Bill Ivy: The Will to Win

When Bill Ivy was fatally injured while practising for the East German Grand Prix in July 1969, motorcycle racing lost one of its greatest-ever competitors. This biography is a fitting tribute to a great rider.

Bill Ivy was certainly not only a great rider, but also a unique personality. He had a steely determination to succeed, an almost fearless courage, and a love of fashion and fast cars.

Although only 5ft 2in tall, he more than made up for his lack of stature by his immense upper body strength, which meant he could cope with any size of motorcycle from a 50cc Itom to a 750cc Norton-engined Matchless G15 CSR

It was as a member of the Yamaha factory team that he not only became World Champion, but also set the first 100mph TT lap record on a 125cc machine

Bill Ivy: The Will to Win is a fitting tribute to one of the world’s greatest-ever motorcycle racing stars.

About the Author

Mick Walker is acknowledged as one of the world's leading motorcycle authorities. In a career which has spanned over 45 years, he has written over 100 books and curated several exhibitions.

He has also been a successful racer, tuner, team manager and talent scout. In 1998 he was involved in The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

There is virtually no aspect of the motorcycle industry in which he has not been involved. During the 1980s, he was editor of Motorcycle Enthusiast magazine and, in 1999, Ducati presented him with a lifetime achievement award, the first ever of its kind.