Told with style and great technical insight by acclaimed author Kevin Cameron, this is the development history of 500cc and MotoGP road-racing motorcycles from 1949 to the present day. It can be read as separate chapters, or as a connected narrative of the evolution of the engines, chassis, brakes, and tires used in World Championship racing. Intense competition, rapidly changing technology, and input from the world's best riders all contributed to the important design choices that ultimately led to today's MotoGP bikes and to the closely similar modern production sportbikes.