I think I saw PC race Kevin Keegan among others on a bicycle on Superstars? Or did I imagine that? Speedway can only dream of that level of mainstream exposure these days.
As for the business with the book signing, I think it's all such a shame. He hasn't behaved well and people are rightly angry about it. However, it's hardly in the same league as what Kenny Carter did and people still think it's okay to laud Carter's achievements as a racer. Likewise we can still appreciate what Peter Collins did on track.