EXCLUSIVE By Tom Jackson MOTORCYCLING author Mick Walker has eclipsed other Fenland authors claims to holding a publishing record – he has written 110 books in 23 years. I hold the world record in my field, said Wisbech man Mr Walker, a former racer, m

EXCLUSIVE

By Tom Jackson

MOTORCYCLING author Mick Walker has eclipsed other Fenland authors' claims to holding a publishing record - he has written 110 books in 23 years.

"I hold the world record in my field," said Wisbech man Mr Walker, a former racer, magazine editor and team owner.

"I was involved with The Art Of The Motorcycle exhibition, held at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 1998, and the programme listed every motorcycle book published. I had more than anyone else then and have written loads since."

March man Ian Skidmore claimed he set a publishing record earlier this month after having his 25th book published in 25 years. Fellow March author Trevor Bevis then claimed the record, having written more than 100 books in 40 years.

However, Mr Walker's books looking at famous riders, classic bikes and famous races total 110 with more, including an autobiography, in the pipeline.

Mr Walker, 65, enjoyed a successful motorcycle racing career before he was approached in 1982 by a journalist to help write a feature for Motorcycle Enthusiast Magazine.

He said: "I went to a Ducati owners' club meet in Manchester as an enthusiast, and the journalist approached me asking if I could help him with information about Ducati.

"I said yes, but forgot about it until six months later when I was called by the editor to find out if I would give it a go. I had never written before, but said I would do one of the articles, and after he read it the editor said he wanted me to write the whole feature."

Mr Walker was later offered a contract by Osprey Publishing to write a book, and his first was published in June 1985.

In 1994, his son Gary was killed in a British 250cc race accident at Brands Hatch, and Mr Walker started Mick Walker Racing a year later. He stopped running the team last year following the death of rider Ollie Bridewell in an accident at Mallory Park.