Product Description

MotoGP is enjoying a period of unprecedented popularity and Ring of Fire details the acclaim, the heroism and the pressures of riding motorbikes at speeds of more than 200mph. This is a world where manufacturers invest millions and the world champion celebrates by staging mock jail breaks and giving pillion rides to a blow-up doll. One rider warms up for major races by singing Hank Marvin songs on his karaoke machine and a rising Italian star sees the world in terms of black and white energy tubes. Another sees nothing strange in racing with two broken ankles.Ring of Fire covers the recent history of MotoGP, from American Nicky Hayden spectacularly overturning established champion Valentino Rossi in 2006, through the emergence of wild young Australian Casey Stoner as the new champion in 2007, to the fierce rivalry between them and Spaniards Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo in what would prove to be one of the most closely-contested years of racing in 2008. It gives a behind the scenes look at World Superbike Champion James Toseland's attempts to break into this elite, and looks back at the tradition of reprobates, romance and debauchery in the paddock dating back to the 60s and stars like Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostino.Rick Broadbent introduces us not just to the stars and the multi-million pound contracts, but also to the officals, mechanics, doctors, team owners and fans who make up this white-knuckle ride of a sport. By turns funny, sad, shocking and uplifting, Ring of Fire brings us face to face with those who battle to emerge unscathed, or who just ignore the pain and ride to win against all odds.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26670 in eBooks
• Published on: 2009-11-24
• Released on: 2009-11-24
• Format: Kindle eBook
• Number of items: 1

Review
This is a stunning book. It is history but reads like a 'can`t put it down' novel - hardly surprising considering it grippingly features the two greatest racing motor cyclists of all time, Mike Hailwood and Valentino Rossi. Rick Broadbent tells the enthralling story of a thrilling and dangerous sport like never before and it had me by the throat. --Murray Walker

From the Back Cover

This is the fast lane and they all dance in a ring of fire...

In Ring of Fire, the first book to cover the whole of the MotoGP era, Rick Broadbent gives a breathless behind-the-scenes account of the acclaim, heroism, pressures and danger of life at 200mph. At its centre is Valentino Rossi. Brilliant, eccentric, brave and above all fast, the Italian megastar has left motorcycling records trailing in his wake. From his rivalries with Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau, through his dethroning by a farm boy named Nicky Hayden, the emergence of young Australian Casey Stoner from the back of a mangy paddock trailer, to warring Spanish starlets Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, Rossi has risen, fallen, and been reborn.

Ring of Fire also looks back at the sport's tradition of romance, reprobates and debauchery, interweaving the story of Rossi's hero, Mike Hailwood, a legend who double-dated twin sisters with his great rival Giacomo Agostini before launching a mesmerizing comeback of his own. By turns funny, sad, shocking and uplifting, Ring of Fire brings us face to face with the extraordinary cast of characters that make up this white-knuckle sport and what makes them tick. To be faster, harder, better.

About the Author
Rick Broadbent is a sports writer for the Times, for whom he covers MotoGP, among other things. He has previously witten books on football, boxing and athletics as well as, most recently, collaborating with motorcycle legend Ron Haslam on his autobiography Rocket Men, published by Bantam Press in July 2008.