What if I had never tried it?

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I got Rossi's book for Christmas.  After only about 20 pages, I'm very much impressed.  Has anyone else read the book yet?

[johnny scheff]

  I loved it, read it cover to cover in two days.  It certainly beats the hell out of the other Mat Oxley tabloid book about Rossi that I have read.  That being said I am very biased,  Vale is my guy.  I put Vale and Michael Jordan (the NBA player) on the same level.  No excuses,  no whining,  lotsa wins,  and most importantly they are both gracious losers.  I think Vale makes racing accessible to non motorcyclists.  I have had two girlfriends that couldn't stand watching racing until they saw Vale's post race interviews.  After that they watched every race with me.  The hillbilly is going down in '07 - Johnny

[Jason748]

I just got it last night...... I got about as far as you did K3, more today...

[Super Dave]

Need it since I didn't get it.

[JBraun]

I read it. I found it entertaining , some of the stories about the top secret meetings with Yamaha bosses while riding for Honda had me laughing out loud.
But by the middle of the book you're bored to death hearing Rossi talk about Rossi. I love Vale, he may be the best of all time. But the book drives home the point that Rossi is his own biggest fan. I guess it's hard to be humble when you're the best in the world.
It not be rossi's, or the writer's fault that the book reads the way it does. It was written in Italian, so the delivery may have been lost in translation.

I guess my point is that Rossi's story really isnt that great. His father got him the best rides, his talent got him the rest. Not really a heartwarming tale of triumph over tragedy.
If you weren't a road racing nut, you couldn't get past the first chapter.

[racer52]

I have read the book and Loved it also he reminded me of myself when I was a youth, less the rides and opportunities, I havent read a book cover to cover since highschool and i couldnt put it down, even faster is good to watch after reading the book, followed by the 2004 moto GP review when he made the transition from Honda to Yamaha, next year should be an exciting year to watch and maybe catch a flight to the USGP!!!

[wolf44]

great book, some of his stories from his childhood had me rolling

[cbr600_mj]

I have read the book as well, I feel the same as JBRAUN does about the book.

I did like how Rossi described how when he was chasing Biaggi, he was trying sooooo hard to keep the bike under control to be on Biaggi's tail 100% of the time, so when Biaggi looked back to see Rossi on his butt and Rossi would just give him a little wave. LOL

[svracer469]

Even to compare only the first chapter...Highside is a much better writing as it hooks your attention.  I own the Rossi book and I agree with JBraun.  Rossi does have a few neat points and stories about his rituals but that does not make it a great book. 

Vic Hyman
CCS EX MW469

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Thanks for the Highside plug, Vic!  I figure that Vali and his ghost writer together shouldn't be able to outwrite me any more than I'd stand a chance trying to outride Vali!
Sad thing is, I know which one of us will sell more books....  But hey!  That's just the way it is, right?  I may not be Vali, but I'm sure glad I get to be K3!

[tshort]

...tried to write a book, Vale.  If his racing was on the same level as his writing, he'd be a sixth year yellow-plater riding a clapped out FZR in LW class (IMHO...). LOL.

Seriously - I got this off Amazon, read 10 pages and thought , OMG - this is going to suck. Or maybe it's just taking some time to get warmed up. Another 10 pages - same thing.  More drivel about what a brilliant racer he is, and how he can beat anyone on any machine.  Dipped into the middle, hoping to maybe find something a bit more interesting, but nope - more of the same.  An Italian dictating schlock in Italian to an Italian journalist, who then translates it (poorly) into a form of English.

Stick to racing, Vale - I love watching him race, and I believe he's one of the greatest ever.  Just pray he never has to make money writing books. 8)

[251am]

 I read it and passed it on. Great insight as to why what had happened, when, with Honda. The scooter and car racing stuff is awesome. Great read I thought, but I like his style.

"Highside" has already out sold Vale's book in cheeseland alone!!