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Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire is an insider’s account of the acclaim, heroism and pressures of being a MotoGP racer. It is a high-octane revelation of the feuds, danger, politics and adrenaline inside MotoGP World Motorcycling Championship.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
14 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Rick Broadbent
20 books4 followersRick Broadbent is a sports writer for the Times, for whom he covers MotoGP, among other things. He has previously witten books on football, boxing and athletics as well as, most recently, collaborating with motorcycle legend Ron Haslam on his autobiography Rocket Men, published by Bantam Press in July 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 31, 2018
Possibly the best book on motorcycle racing I have ever read, one that takes you inside the racing circuits and into the lives of those who go chasing demons at 200 mph. Rick Broadbent is a gifted writer who moves the story forward quickly with precise words and vivid imagery.
There are times when Broadbent injects too much of himself into the narrative and it is clear that one of his reasons for intertwining the stories of Mike Hailwood and Valentino Rossi is that he pines for the old days of motorcycle racing - one in which the participants are as interested in late night parties, testosterone rages, and strippers prancing on the grid as they are the races. What drives Broadbent to elevate Rossi is less about Rossi's incredible ability and dedication to the art of motorcycle riding and more about seeing Rossi as a throwback to his heroes of the swinging 60's: Hailwood, Ago, Phil Read, and those who met death on unsafe tracks and machines that lack any of the modern technical advantages of today's motorcycles. As a result, the modern riders like Stoner, Pedrosa, and Lorenzo are portrayed in mostly unflattering prose and come off as cardboard cutouts, only there to serve as scenery in the Rossi story. The story ends in 2008 with Rossi's recapture of the MotoGP championship after losing to Hayden in 2006 and Stoner in 2007.
Still, it is an interesting juxtaposition of comebacks by two legends of the sport: Hailwood's incredible victory at the Isle of Man at the age of 38 after an eleven year hiatus and Rossi's return to glory after a new generation of riders bested him in MotoGP.
That Rossi remains competitive in 2018 with yet another generation of riders as he passes the age of 40 is a testament to his greatness, a greatness that Broadbent argues transcends sport and is reserved for cultural icons.
There are times when Broadbent injects too much of himself into the narrative and it is clear that one of his reasons for intertwining the stories of Mike Hailwood and Valentino Rossi is that he pines for the old days of motorcycle racing - one in which the participants are as interested in late night parties, testosterone rages, and strippers prancing on the grid as they are the races. What drives Broadbent to elevate Rossi is less about Rossi's incredible ability and dedication to the art of motorcycle riding and more about seeing Rossi as a throwback to his heroes of the swinging 60's: Hailwood, Ago, Phil Read, and those who met death on unsafe tracks and machines that lack any of the modern technical advantages of today's motorcycles. As a result, the modern riders like Stoner, Pedrosa, and Lorenzo are portrayed in mostly unflattering prose and come off as cardboard cutouts, only there to serve as scenery in the Rossi story. The story ends in 2008 with Rossi's recapture of the MotoGP championship after losing to Hayden in 2006 and Stoner in 2007.
Still, it is an interesting juxtaposition of comebacks by two legends of the sport: Hailwood's incredible victory at the Isle of Man at the age of 38 after an eleven year hiatus and Rossi's return to glory after a new generation of riders bested him in MotoGP.
That Rossi remains competitive in 2018 with yet another generation of riders as he passes the age of 40 is a testament to his greatness, a greatness that Broadbent argues transcends sport and is reserved for cultural icons.
May 22, 2019
I now know more than I really need to know about the debauchery and sex lives of VR, and Mike the Bike among others. The book is a very detailed account of the rise and return of VR as champion of MotoGP. It includes an interlaced account of the return of MtheB to the IoM TT. Most of it is interesting but a lot of it is not. The accounts of actual races and the bumping and grinding of motorcycle racing is always fun. Even the head games and rivalries are good reading. But some of the party antics and ancillary details seemed to me just ho hum. There really wasn't all that much sex per se but what there was just seemed unrelated to the tale.
Generally, this is a well-written book; the author is a sports journalist so I would expect it to be. He does his work best when he ponders, with the riders words as backdrop, the terror of flying a motorcycle around a track at 200+mph. It is not a sport for wussies and yet some of the riders are paradoxically neurotic and insecure. These existential ponderings are the most interesting parts of the book to me. I have ridden motorcycles since I was a teenager and I am now nearly 70 years old. I have also raced occasionally, although not even close to the levels of these riders; enough to grasp the terror of hurtling through straights at speed and then bringing a bike down to near stop through hairpins; definitely the kind of thing to get your ticker going. Broadbent does a good job of capturing this, whether he is a rider or not (I suspect he is not). This is uncommon.
