. Chris Pereira's historical account is sourced both from first-hand experience of racing, and from his own vast library of racing history records and photographs.

A road racer to the core, Hutchy has enjoyed spectacular success at the Isle of Man TT, the North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix, but his own story goes far beyond even those triumphs. In the summer of 2010, Hutchy set the record for most wins in a single Isle of Man TT festival - five in all - having already won the Supersport class at the North West 200 in Northern Ireland. Then disaster struck. At a British Supersport round in September that year, he crashed heavily after being struck by another rider's machine, breaking his left leg so badly that at one stage it was feared it might have to be amputated. After many surgical operations and a long period of recovery, he fractured the same leg in 2012 while practising exhibition-riding for a motorycle show in London. Yet not even these disasters could keep the Yorkshireman from racing. After modifications to the gear levers and rear brakes on his race machines, he went out and won the 2013 Macau Grand Prix.Two years later saw an even more staggering return to form, when he secured three wins, a second and a third place at the 2015 Isle of Man TT, also winning the Joey Dunlop TT Championship Trophy for that year. Hutchy: Miracle Man is a book not only for fans of motorcycle road racing, but for anyone interested in the life and career of a brilliant rider and an extraordinarily brave and enduring man, a hugely popular figure not just for his achievements, but for his unassuming modesty, kindness and humour.

Presented for the first time in one book, the new-for-1971 range of BSA and Triumph motorcycles, including the 350cc DOHC twins, the innovative Ariel 3 moped, projected D18 Bantam, and the X-75 Hurricane, are all detailed in depth, along with related promotional and racing activities. Photoshoots, the lavish series of brochures and ads that emanated from them, and projected and actual colour schemes, are also presented with great accuracy. By delving into the archives of several historical institutions, a comprehensive account of the hitherto largely ignored massive infrastructure investment that took place at BSA's Small Heath works during much of 1970 is revealed, along with its re-organised North American setup. Also included is an equally fresh and detailed appraisal of BSA's financial situation, from the dawn of the 1970s, until its oblivion in 1973. Besides the many new revelations, this book contains an impressive collection of extremely rare factory photographs, many of which have never been published before, and thought to be the only copies in existence.

The Indian has been the iconic image for American big V-Twins down the years, due in no small measure to the motorcycles designed by Charles B Franklin - the Indian Scout and the Indian Chief. Charles Franklin was born and raised in Ireland where he quickly became involved in motorcycle racing during the pioneer years. He rapidly established himself as Ireland's first big star of racing and was the first to represent Ireland in international motorcycle competition. In the Isle of Man TT he consistently finished in the top eight, and in 1911 claimed second place, a remarkable achievement in itself. But it was when he moved to Indian in the USA, where he became the Chief Design Engineer, that his genius really flowed. His designs catapulted Indian back into the forefront of motorcycle design in the 1920s and '30s and his racing engines and motorcycles won much glory for Indian against stiff opposition. Franklin introduced remarkable improvements in sidevalve combustion chamber design that pre-dated the work of Ricardo. He championed an holistic approach that popularised new features such as the semi unit-construction `powerplant', helical-gear primary drive, double-loop full-cradle frames and a host of other improvements to the early motorcycles. This book not only chronicles his life but also sheds much new light on the history of Indian motorcycles and the often turbulent times of the Indian Motorcycle Company itself. A much needed book for all Indian fans and all who love the history of the classic American V-Twins.

The Moto Guzzi Sport & Le Mans Bible celebrates the iconic Moto Guzzi V7 Sport and Le Mans sporting motorcycles of the 1970s and 1980s. It tells the story of these classic bikes, which were among the first Superbikes to combine Italian style, handling, and performance.After struggling to survive during the 1960s, Lino Tonti was given the opportunity to create the V7 Sport Telaio Rosso, in 1971. It was so successful that Moto Guzzi shifted to specialize in building sporting motorcycles.Covering all models produced from 1971 to 1993 (V7 Sport, 750S, 750S3, 850 Le Mans, 850 Le Mans II, 850 Le Mans III, 1000 Le Mans IV, 1000 Le Mans V), descriptions of model development year by year, full production data, and 160 photos, this is the essential Bible for all enthusiasts.