Haynes 2009 MotoGP season review out now

This sixth edition of the MotoGP Season Review examines in detail a year of racing dominated by four men.

Dubbed ‘the aliens’ – Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner between them they won every race, but one.

No-one else started from pole or set a fastest race lap all season. Only Andrea Dovizioso’s win on a cold, damp track at Donington Park, broke the domination of the aliens.

The unique Riders’ Rider of the Year poll once again tells you who the riders themselves think is the fastest man out there: no prizes for guessing who the top four are, but the order in which their peers ranked them may surprise you.

Each rider’s season is analysed in full and there is the annual report on the activities of MotoGP’s charity, Riders for Health. In the smaller classes, the 250s said goodbye after 61 years with a fight that went down to the wire, and Briton Bradley Smith won races and challenged for the title in the 125s.

TV commentator Julian Ryder again gives his insight into the events behind the results with back-up from the usual distinguished team of contributors.

This was the first year of the single tyre supplier in MotoGP, a seismic change in GP technical regulations, so technical guru Neil Spalding traces the development history of Bridgestone’s race tyres as well as analysing each bike with the help of stunning double-page photos.

Mat Oxley provides the introductory feature, Andy Ibbott reports on the 125 and 250cc championships, and Peter Clifford describes the Red Bull Rookies Cup.

Once again, Andrew Northcott ‘s astounding images adorn the pages of the MotoGP Season Review.

It’ll cost £25.

Rob Hull

By Rob Hull