It was with good reason I was slightly hesitant to review Mark Beretta’s The Riders; I know nothing about motorbikes. My sports tend to revolve more around ball than wheel, and the greatest danger my heroes are likely to face is a rogue throw or an immovable line judge. My fears seemed justified when Beretta proclaimed early in the book that ‘there are only two types of people in this world: those who ride, and those who don’t’, immediately isolating those who don’t. In fact, you don’t get the feeling Beretta wrote the book to attract new people to motorsport or really whether he wrote it for anyone particular in mind at all. Besides some brief explanations far too late in the book, there was little information to help a beginner understand the basics, which is a shame, considering the potential the book has to attract newcomers to the sport. The Riders details some fantastic exploits of Australian sportsmen, some names familiar to even me, and others new but just as interesting. Beretta captures the essence of what it means to be a star in a sport where injuries are common, death is a very real risk, and home unlikely to be seen for years at a time
The Riders starts slowly, somewhat in contrast to the beginnings of the many superstars’ careers detailed later in the book. The history of motorsport too often reads like a Wikipedia page, listing the achievements without capturing the reader’s attention. Ensuring you can actually get through the first quarter of the book with its dates and numbers sprawled across every page, the history is somewhat helpful throughout the mini biographies of the riders, although it could have been cut shorter.
It is the biographical part of the book that really leaves its mark with the reader. It’s where Beretta’s passion and admiration shine through and he tosses aside statistics and data in favour of exciting stories. The chapters on Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan ground the reader with some solid history of the sport and are completely necessary, but the book doesn’t really take off until these chapters are finished. From Barry Sheene onwards the book begins to take the shape of something much more than just an encyclopedia of motorbike riders in Australia. Every rider has a tale to tell, every one seems to have suffered at least one career threatening crash. Their sometimes tough decisions to keep on riding despite physical ailments including broken bones can come across foolhardy, but the courage and determination far outshine a stubborn disregard for doctor’s orders. An orthopedic surgeon’s nightmare, the reader is constantly left in awe of the riders’ ability to get back on the bike after suffering a frightful collection of injuries.
Beretta has done a decent job of trying to understand a rider’s psyche with an extensive collection of interviews and a wealth of knowledge. The same theme resonates throughout the different stories; despite all having found fame on the world stage there wasn’t a single one that didn’t originate from a humble Aussie background with big dreams to take on the world. Their can-do attitude drives home what it means to be an Australian, what people worldwide sing the anthem and lift the flag for. Beretta hammers home the idea that with a dream and bravery an Aussie can take on the world.
Of course that amount of testosterone and competitiveness doesn’t mean these brave Australians always see eye-to-eye. Beretta doesn’t neglect the relationships between each man he chronicles and overlaps their stories brilliantly. Whilst he makes it clear the younger riders often look up to people like Doohan he doesn’t neglect the conflicts and fierce rivalries that occur within generations. Beretta borders on focusing too much on the negative, but there is no doubt the drama makes for interesting and sometimes funny stories. By the second half of the book, the pages are almost turning themselves.
The Riders isn’t a book I’d recommend for those with no motorbike knowledge. It took persistence and patience to get past the scrolls of facts to the more interesting parts of the book and those who are not sports or motorbike inclined may find it too tedious to bother. This isn’t to say it requires a textbook worth of knowledge to get through, a spark of passion is all that is needed because once past the first third, the book truly does shine. The Riders is therefore perfect for anyone with an interest in motorsport from the beginner to the expert. Even the most passionate fan is bound to find out something new about one of their favourite riders. As for me, Beretta’s passion has proven somewhat contagious. Whilst I won’t be jumping on a bike anytime soon, I’ve made mental plans to visit the MotorGP at Phillip Island next year to see what all the fuss is about.
