Hitting the Apex
DVD Review
John Newman
The Editor has already opened the consumer box that is Xmas earlier this month with a whole list of gift suggestions for the biker in your life, or even for yourself. Everyone else seemed to be priming us for spending much earlier, so no apologies for putting another suggestion into the mix.
This year's Moto GP series was arguably one of the most enthralling and dramatic for many years. I was even fortunate enough to watch one of the closest battles for a podium place at Aragon, where Pedrosa and Rossi ran fairing to fairing for third place.
As the winter temperatures herald more time inside, and the Moto GP teams head for sunnier spots for their winter testing programmes, fans can combat racing withdrawals with a copy of the DVD 'Hitting The Apex,' a film centred around Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Marquez and Marco Simoncelli, who was killed while competing at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2011.
The film was made by Mark Neale, who has produced several other racing DVDs: 'Faster' (2003), Faster and Faster (2004), and Faster and Fastest (2011). Completing 54 days of filming on the Moto GP circuit, the film captures not just the drama of high-horsepower two-wheel competition, but also the off-track lives and tales of these riders, who have reached the pinnacle of riding skill and courage.
The film was embroiled in problems when Neale asked for more time to complete the shooting and edit from his financial backers and distributors, but was eventually resolved when Brad Pitt stepped in to help with the final production and narration. Pitt is a big bike fan with a Vincent Black Shadow and a Yamaha R1 in his garage, among others. It cost around $750,000 to produce.
The film was shown at the Silverstone GP in August and then at selected cinemas. But you can pick up the DVD online for as little as £8, and it runs for 2hrs and 18mins.
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