By: Mat Oxley
Hardcover: 144 pages
Dimensions (in inches): 0.60 x 10.28 x 7.82
Publisher: Haynes Publishing; (September 2002)
ISBN: 1859608914
More: wBW Motorcycle Racing Page | Valentino Rossi – Photographs by Tide Mark Press
Like many people, I became a huge fan of Rossi back when he was riding 125’s. Watching him graduate to and then dominate the 250 class made me realize we really were seeing a genius at work and this might be one of those rare times when you can watch history being made.
Rossi didn’t disappoint, either — he went on to win the 500 GP (now called MotoGP) class, then came back and won again on the completely new four-stroke in 2002. And he continues on, so far leading the points in 2003, even though his closest rivals have identical bikes. Rossi has smashed just about every motorcycle racing record there is, and he’s only 23 years old!
I was a bit embarrassed to buy this book; I kind of felt like a teenager trying to learn more about a personal idol. And I figured the book would be one of these “quick hit” bios that was meant to quickly capitalize on Rossi’s fame. Well, it does go a bit over the top in some ways, but it also provides some interesting background on Rossi, including his childhood, his important relationship with his father and more.
Mat Oxley is a well-respected journalist and wrote this book in close cooperation with Rossi and his family, and I don’t believe Oxley would be taken in by hucksterism. If you’re at all interested in motorcycle racing or in trying to learn what makes Valentino Rossi tick, you’ll get more out of this book than any other source so far. I’m sure there will be many more books on Rossi to come…
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