The Grand Prix Motorcycle

A must-have for the motorcycle enthusiast, this book chronicles how top-class racing motorcycles have evolved, from the 1949 AJS "Porcupine" E90 and through to Valentino Rossi's 2008 Yamaha M1. Told with great technical insight by Kevin Cameron, technical editor of Cycle World, this is the development history of such great bikes as Italy's dominant MV Agustas and Gileras that ruled until the mid '70s, and the game-changing Japanese two-strokes from Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda, among others.

In addition to analyzing each bike individually, Cameron presents 14 longer essays covering major "eras of design" in championship racing. These essays are illustrated with the defining bike of each era stripped of down to reveal its engine, suspension and other components.

The Grand Prix Motorcycle goes beyond technological issues to show how intense competition and input from champion riders contributed to the design choices that ultimately led to today's MotoGP winners. Cameron's story is accompanied by vividly detailed illustrations by Pepe Burgaleta, editor-in-chief of the Spanish monthly magazine La Moto.