The 1997 500cc World Championship has gone down in the history thanks to the record-breaking brilliance of Mick Doohan. After a nail-biting battle with Honda teammate Alex Criville in 1996, the Australian great knew he would have to be at the top of his game to claim an incredible fourth title in a row.
This breathtaking Official Review of the Grand Prix season features dramatic action from all 15 rounds, including pre-race build-up, practice and comprehensive race coverage. You take the best seat in the house as records tumble in one of the most incredible displays of motorcycle skill ever seen. Doohan is considered one of the greatest racers in history – this Official Review shows exactly why.
Doohan’s intentions were clear from the opening races of the season, when he cruised to a dominate wins in front of Criville. The Spaniard dug deep to pull off an amazing win in front his home fans at round three and set up what looked liked being a scintillating battle for the championship. Add in the stunning performances of fellow Repsol Honda rider Tadayuki Okada – who piled the pressure on as he claimed numerous podiums – and we had all the ingredients for a classic season.
But Doohan was on another level and looked unstoppable on his journey to the World Championship - even before nearest rival Criville crashed heavily and damaged his hand, ending his hopes for the year. Sit back and enjoy Doohan at his classic best as he takes pole after pole, win after win and a well-deserved fourth title in a row.
Plus, there’s brilliant elbow-to-elbow racing featuring the likes of Luca Cadalora, Carlos Checa, the Aoki brothers, Alex Barros and more. The best action footage, including plenty from on-board the bikes, plus interviews and more delivers the full story of the record-breaking 1997 GP season.
“In a great collection of DVDs, covering one of the most exciting periods in Grand Prix history, Duke Video have captured the evolution of top flight racing, from Eddie Lawson’s final fling through to Valentino Rossi’s rise to dominance. Action-packed footage, interviews with the stars and round-by-round coverage delivers the most comprehensive reviews of a decade of red hot Grand Prix racing. It is easy to forget the highs of Grand Prix; the Doohan years, when the Australian seemed unbeatable, and the lows, like Wayne Rainey’s career-ending crash, but they are all here in hour upon hour of great memories. And you will be reminded of the forgotten heroes of the period too, such as Alex Criville, who shared the podium with Doohan on 10 occasions in 11 races during the 1996 season, pushing him all the way for the title” Classic Racer