The story of the Vostok is a little-known, but fascinating slice
of motorcycle racing history.
In The Vostok Road Racers, possibly one of the only volumes
written on the subject, author Raymond Ainscoe combines rarely-seen photos and
thoroughly researched text to uncover this absorbing tale.
As well as engaging accounts of the races and the leading
figures, this is also a story about politics in the former USSR and Baltic states,
the politics which shaped the fortunes of Vostok, and indeed all motorcycle
production in the region during this era.
It is a detailed and extremely readable account of the
involvement of the former USSR
in motorcycle racing, and the development of the bike.
As the author remarks, was it not such a mouthful, the book’s
full title could be The S, CKB and Vostok Road Racers built in Serpukhov
The foreword is written by Endel Kiisa, a works Vostok rider
whose photographs and recollections formed the foundations of the book.
Raymond Ainscoe has been writing about classic racing for
almost three decades, his work appearing in many magazines and books. In
addition he wrote the script for the Great Italian GP Racers programme,
produced by Duke. As well as writing about classic racing machines, Raymond
regularly joins parades and races for classic bike, usually on a Gilera.