For a book that was a good as this, it just seemed to take a long time to read it. Maybe it was just me.
Generally, this is a well-written book; the author is a sports journalist so I would expect it to be. He does his work best when he ponders, with the riders words as backdrop, the terror of flying a motorcycle around a track at 200+mph. It is not a sport for wussies and yet some of the riders are paradoxically neurotic and insecure. These existential ponderings are the most interesting parts of the book to me. I have ridden motorcycles since I was a teenager and I am now nearly 70 years old. I have also raced occasionally, although not even close to the levels of these riders; enough to grasp the terror of hurtling through straights at speed and then bringing a bike down to near stop through hairpins; definitely the kind of thing to get your ticker going. Broadbent does a good job of capturing this, whether he is a rider or not (I suspect he is not). This is uncommon.
For a book that was a good as this, it just seemed to take a long time to read it. Maybe it was just me.
October 24, 2017
For those of us who have been following MotoGP from at least 2003 this book has a somewhat harrowing start with it being written from the perspective of an ‘unknown’ rider, you then find out he is Japanese, he recently toured some Honda factories with his friend and competitor Valentino Rossi and then they both got incredibly drunk and he fell asleep in his own vomit at the 2003 eight hours of Suzuka race (confirmed by Rossi’s own autobiography), you then find out that he is racing at his home Grand Prix. Some of you with exceptional memories might now remember what happened at Suzuka in 2003 with the fatal crash of Daijiro Kato, the 2nd most recent death in MotoGP after Marco Simoncelli in 2011 (Rossi’s biography has nearly a chapter dedicated to Daijiro Kato)
This book is split into 2 ‘stories’ being told in alternate chapters, the first is about modern day (well 2001-2008) MotoGP and concerns things like Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi’s rivalry, Nicky Haydens championship year, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo’s career beginnings and journey to MotoGP and lots of other aspects of modern motorbike racing, the chapters range from 15-30 pages in length
The other part of the book is Mike Hailwoods comeback to motorbike racing at the 1978 Isle of Man TT, and covers topics such as his childhood and friends and colleagues, It also covers motorbike racing during the 1960’s and 70’s but mainly concerns Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read etc, these chapters range from 2-6 pages in length
To begin with I was not a massive fan of the authors writing style as the jumping from recent MotoGP back to the 60’s-70’s each chapter took some getting used to, Also as this book covers such a vast timeline sometimes the sheer amount of information you are being given can be a little overwhelming and hard to follow which is also hindered by the fact that sometimes it can be a little choppy with a story or anecdote finishing then with no break except a full stop another will start about a completely unrelated topic. Having said all that though the amount of information that this book gives is incredible, For someone my age (27 at the time of writing) the recent parts of the book were a nice reminder of things I had watched and witnessed and occasionally forgotten, But the parts from the 60’s and 70’s were all new for me, I knew Giacomo Agostini was the rider with most championships but I knew extremely little about Mike Hailwood so those parts were very insightful and I applaud the amount of research this book must have taken, even though it seems some things were taken almost verbatim from Valentino Rossi’s own biography
This book is split into 2 ‘stories’ being told in alternate chapters, the first is about modern day (well 2001-2008) MotoGP and concerns things like Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi’s rivalry, Nicky Haydens championship year, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo’s career beginnings and journey to MotoGP and lots of other aspects of modern motorbike racing, the chapters range from 15-30 pages in length
The other part of the book is Mike Hailwoods comeback to motorbike racing at the 1978 Isle of Man TT, and covers topics such as his childhood and friends and colleagues, It also covers motorbike racing during the 1960’s and 70’s but mainly concerns Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read etc, these chapters range from 2-6 pages in length
To begin with I was not a massive fan of the authors writing style as the jumping from recent MotoGP back to the 60’s-70’s each chapter took some getting used to, Also as this book covers such a vast timeline sometimes the sheer amount of information you are being given can be a little overwhelming and hard to follow which is also hindered by the fact that sometimes it can be a little choppy with a story or anecdote finishing then with no break except a full stop another will start about a completely unrelated topic. Having said all that though the amount of information that this book gives is incredible, For someone my age (27 at the time of writing) the recent parts of the book were a nice reminder of things I had watched and witnessed and occasionally forgotten, But the parts from the 60’s and 70’s were all new for me, I knew Giacomo Agostini was the rider with most championships but I knew extremely little about Mike Hailwood so those parts were very insightful and I applaud the amount of research this book must have taken, even though it seems some things were taken almost verbatim from Valentino Rossi’s own biography
May 31, 2019
A fantastic book if you are anyway interested in Moto GP
May 6, 2022
Recommended by my friend. Got back into motoGP 2020 after many years of not watching it. Helped me fill in some missing gaps.
