In his new title, Flying Finn, Stephen Davison charts the spectacular career of Martin Finnegan, one of Ireland’s most colourful and successful road racers.
Finnegan scored podium finishes at all of the world’s top road race meetings and won the Irish Senior championship. The 28 year old Lusk, Co Dublin rider burst on to the scene with a spectacular riding style that attracted a huge following of loyal fans. Finnegan became Irish champion in 2004 before stepping on to the podium at all of the world’s major road races.
Tragically this great promise was cut short when the most successful southern Irish racer in a generation was to lose his life in a racing crash at the Tandragee 100 in May 2008.
Flying Finn, the new book by Martin’s close friend and foremost road racing photographer, Stephen Davison, captured Martin’s rise to fame and his tragic demise. Enjoying privileged and unprecedented access, Davison recorded the highs and lows of Finnegan’s career.
In over 150 images, accompanied by perceptive and often moving text, the road racing’s principal chronicler has documented Martin’s rise to prominence and the pain of his family following his death.
"Drawn in by his easy going nature and brilliance on a bike, Martin and I became good friends. He wanted to win races and catch headlines and I wanted to capture the best racing images that I could," said Davison.
"We travelled the world together living the road racing life to the full, racing and photographing it in the same way."
To launch the book, he first of these special events will be held on Saturday, 3rd October at St MacCullin's Round Tower Centre in Lusk village and will run from 11am to 5pm.
The second will be held on Sunday, 11th October in the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney and will run from 1pm until 5pm. (Please note the Ballymoney date is different from previously published information).
On both days a full line up of Martin's racing bikes- the Round Tower Suzuki, the Danfay Yamaha, the recently acquired Vitrans Honda, the Klaffi Honda, the JMF Yamaha and the beautiful MV Agusta F4- will be on display courtesy of the Martin Finnegan Supporters' Club. There will also be a display of mini moto machines painted in the same livery.
Alongside the bikes will be a photographic display of many of the highlights and behind the scene moments from Martin's spectacular career.
Members of the Finnegan family will also be in attendance and it is hoped that there will be some of Martin's former racing rivals present as well.
Flying Finn will be on sale on both days and the author, Stephen Davison will be present to sign copies.
Click here for more details on the book
