Unshakeable: My Motorcycle Racing Story

by Shane Byrne

‘You don’t get to be six-time British Superbike Champion without having talent and desire’ – Wayne Rainey, three-time 500cc World ChampionShane ‘Shakey’ Byrne knows what it is like to live on the edge. The most successful rider in British Superbike history, he is the only person to have won the championship six times. Shakey is a living motorbike legend, with legions of fans across the country.For the first time Shakey tells his life story, from being abandoned as a newborn baby in a London hospital, to multiple brushes with the law and working night shifts on the London Underground to fund his early racing career. Whether it was on his BMX or joyriding through Kent, the only thing Shakey ever wanted to do was race motorbikes.Once he had got his break, Shakey quickly developed a reputation as one of the most exciting riders of his generation, and the thrill of every victory, every chicane and every overtake, as well as the hospital visits and painstaking recovery, is relived in heart-pumping detail.Unshakeable is an incredible story of winning and risk-taking, of horrendous crashes in which he nearly lost his life, of Ducatis and monster motorhomes, and of hard-fought glory in one of the most exciting and dangerous sports on the planet. Told with breathless exhilaration, Shakey’s story is one of inspiration, break-neck speed and a life lived truly on, and over, the limit.

Genres: Autobiography

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2020

Reviews

[William Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent autobiography set aside from others by the genius inclusion of a couple of chapters written by his loving wife. They are only a couple of pages but they elevate this book hugely for me. This is hugely based on his racing which is obvious but I had been a fan since his days with fast bikes magazine and was looking forward to a couple of chapters about their crazy antics hooning around doing road tests but sadly they were glossed over with mild passing references.
The seasons of racing are also glossed over keeping the book very civil and very tame but I guess in this day and age you've got to be careful who you offend!
All in all I enjoyed the book because I could fill in some Blanks as I remembered most of the races in my head but it would have been nice to have had it warts and all.
Very much worth a read but I was left a little disappointed but that is probably down to my high expectation of what I wanted and does not detract that this will more than do for the majority of fans.
Pick it up, read it and enjoy the ride.

[Patty Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book and was delighted at how much it brought to life my experiences of following MotoGP in South Africa, specifically at the Kyalami Race Track (which is quite close to Johannesburg) a friend of ours was a great friend to my eldest brother and the 2 of us used to go to the garage where our friend kept his racing bike and it was interesting how the rider knew absolutely what was wrong with his bike just by starting it up and listening to the revs on the bike, I also was fascinated at how he recovered from his relatively minor injuries and picked himself up and got on with the job he was paid to do. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it brought back GREAT memories. Thank you Shane Byrne for bringing back very enjoyable memories

[Wyktor Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the life, so far, of Shakey Byrne, from being abandoned at birth, growing up wanting to be a motorcycle racer, winning six British Superbike Championships, and to his largest accident on track which could have easily cost him his life.
Well worth reading for any motorcycle racing fan.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant read. Couldn’t put it down

[Tracey Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written book

[EDWARD FOREMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've a library of motorcycle related books. This has to be the best, honest Frank, and very human. Great book.

[Toni-Joanna Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad is a fan so I thought I’d read it. Absolutely loved the book and well written

[Dave Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got a new, signed copy from England as a birthday gift from a friend. I started it that day, and it’s fantastic. It fell aside this year due to unexpected distractions, but i finished it today.