Customer Reviews

Wayne Rainey: His Own Story

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Wayne Rainey is far and away the best motorcycle racer to hail from the States. His story is told truthfully and matter-of-factly. I really felt for him, his wife and son after reading this book in about 3 days while on bed-rest while pregnant. He tells how his drive and determination got him to the top of the Grand Prix circuit and how that same drive and determination led to his spectacular crash. Wayne is a true hero for those of us who don't have enough guts to get on a two-wheeled machine and go for the checkered flag like he did. He tells how scary it was in those first few hours after the crash, having to tell his wife that he was REALLY hurt and wouldn't make it to a 4th consecutive title. Wayne also tells about the feelings he went through after the crash and how difficult it has been to just go to the bathroom and not make a complete mess out of his clothes and his wheelchair.

Any motorcycle racing fan will be spellbound by this book. Wayne attends the AMA and World Superbike races every year at Laguna Seca and will stop and talk with you and let you put your 4 month old daughter on his lap for a picture with one of the greatest motorcycle champions arounds.

Wayne Rainey was certainly one of the greatest GP Racers to hit the scene in the late 80's-early 90's. With 3 consecutive world championships under his belt he had his 4th wrapped up when tragedy struck. Rainey's career was cut short and thus began a new chapter in this champion's life. The book deals with his youth, and his early racing years on the dirt tracks of Southern California and later, the dirt tracks throughouit the US. His entry into GP racing makes for some of the most intriging and blatantly honest reading you will find. With Kenny Roberts as team manager, Wayne Rainey's career began to open up and the more you read the better this book gets. This is simply the best book on the "inside" of a GP racer and the entire lifestyle that goes with it. (Ever wonder how "team-mates" get along when they BOTH want to win? ) Don't pass this one up. It deserves to be read.

I met wayne as a fan in 1987 at Road Atlanta when he rode for Honda after having read so many magazines about him.I never Heard of Kevin Schwantz until that weekend and Wayne despite being very busy, courteously found time to have Shay take a photo of both of us and give me an autograph.He was so receptive and pleasant.That weekend I watched in awe his amazing battle against Kevin's Suzuki and would never forget that day for the rest of my life.Then I continued to watch him on TV from 1988 to that fateful day.The book brought tears and lumps in my throat.This book tells it all and is a must buy.I am also a racer a know the will and the determination to win at all costs.This book also helps us analyze ourselves and our personal relationship with GOD.A precious collector's item to have.

I met Wayne Rainey at the 1993 Malaysian Grand Prix when I was working for the company that sponsored him . I am a motorcycle rider , but had never been to a GP race before. We had a cocktail reception the night before the race, and casual beers with Wayne, Kenney Roberts, and their crew the evening after his amazing win. Wayne was as relaxed and down to earth as anyone I'd ever met, and not at all self-impressed with his amazing three Championship titles (and being in the lead for a fourth). I am not usually in awe of celebrities, but Wayne was so "normal" you couldn't help to feel like you had known the guy for years.

The day of the race, I stood at the corner at the end the main straightaway. I watched as Wayne led the pack roaring down the straightaway at almost 200 mph towards me after the first lap. Seeing him wait until the last possible moment before braking hard, and then throw the bike and himself into that corner at an impossible lean-angle, was the most impressive feat of human courage I have ever witnessed first hand. I told him so over beers that night, and he only blushed and, knowing that I rode bikes, said that I "could probably do it with practice". (Ha !).

I later watched in horror as he crashed in Italy, and followed his perseverance as he made the trip back into racing as Yamaha team manager despite his disability.

The most wonderful thing for me about having met him , is that Wayne has given me two vivid examples of human courage and bravery to strive for....One as a racer, and one as a man who has dealt with his paralysis with grace, dignity, and every bit as much bravery as it takes to throw yourself into a corner at 160 mph.........celebrating human courage , knee skimming the pavement, concentrating and intense despite being surrounded by 15 other crazies on screaming 500 cc GP bikes all doing the same thing. I am 56 years old now and haven't met him since, but 17 years later, I think of him often.....Wayne is still the most courageous man I ever met.

It's been some time since I last read this biography of Wayne Rainey, but I certainly remember the emotions, and especially the growing pride, I felt with each turned page. The writing was very easy to read, and the content flowed well from Wayne's childhood and foundation of a Champion in the making, through his personal relationships, and to the present (time of writing). I recommend this book to all that loved to watch his battles with Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Freddie Spencer, and Mick Doohan, and wish to simply know more about the Champion. And I recommend it to anyone that thinks the world and life aren't fair. Perservere!

Wayne Rainey is my favorite Road Racer. This book really let's you know what it takes to be a World Champion and the struggle when its taking away. For any race fan this book is a must have!

This is a must for every motorcycle racing fan. I am a GP fan but unfortunately Wayne's career ended a couple of years before I started getting into bike racing. This book is an amazing tale of courage. I could not imagine going through what he had to go through. One of the best biographies I have ever read.