MotoGP in Camera

Who better than well known commentator and racing journalist Julian Ryder, to write the words to this magnificent photographic record of the short reign of the 990cc four-stroke Grand Prix machines? Nicknamed the ‘monsters’ by Valentino Rossi, the bikes rewrote the history books before being consigned to the very same by the new breed of 800cc machines in 2007.

It could be argued that no words are needed, because the hardback coffee table tome utilises images from literally the world’s best snappers, to tell the story. But, it is more than just a collection of the normally accepted magazine racing shots, it uses images not normally seen to tell the whole story in a different way to other books.

Unusual angles, close ups and even the odd glamour shot mix easily with candid shots, the sort that are taken on the spur of the moment that just say so much. All you can say is that this is a photographic record of five years of racing taken by the best photographers in world of arguably the best riders and bikes in the world.

Ryder just skilfully adds the few words needed here and there and sets the scene, leaving the pictures to do most of the work. Just one of the pictures contained within its 240 glossy pages is worth the £30.00 asking price, which really is cheap for such a marvellous work.

Available form all good bookshops or direct from the publishers Haynes (www.haynes.co.uk) ISBN 978 1 84425 436 1

Review by Ian Kerr