Motocourse 2004-2005

Motocourse 2004-2005

My first copy of Motocourse, paid for with wages earned from a summer janitorial job, set me back nearly $50. That was a lot of money to me, but my racing hero, Eddie Lawson, was the cover subject, the smooth-riding American having just wrapped up his third 500cc title.

Lawson wrote the foreword that year, as was common practice for the premier-class world champion. For this year’s 29th edition, however, four-time 500cc runner-up Randy Mamola somehow got the nod. Nothing against Mamola, but it would have been nice to read Valentino Rossi’s reflections on his surprise win.

Happily, each Grand Prix still gets its own space; the greatest coverage naturally goes to the MotoGP class, followed by 250 and 125cc action. Season re-caps of World Superbike and Supersport, the Isle of Man TT, AMA and British Superbike, Sidecar and results from other major championships make for a thorough mix. As for features, “Big Bang Redux,” CW Technical Editor Kevin Cameron’s essay on the latest developments in four-stroke cylinder firing order, and editor Michael Scott’s profile of Rossi are worth the price of admission.

Beautifully illustrated with spectacular, full-color images from the world’s best racing photographers, Motocourse remains roadracing’s definitive annual. It’s still expensive, and it’s still worth every penny. -Matthew Miles

Matthew Miles

Motocourse 2004-2005, Michael Scott, 192 pages, $62; Lantec Books, P0. Box 410, Sydenham, Ontario, Canada K0H 2T0; 888/490-1876; www.autocourse-motocourse.com