In the annals of Bike Grand Prix racing there are not many machines that are more lusted after than the 500cc two-stroke bikes than reigned supreme in the ‘80s and ‘90s – Honda’s NSR500, Yamaha’s YZR500 and Suzuki’s RGV500 were top of the tree. 

However, the sad reality for most of us is, apart from the astronomical cost of buying and owning one, we’d generally not be able to ride the thing at even a fraction of what it is capable of. Even at the height of their powers the very best riders in the world struggled to tame the ‘unrideables’. 

With over 150bhp on tap, no rider aids, ultralight frames and super-responsive handling every time they rode they were on a knife-edge. 

This pair of great documentaries examines what it took to be a Grand Prix racers at the climax of the two-stroke era – and what huge prices some of the riders paid. 

Built around interviews with Rainey, Schwantz, Mamola, Lawson, Gardner, McElnea, Roberts and Spencer the two DVDs make for an unforgettable afternoon’s TV. Be ready for some wince-inducing horror crashes…