A small group of racers dominated the motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship during the ultra-competitive era of the late 1980s and early 1990s; they are the Bike Heroes.

Kevin Schwantz burst on to the scene in 1986 at the Transatlantic Challenge races and went on to quickly establish himself as a favourite of the fans. Through interviews and classic all-action footage this DVD charts Schwantz’s rapid rise from rookie to World Championship title challenger.

Unsurprisingly his legendary rivalry with Wayne Rainey takes centre stage as they do battle fairing-to-fairing on some of the world’s best known circuits such as Spa-Francorchamps, Assen, Donington, Suzuka and Jerez.

 At Brands Hatch and Donington Park in the Transatlantic Challenge it is Schwantz who has the upper hand. Once they move up Grand Prix racing they find they’re not just battling each other but also legends such as Wayne Gardner, Randy Mamola and Eddie Lawson.

We see Schwantz’s first Grand Prix win at Suzuka in 1988, his victorious return to the circuit in 1989 and some of the darker moments such as a big crash which saw the Texan sidelined with a broken knee.

The film ends with the close of the 1989 season so we don’t get to see Schwantz crowned world Champion in 1993 but it gives a great insight into the grit, determination and style it takes to become a true Bike Hero.

Publisher: Duke Marketing

Status: Current