The Right Line - Michl Technik

Selected from the BP Video Library, we present three actionpacked films from an extraordinary period of motorcycle road racing as legends like John Surtees, Bob McIntyre, Bike Hailwood, Bill Lomas, Gary Hocking, John Hartle and Dickie Dale do battle around Europe.

First, we have The Ulster Grand Prix 1955, the full story of a thrilling dice for victory at the famous Dundrod course. The black-and-white footage charts the dramatic 500cc race, as McIntyre, Surtees, Dale, Hartle and more do battle, and Lomas secures an unlikely but popular victory. The story of the race was fight between Norton and the Moto Guzzi, and the essential role pit stops and reliability would play in the outcome of the famous showdown. Notably, this archive footage includes limited but fascinating on-board footage from during the race, a rare view of racing from more than five decades ago.

We take a step forward to 1959 for our second film, Grand Prox de France. The colour footage, and the vocal talents of Raymond Baxter, bring us all the action from both the 350cc and 500cc races at the new and challenging Clermont-Ferrand circuit as Norton, AJS and MV Agusta do battle, and Surtees emerges as the dominant power in both classes. While the motorcycle racing is first-rate, this film also includes the rare treat of classic World Championship sidecar racing, the thundering outfits battling on the twisting Clermont-Ferrand track is wonderful to see and hear.