#Documentary

Imagine doing what you do for a living and at the end of the day being thrilled you’re still alive. - Lee Johnston

No conversation around the Isle of Man TT is complete without talking about the very real possibility of death. More than any other competition in the world today, few, if any, are more dangerous than the Isle of Man TT. But ask anyone who competes in the legendary race (or has ever competed in it) and you’ll hear a general theme about why they do it: Passion. Love. Fulfillment.

We know that regular MO readers are fans of the Isle of Man TT. Friend of MO, Andrew Capone, gives us annual posts from the event, and the analytics tell us that they are very popular. So, the release of the feature-length documentary film Tourist Trophy should spark more than a little interest among the fans. Over the course of 90+ minutes, viewers get the opportunity to get to know some of the variety of riders taking part in the 2022 Isle of Man TT. 

The thing about the Isle of Man TT is that we can’t get enough of it. Thus defines the magic of the race. There’s speed, there’s intrigue, there’s gasoline, there’s adventure – and looming not far off in the background is death. When you distill what makes the Isle of Man TT so interesting to so many of us, the essence of it all comes back to this: death looms large at the Isle and every competitor stares it right back in the face.

The race, and those who take part in it, has been documented numerous times by so many entities, both in and out of motorcycling precisely because of the bravery and skill of everyone involved. Its mainstream relevance is a tribute to the people, machines, organization, and the island itself. And now a new mainstream entity has chosen to create a documentary around this historic race.

Audience Network’s original documentary series, Religion of Sports, is back for Season 3, premiering Wed, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Co-Produced by Patriots QB Tom Brady and Hall of Fame Defensive End Michael Strahan, the series highlights various cultural and historical experiences in sports across the globe, from famous rivalries to unforgettable hardships. The first episode of Season 3 features the incredible story of the Isle of Man TT. Located on a small island between Ireland and North England, this story follows the most dangerous motorcycle race in the world, featuring riders who navigate old, windy roads of a small English village at speeds close to 200 mph.

In the sneak preview clip below we don’t see any motorcycle racing, and yet the production quality ensures it’s one in a string of Isle of Man TT documentaries that can’t be missed.

It goes without saying that the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the most dangerous motor races in the world. I should know – I flew off the mountain and lived to tell about it when I raced Pikes Peak in 2013. Coincidentally, Carlin Dunne was there that year, too. In fact, he was the fastest two wheeled machine up Pikes Peak on the motorcycle we now know as the Lightning LS-218. The year prior Dunne won the race on a Ducati Multistrada, setting a course record that stood for five years.

After 2013, Dunne took a break from competing on the mountain. He even had a stint being a rider coach to all the Pikes Peak newcomers. Then, in 2017, when Chris Fillmore aboard his KTM 1290 Super Duke R, broke Dunne’s record, Ducati wanted to get the title back. In the five years since Ducati last held the record, the Multistrada evolved into the Multistrada 1260 – an even more potent weapon for the mountain. Who was the natural choice to ride the bike? Dunne, of course.

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Anyone out there who likes motorcycles – especially dirtbikes – will surely enjoy the video below. And this is true especially if you are or know someone middle-aged. 50 Years Of Kicks is a documentary about off-road riders Paul Rodden and Larry Murray, both of whom were successful racers at various stages of their riding careers.

This short film includes a famous Oliver Wendell Holmes quote that sums up the philosophy behind Rodden and Murray: “Men do not quit playing because they grow old. They grow old because they quit playing.”

Rodden is a mechanical engineer who has worked at NASA and has won three enduro titles in the over-50 class, while Murray is a former Canadian enduro champion from the mid-1970s. At the time of this 2012 film, Murray was in his early 60s and Rodden is 10 years older, so seeing these grizzled riders still tearing up the trails and wheelying across streams is nothing less than inspirational for moto enthusiasts of any age, especially those who are middle-aged and wondering how many more years of riding is in front of them.

