Road Racers are a breed apart. Riding at extraordinary speeds, desperate to win, they are locked in a life-and-death battle every time they race. Like showmen, they are full of bravado, and they provide us with incredible spectacles that take our breath away.

Road Racers is a tribute to these icons and their incredible skill, and to the energy and excitement of one of the world’s most thrilling sports. But it also looks behind the showmanship, to something edgier and deeper – to the fear that every rider has to face down; to the steely strength that it takes to win; and to the extremes of exhilaration and despair that define the sport.

With the kind of access to the riders that most of us only dream of, Davison’s pictures and text give an unparalleled insight into what it means to be a road racer. Intimate portraits, unguarded moments, family, fans and friendships, life and death – this is the ultimate road racing book.