As the countdown to the new season gathers momentum I thought I’d have a look back at some of my favourite photographs from 2014.
The image above of Scott Redding was taken as he came in for a tire change during qualifying at Le Mans. Sometimes the riders will disappear to the back of the garage during qualifying.
If you’re lucky they will stay on the bike while the crew get to work. If they do, it provides a great opportunity for a portrait as was the case here.
Of all the race start pictures I’ve taken this year, this one from Mugello is my favourite. There’s so much going on in the picture. I’d say the only thing missing is the astonishing noise of 24 MotoGP bikes coming past as one.
Marc Marquez at Lukey Heights during warm up for the Australian Grand Prix. I’ve always enjoyed seeing other photographers pictures from Lukey Heights. I like how the lack of track in the picture gives the impression the bike is running on the grass.
It wasn’t until I got there that I discovered how challenging a place it was to shoot. A marshals point is on the inside of the corner made it impossible to track the bikes through the corner using autofocus.
I therefore had to switch to manual focus and fire a burst as the bike came through the focal plane. A camera with a high frame rate comes into its own on occasions such as these.
The Rossi Routine. One of the most photographed moments at every race weekend. This image from Catalunya is my favourite from the dozens of the routine pictures I took over the season.
Arguably my favourite picture from last year. Taken on the grid at the TT prior to a practice session. I love the colours and the separation of Guy from the background.
Andrea Iannone leaves his pit box at Indianapolis. I like how clean an image this is – by clean I mean the lack of other photographers, TV crews, or marshals in the picture.
Another picture from the TT. William Dunlop on his way through the Glen Helen section during the second Supersport race. I’d not photographed here before but will be going back this year, as it offers so many opportunities.
Taken at Assen, I like how the out of focus guy to the right leads you into Jorge chilling at the back of the garage.
Those of you who have followed my posts over the last year may have noticed that I’m a bit of a fan of a black & white portrait.
I wonder what Jorge was listening to at the time? Maybe a bit of Phil Collins?
The wonderful light at 4.30pm on a November afternoon in Valencia in combination with Scott Redding. A MotoGP photographers dream.
Valentino Rossi on the grid prior to the start of the rain effected Dutch TT at Assen. Valentino looks troubled by the mixed conditions at the start of the race.
Synchronised at the Sachsenring. It may look like I’ve photoshopped Aleix Espargaro into this picture but I can promise you, this is how it happened.
Maverick Vinales gives me the stare at Jerez. One of my favourite portraits from 2014. I think it’s his expression and the eye contact I like so much. You may have noticed that I left it in color as well.
Photos: © 2014 Tony Goldsmith / TGF Photos – All Rights Reserved
Tony Goldsmith is an Isle of Man based freelance motorcycle racing photographer specializing in the Isle of Man TT races. He has also covered selected rounds of the British Superbike Championship and MotoGP. His online archive is available at www.tgfphotos.com and he can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
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