Product Description

Experience the ragged edge of road racing - the most extreme of extreme sports. Man and machine hurtling at 170mph between hedges and stone walls, balancing speed and risk at every corner. But behind the adrenaline-charged race scene there's another story: the long hours of the monotonous day job that pays for the racing; the longer nights in small, draughty sheds building the bikes; the banter of the paddock; the struggle to overcome the pain of crash injuries; the abject misery of defeat and the sheer joy of the podium. In "Ragged Edge", Stephen Davison, author of bestsellers "Joey Dunlop: King of the Roads" and "Beautiful Danger", tells that story. In over 120 stunning full-colour photographs, he gives a thrilling and personal insight into the road racing scene and the lives of the riders. He draws the reader into the world of current and former road racing stars like Joey and Robert Dunlop, David Jefferies and John McGuinness, Martin Finnegan and Ryan Farquhar, as well as lesser-known racers like Kenny McCrea and Dean Cooper. Through Davison's photographs we share in their moments of bravery, disappointment, pain and triumph, and enjoy a roadside view of the incredible racing action they create in Ireland, the Isle of Man and Macau. These photographs and the stories behind them are a compelling testament to the trust and intimacy that exists between Stephen Davison and the riders.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14648 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

Review
"An exceptional visual display of memorable moments."

About the Author
STEPHEN DAVISON is from Tardree in County Antrim and has been a motorcycle road racing fan since he attended his first race in 1974. He has been a photographer with Pacemaker Press International since 1994 and is the author of the bestselling Beautiful Danger (Blackstaff Press, 2003) and Joey Dunlop: King of the Roads (O'Brien Press, 2000). Hailed by MCN as 'the world's number one pure road racing lensman', Davison is the recipient of various photographic awards, including Northern Ireland Sports Photographer of the Year and Northern Ireland Press Photographer of the Year.

Customer Reviews

Stunning
This is the true story of roadracing told in pictures. All the highs, the lows, and everything in between. A must have for any motorbike fan. In one word; Stunning.

Brilliant
The action photography is only the half of it. As interesting are the shots of the riders in moments of inactivity, and away from the track. Not overburdened with narrative the highs, lows and everything in between are captured, together with the stories behind them.

A must for any fan of road racing.

Ragged edge
Ragged Edge: A Raw and Intimate Portrait of Road Racing

This was one of those rare books that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck as you view the images. The photographs appear to be a combination of skillful and considered vantage point selection, combined with state of the art photographic equipment. The composition, lighting and cropping of all shots are spot on; the sort that mere mortals like myself only aspire to.

Putting aside any technical analysis, this is a superb, well laid out book that will appeal to anyone that has seen road racing in the flesh.