Description
By: Julian Ryder .
In 2002 the premier class of motorcycle racing underwent the biggest change in its history. Out went technologically irrelevant Grand Prix 500cc two-strokes and in came MotoGP and 990cc four-strokes. The new `monsters', as Valentino Rossi called them, instantly overpowered every race and lap record on the calendar. Halfway through the 2005 season it was announced that the following season would be the last for the 990s and from 2007 the capacity limit would be 800cc.
Honda's RC211V was the outstanding machine of the period and Valentino Rossi the dominant character, but when the Italian moved to Yamaha for 2004 and won again he not only rewrote the record books but reminded the world that in motorcycle racing it is the man who matters more than the machine.
This book is a photographic record of the five years through which these 'monsters' roamed the race tracks of the world. The chapters on each year present arresting images of the major players and significant events, together with a short history of the season and a timeline. Between these five `year' chapters are interspersed further chapters themed to reflect different aspects of the MotoGP World Championship, such as Danger (illustrated not just by crash shots but also more subtle but just as scary images) and Places (looking at the tracks rather than the racing).
Our intention has been to use photographs that would not necessarily get printed in regular newspaper and magazine reports of the racing. While there is a sprinkling of straightforward action shots, especially in the chapters reporting the individual seasons, emphasis has been placed on the more unusual images, such as Valencia from the air, Japanese security guards forcing back -over-enthusiastic Rossi fans, or a close-up of a crashed Ducati's tank.
Photographers from the UK, Italy, Germany, Poland, France, Australia, Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands contributed their work, while Julian Ryder, British Eurosport's MotoGP commentator, made the final choice and provided the words. Nicky Hayden, the last man to win a world title under the 990cc formula, has written the foreword and provides the best possible argument for adding this book to your library.
