Moto GP - a photographic celebration Over 200 photographs from the 1970s to the present day of the world's best riders, bikes and GP circuits

by Wain, Phil; Spencer, Freddie

• ISBN13: 9781781317532
• ISBN10: 1781317534
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2018-11-06
• Publisher: White Lion Publishing

Summary

'Moto GP is about the individual’s story, the battles between the individuals, the different personalities, the different men that are striving for one goal, to win the world championship'. Freddie Spencer, three-time world champion 

Since its earliest beginnings on public road courses to today’s purpose-built championship courses, Moto GP has always been about one thing: pushing man and machine to new heights of performance.
 
Telling the story of how leading manufacturers such as Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki, have strived to build the perfect machine, and detailing the incredible rivalries of such sporting legends as Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene, Freddie Spencer and Eddie Lawson, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo – to name just a few – Phil Wain uncovers the stories behind historic races, the innovations that made the best bikes on the grid and describes the infamous moments in which riders were made champions.
 
Moto GP is a photographic celebration of the heroes, bikes and circuits that have defined the adrenaline-soaked world of motorbike racing.

Author Biography

Phil Wain has been a motorcycle journalist for almost fifteen years and is features writer for a number of publications including BikeSport News and Classic Racer, having also been a regular contributor to Motor Cycle News, MCN Sport, Irish Racer and Motorcycle Racer. Between 2004 and 2010, Phil was the PR Officer for Guy Martin and currently occupies the same role for a number of teams at both the British Superbike Championship and International road races, including 23-times TT winner John McGuinness, Macau Grand Prix and North West 200 legend Michael Rutter, JG Speedfit Kawasaki and Smiths Racing BMW. Phil is also heavily involved with the organisation of the Isle of Man TT Races, for whom he writes all the official press releases and race reports and provides ITV4 with statistical information. Phil is author of Guy Martin: Portrait of a Bike Legend and co-author, with Rick Broadbent, of Barry Sheene: The Official Photographic Celebration of the Legendary Motorcycle Champion.

Table of Contents

Section 1 – the history of the World Championship
An overview of when, why and how the World Motorcycle Championships were formed in 1949
The dominance of British riders and manufacturers in the 1950s
The arrival of the Italian manufacturers
The Japanese invasion of the 1960s
The change in the sport in the 1970s, moving away from public road circuits to man-made short circuits
The arrival of the Americans
 
Section 2- the 1980s
An overview of the World Championship in the 1980s, focusing on the 500cc class and the dominance of American riders but also looking at the smaller classes and how Spain and Italy reigned supreme.
 
The Rivalries
Kenny Roberts – Barry Sheene
Anton Mang – Jon Ekerold
Kenny Roberts – Freddie Spencer
Freddie Spencer – Eddie Lawson
Eddie Lawson – Wayne Gardner
Eddie Lawson – Wayne Rainey
Wayne Rainey – Kevin Schwantz
 
The Riders – as above plus
Franco Uncini
Marco Lucchinelli
Randy Mamola
Ron Haslam
Carlos Lavado
Sito Pons
Juan Garriga
Luca Cadalora
Angel Nieto
Christian Sarron
Niall Mackenzie
Rob McElnea
John Kocinski
 
Teams
Gallina Suzuki
HB Suzuki/HB Honda
Marlboro Yamaha
Gauloises Yamaha
Lucky Strike Yamaha
Rothmans Honda
Pepsi Suzuki
 
Section Three – the 1990s
An overview of the World Championship in the 1990s, focusing on the 500cc class and the dominance of Michael Doohan and Australia; the retirement of the American greats; the lack of British riders; the emergence of mainland Europe as a force in 500cc racing; the change in riding styles; the threat from World Superbikes
 
The Rivalries
Kevin Schwantz - Wayne Rainey
Michael Doohan – Max Biaggi
Michael Doohan - Alex Criville
Alex Criville – Kenny Roberts jnr
 
The riders
Eddie Lawson
Wayne Gardner
John Kocinski
Doug Chandler
Tadayuki Okada
Daryl Beattie
Luca Cadalora
Alex Barros
Carlos Checa
 
Teams
Marlboro Yamaha
Rothmans Honda
Repsol Honda
Lucky Strike Suzuki
Movistar Suzuki
Cagiva
Red Bull Yamaha
 
Section Four – the 2000s
An overview of the World Championship in the 2000s, the move away from two-strokes to four-strokes; the emergence, dominance and longevity of Valentino Rossi; the hierarchy/promotion from Moto3 to Moto2 and then MotoGP; the demise of the USA as a force in MotoGP
 
Rivalries
Kenny Roberts jnr – Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi - Max Biaggi
Valentino Rossi – Sete Gibernau
Valentino Rossi – Casey Stoner
Valentino Rossi – Jorge Lorenzo
Valentino Rossi – Marc Marquez
 
Carlos Checa
Loris Capirossi
Nicky Hayden
Colin Edwards
Dani Pedrosa
Maverick Vinales
Cal Crutchlow
Andrea Dovizioso
Troy Bayliss
James Toseland
 
Teams
Marlboro Yamaha
Red Bull Yamaha
Repsol Honda
Camel Honda
Gresini Honda
Aprilia Racing
Team KR
Pons Honda
Movistar Suzuki
Marlboro Ducati
Fiat Yamaha
 
Section Five – the circuits
An overview of the race circuits used in the World Championship, looking at the road circuits used in the 1950s and 1960s (e.g. TT, Ulster GP, Nurburgring) and how the calendar expanded from Europe-based to North/South America, Asia, Australasia and Africa; the dominance of Spanish and Italian circuits on the calendar; a focus on Assen in Holland, the only circuit to be used every year since 1949
 
Donington Park (1980s-Present)
Silverstone (1980s-Present)
Assen (1980s-Present)
Spa (1980-1990)
Salzburgring (1980-1990)
Paul Ricard (1980-1990)
Le Mans (1990-Present)
Nurburgring (1980-1990s)
Hockenheim (1980-1990s)
Sachsenring (1997-Present)
Jerez (1987-Present)
Valencia/Catalunya/Aragon
Misano (1980s-Present)
Mugello (mid-1990s-Present)
Phillip Island (1989-Present)
Laguna Seca (1988-2000s)
Indianapolis (2000s-Present)
 
Section Six – World and British Superbikes
A look at the World and British Superbike Championships, especially the former which started out as a ‘retirement home’ for former MotoGP riders, then became a bigger, more popular series than MotoGP, and is now effectively a feeder series to MotoGP