. >> the starting grid -- >> the mce british superbike championship at alton park in england.nd competitive annual race where bikers speed around the track up to 200 miles per hour - >> right and left. >> hugging curbs and sometimes smashing into barriers. >> already lost three riders. >> in this high-speed world, it only takes a split second for the riders to go from facing the finish line to facing death. >> if you're not crashing, you're not trying hard enough. >> but their lives are not the only ones on the line. >> at the time, you think, oh, this is a great shot. and you sort of lose the reality of a person here with a bike heading toward me. >> david smith is one of the many photographers spread out around the track to record every second of the fast-paced excitement. >> it was actually a quite bright day. so, i decided to put my coat over the viewfinder so that i could block out the sun. >> biker john kirkham and the rest of the riders get into position. >> the lights go out and the race begins and it's a 16 lapper here at alton park. >> a good start -- >> john kirkham