THAT NEAR DEATH THING

Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2012, the sub-title is 'Inside the TT: The World's Most Dangerous Race', updated to include an Afterword, the book looks at the Isle of Man TT race through the eyes of Cummins, Martin, McGuinness and Dunlop. It is a life-affirming journey and a throwback to a maverick era. Guy Martin is a tea-drinking truck mechanic and TV eccentric who 'sucks the rabbits out of hedges' but must now deal with the flipside of fame. Conor Cummins is the local hero facing a race against time as he battles depression and a broken body after falling down the mountain. John McGuinness is the living legend fending off the ravages of middle age for one last hurrah. Michael Dunlop is the wild child living with one of the most remarkable legacies in sport. Rick Broadbent gets inside the helmets of these four leading motorcycle racers as they battle fear, fire and family tragedy for a gritty sort of glory. It is the most rounded, intimate, behind-the-scenes account yet of the last great race. 360 page paperback, 16 pages of colour photos.