Mick Walker

For those who share Mick's passion for the Italian marques of the last half century, the book is required reading, but there is much, too, about machines from Britain, Japan, Germany and elsewhere. Mick has also packed the pages with characters he has known personally, including some of the all-time greats; Barry Sheene, Mike Hailwood, Carl Fogarty, Fabio Taglioni, Alejandro de Tomaso and Derek Minter - whose relationship with Mick is recalled in the foreword.

His story begins with the unforgettable trip on a Ducati Daytona that sparked the passion that would never leave him. Going on to try his hand at virtually every form of motorcycle sport, Mick's passion and riding skill made him a serious roadracing contender in the 1960s, despite a shoestring budget.

Already becoming widely known as 'Mr Ducati', he went on to make Mick Walker Motorcycles one of Britain's most prominent spares stockists and dealerships. Individual chapters give his 'insider's view' of the key Italian factories, Ducati, Moto Guzzi and the Aermacchi/Harley-Davidson/Cagiva stable, from the classic era up until recent years.

Switching careers in the 1980s, Mick wrote the first of his 130+ titles, but continued his hands-on involvement as a consultant to the motorcycle trade. When his son Gary made a promising debut as a racer, Mick was on hand to help and encourage. He writes unflinchingly about the impact of Gary's tragic death in a freak accident, and about his decision to carry on as mentor to other young riders (including Ollie Bridewell and James Toseland), through his Mick Walker Racing team. Much more than just a memoir, Mick brings his vast experience to bear on motorcycling's current fascination with its past, and offers his own note of hope for its future.