February 20, 2025
One chapter mike hailwood, next chapter rossi, repeat untill the end. Really annoying to read.
March 29, 2016
I’ve always had a serious jones for motorcycles, but knew little about motorcycle racing until I read Rick Broadbent’s book. "Ring of Fire" focuses on the top-tier international racing circuit known as “MotoGP”, which is roughly equivalent to Formula One in the automobile world. This is an enjoyable introduction to racing, although it is a bit hard to follow. The author’s style is to use a cascade of detailed anecdotes strung together in roughly chronological order. Complicating matters is a structure that attempts to tell two independent stories in alternate chapters. The main story concentrates on racing’s young turks, while the second narrative describes a grizzled veteran coming out of retirement. At any rate, “faster, harder, better” is the mantra that unites these brave souls, who routinely pilot their two-wheelers in excess of 200 mph.
November 16, 2010
Since 1999 im the one of millions follower or fans of Valentino Rossi. I remember the time when I was young the first time I watch him in the TV he is on the first palace and three more laps before the finished line he won and he is on the champion position he got the trophy from worldcup tournament.Valentino Rossi on the first place from the team Yamaha, Max Biagi on the second place from the team Honda and third place is Dani Pederosa from the team Ducati. I also remember the place that does three guys race we've race is on the Laguna seca in Dubai. Valentino rossi is 34 years old boy,he known as the Ring of Fire or The Time Killer. I like him beacause everytime I ride a bike i feels like im Valentino Rossi.
November 16, 2010
I think that Valentino Rossi is a good racer, he was a champion at MotoGP era. He lives in Italy and the FIAT sponsored him. He was started in 150cc racing and improved his self and get to a higher class of motorcycle a 400cc. He had a darkside rivalies from spanish heroes Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, and from the double World Superbike Champion James Toseland. Valentino Rossi had his infamous rivalries with Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau. He also known as "The Ring of Fire." I like him because he is one of my idol and he is a great racer.
July 26, 2017
I adored this book. It is really well written - Broadbent is a master of weaving the spectrum of events together with all of the drama and focus that the sport deserves. He captures every moment as if there were a camera set up right there. He gives me access to the side of the riders that I don't see on track.
Ring of Fire entertained me to no end and I'm so pleased that he has a new book out. It appeared instantly on my 'to-read' list and I'm really looking forward to it.
A magic little book that I would recommend to any casual or avid motorsport fan.
Ring of Fire entertained me to no end and I'm so pleased that he has a new book out. It appeared instantly on my 'to-read' list and I'm really looking forward to it.
A magic little book that I would recommend to any casual or avid motorsport fan.
May 3, 2013
Although this story is not a loss, I do not think the author is a rider; he lacks a certain empathy and insight. He is detached. Though he uses the words, "faster, harder, better"..he lacks the 'momentum'. This appears to be more 'reporting' of a collection of scattered 'times' weaved into a whole. Albeit it is okay, any glimpse is better than none. Nice enough.
December 31, 2013
This book was interesting - I enjoyed the contents but I'm not a fan of Broadbent's style. Essentially, it's two stories that alternate chapters: one for the rise of Rossi and the other for the return of Hailwood. I've recently become a HUGE MotoGP fan so the contents themselves were very interesting, but the delivery left something to be desired, particularly in terms of dialogue.
September 23, 2010
If you love 2 wheel motorsports you will love this. It is great how the author brings the careers of Mike Hailwood and Valentino Rossi together.
April 6, 2011
I've only read 3 chapters so far, so I dont have a real opinion as yet. It has been interesting to read some of the behind-the-scenes, to what I see on tv each week.
August 4, 2011
Great read about the life of MotoGP racers, with lots of info on V. Rossi
June 28, 2012
An interesting inside look at the world of MotoGP and its most interesting champions. It can be a bit confusing to follow the jumping back and forth through time, but still an enjoyable read.
February 2, 2015
Excellent
Really enjoyed this book.
I think it's a good read for any sports history fan.
Very good insight to motorcycle racers
Really enjoyed this book.
I think it's a good read for any sports history fan.
Very good insight to motorcycle racers
July 28, 2016
Amazing book! Really gets you in the world of MotoGP! Hope we can see one more for the more recent events!
October 6, 2012
A must read for any MotoGP fan. An essential read for any Rossi fan.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews