Mike Hailwood has often been described as motorcycling's greatest rider. A superb all-around rider, Hailwood took eight world titles in the 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes. This lavishly illustrated volume contains coverage of the British Championships and early Continental races in 1959 and 1960; riding for MV Agusta and Honda in 1960-61; back with Honda and four more world titles, 1966-68; BSA and the American Daytona classic, 1970-71; plus his incredible comeback in 1978 winning the Isle of Man TT on a Ducati and winning the Senior TT title on a Suzuki. Foreword by Giacomo Agostini. Hardbound, 10" x 10", 208 pages, 225 b&w illustrations, 16 color pages

Never in the history of motorcycle racing has there been a more popular champion than "Mike-the-Bike" Hailwood. In this new study, which comes almost 25 years after Mike's untimely death, Mick Walker examines his long career, from his first race, aged 17, at Oulton Park in April 1957, to his final race at Mallory Park in June 1979. In the course of his competitive career Mike rode in more races than any other rider, and he could ride any bike. In his time he straddled everything from a 49cc Itom single-cylinder two-stroke to a 1000cc Dunstall-Suzuki GS1000 four-cylinder superbike. He could switch capacity sizes and makes at the same meeting on the same day and give breathtaking winning performances regardless. Among his many achievements he could count 12 TT victories, 10 World titles and 76 Grand Prix victories. Mike's larger-than-life father Stan, a multi-millionaire who could ensure his son always had access to the best bikes, put Mike on the path to success, but it soon became clear that Mike had more than enough talent to hold his own at the highest level. A modest, even shy man, never motivated by money or glamour, he shied away from the massive publicity he attracted. Mick Walker's book describes Mike's long and varied career, concentrating on the racing years and the motorcycles, but also considering the influence of his father and his life away from the track. A full race-by-race record appears at the end of the book.

American Motorcyclist magazine, the official journal of the American Motorcyclist Associaton, tells the stories of the people who make motorcycling the sport that it is. It's available monthly to AMA members. Become a part of the largest, most diverse and most enthusiastic group of riders in the country by visiting our website or calling 800-AMA-JOIN.

In June 1978, eleven years after he quit Grand Prix motorcycle racing, Mike Hailwood returned to the Isle of Man TT races, probably the most prestigious and certainly the most demanding road race in the world. On a privately entered V-twin Ducati he won the Formula One race, beating the works Hondas of Phil Read and the late John Williams, and breaking the lap and race records. It may have seemed a fluke; it certainly was a fairy-tale - until 1979. Fifth in the Formula One race, despite losing top gear and his battery, first in the Senior, and second by only 3.4 seconds in the Classic - probably the finest and closest-fought race the Island has ever seen. Hailwood proved, if anyone doubted, that he was still the greatest motorcycle racer of all time. Mike the Bike - Again, written by his manager and friend, Ted Macauley, is the account of his dramatic comeback, from the original wild idea to his final race. More than this, though, it is a study of a remarkable man in a remarkable world, and of the races, the machines, and the men who ride them.

Mick WalkerÆs Italian Racing Motorcycles Mick Walker. This much enlarged and heavily revised edition looks at both major and minor players throughout Italy who have produced racing motorcycles of significant interest. Among the legendary Italian motorcycles included in this volume are Aermacchi, FB Mondial, Bimota, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, Garelli, Bianchi,Laverda, Gilera, MV Agusta and Parilla. Well done! Sftbd., 8 1/4"x 11", 256 pgs., 683 b&w ill., 86 color.