{"product_id":"ragged-edge","title":"Stuart Barker: Ragged Edge [2023]","description":"\u003cb\u003eOne week in June. One small island. 40,000 annual visitors. Raw speed. Numerous annual deaths. The Isle of Man TT motorcycle road race. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFive minutes to go.\u003c\/b\u003e The claxon sounds, harsh as an air raid siren. Television crews attempt last-minute interviews with riders. The thousand yard-stares give it away: they're really not listening now.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFour minutes to go.\u003c\/b\u003e The grandstand is packed. Some racers tell their mechanics, 'I'll see you later for a pint' - just to make themselves believe they will.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThree minutes to go. \u003c\/b\u003eFor the first man on the road, hidden dangers exist. He will have no-one to follow. And he is the hare that the greyhounds will be chasing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwo minutes to go.\u003c\/b\u003e By the end of the first lap, riders will be howling past faster than a bullet from the barrel of a gun. A full 160pmh. And that's not even the fastest part of the course.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOne minute to go.\u003c\/b\u003e The atmosphere is palpably tense. It's like no other sporting event on earth. Formula 1 drivers can crash spectacularly and just walk away. Everyone knows that's not the case here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFive seconds.\u003c\/b\u003e The starter raises the chequered flag, ready to snap down. No more time for nerves, for doubts. The race has started. How it will end, no-one knows. The TT has begun.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eRagged Edge\u003c\/i\u003e, Stuart Barker will write the definitive story of this unique event, from the tarmac up. The history, the atmosphere, the heroes, tragedies and legends. And most importantly: our fascination with this seductive yet perilous test of skill and daring. This is the unvarnished, raw truth behind the world's most dangerous sporting event - in the words of those who ride it.\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Barker, Stuart","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":46499625697619,"sku":"9781789466942","price":17.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0616\/4001\/6057\/products\/barker-stuart-ragged-edge-9781789466942-49010853052755.jpg?v=1680990645","url":"https:\/\/keatsandchapman.info\/products\/ragged-edge","provider":"Chapters Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}