Bike Heroes

Follow motoheads Brian Manley, Rich Taylor, Phil Lawrence, and others in search of the ultimate motocross adventure.

A small group of racers dominated the motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship in the ultra-competitive era of the late 1980s and early 1990s; they are the Bike Heroes. In an exclusive interview and exceptional archive race footage, this programme recalls highlights from the career of one of the best-known stars of that period, Randy Mamola. Famed for his flamboyant style on and off the track, the American was the most successful GP racer of the era not to win the World Championship, finishing runner-up four times to greats like Eddie Lawson and Wayne Gardner. At the end of the 1990 season, with his future in doubt, Mamola talks candidly about his early career, not being taken seriously as a rider, his dedication to working for children’s charities and his racing. We are treated to action-packed footage from his GP highs and lows, including his dramatic rides in the rain at Assen, Spa and Suzuka, famous ‘near-misses’ as he high sides in Italy and Brazil and the fine rides which saw him claim 13 wins and 57 podium finishes from 151 starts. His determined racing style and flamboyant personality made him a favourite among fans and fellow racers, and as the action-packed footage reminds us, on and off the track he was a true Bike Hero.

A small group of racers dominated the motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship during the ultra-competitive era of the late 1980s and early 1990s; they are the Bike Heroes. In an exclusive interview and exceptional archive race footage, this programme recalls highlights of one of the stars of that period, Wayne Gardner. He became Australia’s first World Champion, regularly beating greats like Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and Kevin Schwantz, and was established as a national hero when he won the inaugural Australian Grand Prix. Gardner, talks candidly about his life and career, including his first bike, how he got into racing and the early days of Superbike competition in Europe.We are treated to action-packed footage from his GP highs and lows, including his first win, favourite victory, tension-packed battle for the 1987 World Championship and the injury-causing crashes which blighted his final years. Gardner reveals how close he came to giving up on the crown in his title-winning year, who he considered his greatest rival and why he nearly retired from racing after his traumatic first Grand Prix. Hearing a genuine Bike Hero like Wayne Gardner talk openly about his career is fascinating, and the dramatic film from races like the 1986 Spanish GP, 1987 Japanese GP and, of course, Australian GP in 1989 make this an essential viewing experience.

A small group of racers dominated the motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship during the ultra-competitive era of the late 1980s and early 1990s; they are the Bike Heroes. Chief among them was Eddie Lawson, who started his career in the era of Sheene and Roberts and ended it racing alongside Rainey, Schwantz and Gardner. Along the way the American legend contested 127 GPs, finishing on the podium a staggering 78 times, claiming 31 wins and being crowned World Champion four times. His remarkable consistency and rare mistakes brought him success and the nickname ‘Steady Eddie’, as well as legions of fans. Notoriously private, Lawson did his talking on the track, and that’s what this celebration of a true great is all about. In action-packed testing, practice and race footage we follow Lawson’s career from his 1983 debut to his 1992 swansong. From the drama of his first Grand Prix win and World Championship in 1984, through the glory years with the Giacomo Agostini-run Yamaha team and his brief stint with Honda and onto the final years with Cagiva, scintillating race action and period interviews chart a stunning career. The film recalls how his 1986 battle with Gardner delivered 7 wins and 10 podium places from 11 races, as well as a second world crown, how he recovered from a serious shoulder injury to claim his third title and how he ignored controversy on and off the track to take an unlikely fourth championship in his first, and only, year with Honda. Then, of course, there was the disastrous year with Kenny Roberts at Yamaha before the surprising final chapter on board the wayward Cagiva. Lawson may not have been a fan of his ‘Steady’ nickname, but as the breathtaking action in this programme shows, he was one of the most consistent Grand Prix riders in history and fully deserves his place as a Bike Hero.

A small group of racers dominated the motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship during the ultra-competitive era of the late 1980s and early 1990s; they are the Bike Heroes. One of the most outstanding talents of this era was Wayne Rainey, a rider who proved unbeatable for three years in a row and was destined for even greater success until cruel fate intervened. This action-packed film features dramatic race footage from throughout the American’s glittering Grand Prix career, including his first win in 1988, highlights from each of his championship-winning years and the legendary 1989 Australian GP, considered one of the best races ever. We recall how Rainey secured the crown in 1990 and 1991, and remember how he became the ‘Comeback King’ in 1992, fighting off injury and hard-charging rivals to secure an unlikely third World Championship at the final race of the season. The film unveils Rainey’s rivalry with Kevin Schwantz, with edge-of-the-seat coverage of races like the 1991 German GP, and as well as featuring rare footage from testing and Rainey’s time away from the track – including dirt bike racing with Kenny Roberts! There are also period interviews with Rainey and contributions from his colleagues and rivals. Plus, there is rarely-seen footage from Rainey’s first Grand Prix career – racing in the 250cc class in 1984 - and his return to Europe in 1987 for the Transatlantic Challenge.Rainey’s glittering racing career came to a sudden end at Misano in 1993 as he fought for the championship. Although his racing days were over aged just 32, he had already established himself as one of the sport’s true greats, and a genuine Bike Hero.