MotoGP: Books

Any recommendations, autobiography or otherwise?


 


 

I read some weeks ago about the Jarno Saarinen debacle at Monza in 73, a lot of reports say it is an excellent read.


 


Saarinen was born in Finland, but was revered in Italy, hence why there are Italians named Jarno.  There are a few opinions how he came to lose his life, from oil on the track from a previous race, to another bike seizing in his race and wiping him out.  There was a lot of controversy even before his race started, people objecting to track conditions and reporting it to Monza powers and threats of being ejected from the track.  The FIM in those days were pretty corrupt by the accounts that I have read.


 


At the time, bikes were wheeled onto the grid from the pits, there were no sighting laps in those days and track conditions were only fully known on the first lap.  Some riders raced in more than one class, so they had seen the oil laid on the track in the previous race.  Saarinen was going to be the next big rider until his untimely death.  I was only three years old at the time but I remembered his name.


 


More info came to light several years later when a newspaper article was found, there were pictures taken of the piston from the 'seized' bike that added more controversy to the story.


 


If anybody can remember any more than what I wrote here, I would love to know your opinion on the matter.  I fully intend to buy the book one day.

I recommend Ring Of Fire by Rick Broadbent....lot of info that I never knew before.  Also Lorenzo's auto and Rossi's as well.  Ben Spies Taking It To The Next Level was interesting as well...and the Motocourse annuals fill in a lot of the backstories of race weekends


 

Does Lorenzo talk about things outside of Motogp, just because some Motorsport "autobiographies" just talk about a season talking you through how they felt at each round.

yeah he talks about a lot of stuff.  it goes from his childhood to his rookie year in motogp...They've released another edition since but I havent  it

Thanks, might have to get my self a copy.

dont spladers Neil Spalding do a lot of motogp techy books

Stealing Speed was fantastic.

Ring of fire was a great book, read it a few times even.


 


Rossis auto i read as well, been thinking of picking up the lorenzo one as well

This is not necessarily a autobiography, but at the same time it is.  Kind of.  Just more focused on riding but he tells his story,  I absorbed this book as a youth.  Fantastic stuff and great photos.


 


http://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Motor-Cycle-Road-Racing/dp/0905138511


 





 


omg!  whats up with the prices on Amazon for new copies of this! I should have never read it and kept it in plastic!  (that would have deprived me hours of pleasure poring over this book and ogling the photos )