MOTOVUDU - My Best Race - Mat Oxley

Journalist Mat Oxley has covered motorcycle Grand Prix's since 1988. He has written the official biographies of Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi. A man that has more knowledge about motorcycle racing you would be hard pressed to find. Let's hear about the best race he ever saw.
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[@kevinx9225]

I was there as an American serviceman. It was my first Grand Prix and completely set me off in a different trajectory. To see all my American racing icons, pre internet, up close AT racing speeds. As mentioned it was pissing down rain. I don't know the name but a bunch of spectators made our way in some bushes next to one of the chicanes, literally just a few feet away from the action. Mat didn't mention Mamola. He was pulling wheelies in the pouring rain thru the chicane. Schwantz had been amazingly fast at the start and I remember not knowing who Doohan was. His bike looked like it had been thrown together. Almost like a track day bike in a Gp. I was trying to figure out who this unknown fast guy was. That was my first and last European GP, but I've made nearly every GP/MGP race at Laguna since, including Kocinski's Cagiva win.

[@MrPADDYOT]

I've read a few of Mats books, an enthralling read each time, really capturing the tension, danger, heartbreak and thrills of motorbike racing. Great account of this race from the 80's.

[@m0rph3u1st]

Wow! Such an incredible story. And to think how MotoGP improved in all aspects in 40 years... Mat is talking like it was "yesterday". Such a leap in time, but really not that long ago. All those racers are the heroes of all times.

[@adamhindle9215]

'89 was a great season. I've read Michael Scott's racing yearbook for that season cover to cover umpteen times. Nip and tuck all the way between Rainey and Lawson, with Schwantz nabbing wins, and Gardner in there too.

[@nick636]

That was such a strange crash Rainey had at Anderstorp , he rarely crashed in a race and if i recall he was shown his pit-board with an extra half of a lap [due to the start and finish line being on different parts of the track] and that perhaps got him thinking about how that would play out in the closing laps battling with Lawson and that slight break in concentration was all it took for those bikes to bite back.... Thanks Mat , love your man cave and magnifecant book collection.

[@gixxerflier1]

Very. Bloody. Good.

[@raynic1173]

I believe Schwantz gives an account of that race in one of his interviews. I also think I've seen footage on KZbin.

[@blipco5]

Interesting man. 👍🍻

[@sjbechet1111]

He was also the first to do a 100mph lap of the TT on a production 250.

[@TheRalliowiec]

Simon, how about getting some of the current motogp lot to appear on this series?

[@motovudu]

their best race may not have happened yet

[@DeathsStalkerRVT]

Simon I enjoyed Stealing Speed its better than most of the James Bond movies ;-)

[@pauljoseph7324]

Which book of Oxley’s is he displaying the pictures from? What is the title of the book? Thanks Simon

[@MotoLen51]

The book Mat is showing is "An Age of Superheroes". www.amazon.com/Age-Superheroes-Sideways-through-Schwantz/dp/1844255832

[@MianCowell]

Probably the Age Of Superheroes book. Might also be from The Fast Stuff.

[@900BEN]

Would there be a chance youll reprint stealing speed

[@blipco5]

I mean to read "Stealing Speed" so I just went online to order it. Have you seen the price? Is this right?

[@MianCowell]

it's not right. if Mat still has any copies buy them off his website or buy the new graphic novel? It's cheaper to buy a new kindle and the kindle version anyway!

[@oteimoto85]

It's a fantastic book.

[@blipco5]

Thanks Mian, I found one on his website and ordered it. I saw prices on Amazon as high as $975 USD. WTF?

[@flamintasty]

Mat Oxley, famous for being the first person to crash an RC30 🙄