Description
By: James Whitham .
In a career spanning 18 years, James Whitham endeared himself to motorcycle race fans worldwide, in British championships, World Superbike, World Supersports, Endurance and Grands Prix. His straightforward philosophy – try hard, crash, pick yourself up, then try hard again – was something that the public, mechanics and even race bosses couldn't but admire. He was a world-class talent, but a world-class tryer too.
The title, What a good do!, says it all. James never quite convinced himself that being paid to ride racing bikes wasn't a glorious fantasy that even regular trips to hospital couldn't mar. His irreverent account of growing up in a wacky Yorkshire family, of surviving career-threatening injuries and battling against life-threatening cancer is by turns inspiring and moving – but never less than
hilarious. He rode a good race but, if anything, he tells a better tale.
James retired from racing in 2003 and is now best known for his commentary work on the British and World Superbike series for ITV and British Eurosport. He lives near Huddersfield with his wife and biggest fan, Andrea, and their daughter Ruby.
When he wasn't giggling helplessly at the transcripts, Mac McDiarmid was the co-writer of What a good do!. A personal friend of James for the best part of 20 years and a former racer himself, Mac is a freelance journalist of 30 years' experience. The author of a dozen motorcycle books, including an acclaimed biography of Joey Dunlop and a history of the Isle of Man TT races (both published by Haynes), he is also a former editor of Bike and Island Racer magazines.
Winner of three British titles and a world-class competitor in World Superbike, World Supersport, Endurance and Grand Prix, James Whitham tells of his duels with the best of his generation, hair-raising crashes, serious injuries and, most gravely of all, his battle against cancer.