Dubbed The Greatest of All Time, or simply, the GOAT, Valentino Rossi is a living legend in the world of MotoGP. Fans can’t get enough of him, and frankly, neither can we. Thankfully, Rossi is also sponsored by Monster Energy drinks, who have funded the making of a five-part series entitled: Valentino Rossi: The Doctor. In this, the fifth – and final – episode of the series (you can catch episode 1 here,  episode 2 here,  episode 3 here, and episode 4 here), we take a look at Valentino’s legacy. His success on the track has afforded him the opportunity to thrive in business, but he also understands that what he’s achieved should also be carried forward by the next generation. This video shows how he hopes to make that happen. Check out Monster’s description of the video below, then keep scrolling to view the episode.

The fifth and final episode of ‘Valentino Rossi: The Doctor Series’; a collection of clips created to prize away some of the layers of one of the most famous and best-loved motorsport athletes of the modern age; a man that everybody sees everybody enjoys but perhaps few really know. ‘The Boss’ carries a double meaning. Rossi is not only the top dog in the premier class of MotoGP and has existed in that sphere since 2000 but he also heads up a hefty business sprawl of merchandise and distribution. ‘VR46’ has a stylish and functional HQ near Tavullia and is the base for an enterprise that also looks after many other interests. We speak to the people running a busy parallel existence for Valentino and find out how the Italian is creating a legacy and an empire designed to last when the chequered flag has long since dropped.

Dubbed The Greatest of All Time, or simply, the GOAT, Valentino Rossi is a living legend in the world of MotoGP. Fans can’t get enough of him, and frankly, neither can we. Thankfully, Rossi is also sponsored by Monster Energy drinks, who have funded the making of a five-part series entitled: Valentino Rossi: The Doctor. In this, the fourth of five episodes (you can catch episode 1 here,  episode 2 here, and episode 3 here), we step away slightly from Valentino the racer, and learn more about Valentino, the person. As we get to know more about Valentino, we see how his jovial personality carries over onto the racetrack. Check out Monster’s description of the video below, then keep scrolling to view the episode.

*Unfortunately, Monster’s editing team made a number of mistakes in this vid. During the portion where Rossi talks about his legendary first race with Yamaha at Welkom, South Africa in 2004, the video shows video clips from Catalunya instead. Monster’s editing team also claim Rossi won five titles in a row with Honda. Lastly, the origin behind The Doctor moniker is rather simple (Rossi rides with surgical precision), but Monster flubbed that, too. Those errors aside, the video as a whole is rather entertaining.

Valentino Rossi sits at the centre of his own whirlwind. Success on the track has been matched with a colourful character, universal appeal in the world of sport and a higher profile than perhaps any other motorcycle racer in the history of Grand Prix. Rather than shying from the spotlight or tiring from the attention the Italian forged a persona; a means to transmit the enjoyment of racing and motorcycling that underpins his longevity and continuing influence.

‘The Doctor’ first appeared in a bevy of yellow, bright letters, a ‘46’ and some cartoon logos. The post-race celebrations, liveries, japes and antics through the course of nine world championship wins helped cement Rossi’s professional image as one of fun as much as competitive ruthlessness. This latest episode – ‘The Doctor’ – looks closer at the man and his impact and influence through two decades of MotoGP and some of most memorable moments in modern day Grand Prix. The Tavullia inner circle is again the rich source of information and perspective as we try to go behind the theatricalities of ‘The Doctor.’

Dubbed The Greatest of All Time, or simply, the GOAT, Valentino Rossi is a living legend in the world of MotoGP. Fans can’t get enough of him, and frankly, neither can we. Thankfully, Rossi is also sponsored by Monster Energy drinks, who have funded the making of a five-part series entitled: Valentino Rossi: The Doctor. In this, the third of five episodes (you can catch episode 1 here, and episode 2 here), the series follows Valentino to his famed training ground: The Ranch. A throwback to the racers of the past, Rossi likes to keep his skills sharp by practicing in the dirt. But he also likes staying close to home when possible. Luckily, Valentino’s father, Graziano Rossi, purchased some land for his son long ago that Valentino turned into his personal playground for he and his friends to practice on. Check out Monster’s description of the video below, then keep scrolling to view the episode.

