MotoGP Blog

The author, Rick Broadbent, is one of the longest-serving members of the pack of journalists covering MotoGP. He’s seen champions come and go, and holds a passion for the sport and for motorcycles which is evident in his writing.

Peppered with anecdotes and insight, the book does not fail to deliver the inside story that the tag line promises. This is the human side to the paddock, the one without the PR machines, the one with actual people living their lives. Pranks and tantrums are laid out in luscious detail; the inverting of Biaggi’s pretentious personalised Smart car in the paddock, Biaggi’s fit of pique at being denied hospitality for his large circle of friends and subsequent ramming of the hospitality tent with his scooter, Hopkins and Byrne setting fire to a field (and, accidentally, themselves) out of boredom are some that stick in the memory. There are many more. There are also poignant moments: the death of Kato, tales of tragedy in the TT, stubborn denial of the risks by the riders; the risk and the reward of the Ring of Fire. All human life is here: tragedy, success, risk, reward, loss but throughout the sense of humour of all involved prevails.

The book alternates between the tales of the major incidents in the top class of motorcycle racing over the last ten years or so, and with stories from the triumphant return to the TT by Hailwood in 1978. The juxtaposition of tales of Rossi and his peers with Rossi’s hero, Hailwood, serves to bring home how much has changed in racing since 1978, and also how little. Hailwood and his clan had their pranks and playboy lifestyle just as Rossi does today. Death and serious injury were much more common in Hailwood’s heyday, but the sequence in the book dealing with the loss of Kato at Suzuki serves to illustrate that how the riders deal with tragedy remains the same. It is blocked out. The riders have to do this, so they can allow themselves to enter the Ring of Fire week after week. The dedication and sacrifice of the riders and their families is brought home again and again - the Haydens, the Stoners, the Davies. This is no normal life. This is not easy. Not for anyone, not for Hailwood, and not for Rossi.

Ring of Fire is a fantastic, page turning read which presents a window into the personalities which are normally only seen on the track or in a press conference. Modern riders Pedrosa, Stoner, Biaggi, Lorenzo and Rossi are shown in a new light, one which may change your opinion of them. Hailwood’s return to the TT is one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time Ring of Fire gives us the back story to Mike the Bike’s return. MotoGPBlog has no hesitation in recommending you add this to your collection.

Ring of Fire, the Inside Story of Valentino Rossi and MotoGP is published by Bantam on July 16th, and can be ordered through Amazon via the links below. You’ll also be supporting MotoGPBlog by buying through our Amazon store.