Some folks follow MotoGP racing because of the personalities involved, others, and I have a hunch that would be many of you, are more interested in the tech side of things, it’s not who is riding what, it’s what are they riding. If you count yourself among the latter group, Kevin Cameron’s new book, The Grand Prix Motorcycle: The Official Technical History, is something you’ll want to read. Although the large format and glossy pages make you think it’s one of those coffee table books soon forgotten, in reality, this is a complete history of the top level of motorcycle racing from the FIM World Championships beginning in 1949 right up to the present day motorcycles in MotoGP.
The championship motorcycle for each year is presented with a color illustration and full technical details above a timeline with all of the year’s races and how the bike fared. Each bike has an accompanying one page essay with a description of the engineering involved and discussing technical and development issues along with competitive developments from the other manufacturers. There are also a series of longer essays detailing the various eras from the early British development to Gilera and MV, when competition from Honda first challenged the MV, the Kenny Roberts years, Rainey, Doohan, the return of 4 strokes and much more.
Kevin Cameron, who most of you know from his many Cycle World and earlier Cycle articles, covers the entire history from the perspective of someone with a deep technical understanding of the motorcycles who enjoys telling us what he knows.
It’s striking how, in the early years, MV Agusta dominated the series, with a first win in 1956, then after Gilera won in 1957, MV Agusta returned with an uninterrupted series of championships from 1958 through 1974!
Cameron also points out the inherent power delivery issues of the 2 strokes and how the machines in that era, though incredibly powerful, could hardly be ridden by the best racers, making the transition back to 4 strokes a welcome change for many, followed by decreasing lap times as the riders could better control the power through and out of the turns.
If I have an issue with the book, it’s the availability, or rather lack of it. The book is just out and on Amazon it immediately went on back order, then it’s been in and out of stock since. It looks like you can also order through Cycle World magazine, though Amazon should be getting more very soon so an order will likely be filled before long.
If you want to get a good sense of the entire technical history of racing at the premier level, how engines, tires, suspension and every other detail, evolved as experience and knowledge increased, this is the book you’ll want. Definitely recommended.
Link: The Grand Prix Motorcycle
Sticker Boy says
That book is going on my birthday wish list!
Tin Man 2 says
Kevin Cameron has the ability to make Tech read like a good book. Ive read his book Top Dead Center and enjoyed it, so I will be adding this latest book to my personal library soon.
Skizick says
One of my favorite parts of reading Cycle World is Kevin’s dissertations on the tech side of you-name-it. How else would one learn of support legs for 1907 iron piston domes? If too much unwieldly power was a main culprit in eliminating two strokes from Moto GP, let’s add traction control to ’em. How about that Mr. Cameron?
johnny says
wow,what a treasure..and the illustrations look beautiful
todd says
Darn, back ordered.
-todd
kim says
Anybody familiar with KC’s writings already know what kind of quality book that man garuantees. If motorcycling was a religion (yeah, I know some of us think it is), KC would be one of the major gods.
Thure says
“If motorcycling was a religion (yeah, I know some of us think it is), KC would be one of the major gods.”
No, he would be a profet!!!!! And there would be Goddesses of cornering, dragstrip, the long trip e.t.c.
OMMAG says
Another great find …. thanks for sharing with us Paul!
nobody says
It seems there are 2 different editions:
http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Prix-Motorcycle-Official-History/dp/184425528X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240970398&sr=1-5
That one seems to be available in the UK – or at least it is on eBay.
TDC II is coming out in a few months.
If this is what happens when magazines fade away (Motorcyclist’s publisher just went bankrupt, if I read right), then books like these are very very welcome. It is good to be a literate motorcyclist again
kneeslider says
The other edition available in the UK is from a different publisher, don’t know if the content is different in any way, the cover illustrations are different but that may be it. That edition is available at a variety of prices from third party sellers.
The way this book was released is a bit odd, especially since it’s a book that motorcyclists would really appreciate. It would be interesting to know the “deep thinking” that went into the planning before publication.
todd says
It’s probably modeled after how Yamaha initially released the FJR: take orders and promise to deliver when there’s enough interest. Were there any books available or did the exposure on TheKneeslider sell the things out?
-todd
kneeslider says
todd, even when they show no stock, orders are going out, it’s just that back orders take whatever they get so none are ever “in stock.”
Tim says
Oh yes, I will be buying this. By the way, for those of you interested (and apropos of the pic of the OW48 above) there is a good interview with Kenny Roberts in the current “Classic Racer” magazine out of the UK.
http://www.classicracer.com/
next edition has an interview iwth Wayne Rainey
todd says
order status update from Amazon:
“Estimated arrival date: May 26 2009 – June 23 2009”
-todd
kneeslider says
todd, just file that email away and forget about it, then in a little while, a box will arrive one day with a very neat book inside. Now you know there’s something nice coming your way in the near future and it will be a surprise. Cool.
todd says
Kinda like finding that old 20 in you jacket pocket.
-todd
todd says
got my book yesterday. The wait is over.
-todd