‘The Ranch’ is a source of inspiration, motivation and high-speed adrenaline for Valentino Rossi. At this private facility just outside his hometown of Tavullia the Italian has prolonged his love of motorcycles, his passion for competition and laid the foundations for an even longer legacy in the sport of MotoGP. Granted exclusive and special access this is a unique insight and glimpse into the dirt track facility and the regenerative role it has played for ‘46’. From chronicles of its creation owing to a land purchase by his father Graziano to tales of BBQs, bench-racing, and visits from some of the world’s most renowned motorsports athletes this is the story of ‘The Ranch’ told by those who have tasted the dust. Come for a special trip into the curves and camaraderie in the hills of Tavullia.

Dubbed The Greatest of All Time, or simply, the GOAT, Valentino Rossi is a living legend in the world of MotoGP. Fans can’t get enough of him, and frankly, neither can we. Thankfully, Rossi is also sponsored by Monster Energy drinks, who have funded the making of a five-part series entitled: Valentino Rossi: The Doctor. In this, the second of five episodes (you can catch episode 1 here), the series follows Valentino to the biggest race on the MotoGP calendar: Mugello. Rossi’s home race, the pressure is always high, as are the demands for his time. But The Doctor loves this place and the fans love him back. If you could only attend one MotoGP race all year, Mugello is the one to be at and this video gives a glimpse into the reason why – the fans are some of the most passionate people you’ll meet anywhere. Check out Monster’s description of the video below, then keep scrolling to view the episode.

The second episode in the ‘Valentino Rossi: The Doctor Series’ ventures to one of the most intense, emotional and important Grands Prix on the MotoGP slate: Mugello. In the spectacular Tuscan hills lies the fast and sweeping racetrack at which Rossi has enjoyed and endured some of the finest and most difficult moments of his career.

The 5km asphalt has been home to seven consecutive MotoGP wins and is also an annual festival of colour, noise and ‘fandom-mania’ as Valentino stands at the centre of the whirlwind for three days.

‘Racing Mugello’ follows the man under the brightest and most pressurised of spotlights with insight and comments from his inner circle and group. What is the Grand Premio D’Italia really like for an icon such as The Doctor and the fans that flock to see him? This is Mugello.

Dubbed The Greatest of All Time, or simply, the GOAT, Valentino Rossi is a living legend in the world of MotoGP. Fans can’t get enough of him, and frankly, neither can we. Thankfully, Rossi is also sponsored by Monster Energy drinks, who have funded the making of a five-part series entitled: Valentino Rossi: The Doctor. What’s it all about? Read the description below, straight from Monster Energy’s Youtube page, then keep scrolling to see the first episode.

‘The Greatest of All-Time’ is the first of five episodes from the Valentino Rossi: The Doctor Series and examines the appeal and reach of arguably the fastest and most popular motorcycle racer in the history of Grand Prix and MotoGP. Opinions and insight are provided by Valentino himself plus Colin Edwards as well as the Italian’s inner circle and from the close-knit community back in his hometown of Tavullia.

What makes an icon? What causes people to utter the words ‘the greatest’ when it comes to the inescapable and irrepressible ‘46’? This first chapter attempts to dive into these questions and more with exclusive and special opinions on Valentino’s career, character and two-decade global impact and burgeoning legacy. Episode 2 – Racing Mugello will be released at the end of May 2016. The Series will continue by visiting his Ranch, business empire and focus on the man behind the myth.

If you’re already a fan of grand prix motorcycle racing, Hitting the Apex will transport you from the stands inside the garages and beyond, occasionally into the living rooms of the riders themselves. Any sports documentary capable of doing that must be deemed a success.