What is Motorcycle Racing?

Motorcycle racing is a sport where cyclists race on courses. There are several different terrains that racing takes place on such as asphalt, dirt, or grass. The highest and most famous form of racing in the world is “road racing” under MotoGP. The sport is similar to car racing in many ways and holds events across the world.

History

Motorcycle racing began in 1894, just a few years after the creation of the motorcycle in the 1880s. With the motorcycle being invented in Germany, the sport was held exclusively in Europe at first. After WWII the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) was founded and set up the format for road racing that still persists to this day. By the late 1950s the sport began to spread to other parts of the world and by the 1960s the first Japanese motorcyclist won a race. At first the name of professional road racing league was World GP but since the early 2000s it has been known as MotoGP. 

Playing Surface

Motorcycle racing can be held on multiple types of surfaces. The most common form is on asphalt tracks which are used for “road racing.” While today many of these tracks are specifically designed for the sport, traditional road racing was held on temporarily closed off public roads. Another common surface for motorcycle racing is on dirt, sand, grass, or mud. These surfaces are reserved for Motocross and unlike road racing there are often jumps incorporated into this style. However, in Supermoto there can be a mix of both off-road courses and traditional asphalt courses. 

Equipment

Most of the equipment necessary for motorcycle racing is meant for safety. On the bike itself, the parts are made for speed. Here are a few pieces of equipment that any motorcycle racer will need:

• Motorcycle
• Helmet
• Front and rear bike stand
• One piece leather suit
• Boots
• Gloves
• Back Protector

Gameplay

A MotoGP race is usually around 45 minutes long and has a track between 3 and 4 miles. For reference, Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is about 3.5 miles with 20 laps. The sport has racers who all begin at a starting line. Within the race there are numerous curves that racers must turn before speeding down straightaways. Riders often stop at pit stops where pit crews repair their vehicles. The sport can be extremely dangerous with riders moving well over 150mph at times.

Position Roles and Responsibilities

Due to motorcycle racing being an individual sport there are not any positions and different responsibilities in terms of actual racing. Only in sidecar racing are there two people in the vehicle. The rider drives the motorcycle while the passenger will shift their body weight to make the motorcycle perform at its highest ability.

However, in every race there is a pit crew which will help the rider within the race as the car needs maintenance. The pit crew replaces the motorcycle’s tires and gasoline supply at each pit stop. Members of the pit crew are sometimes referred to as “musicians.”

Rules and Regulations

Yellow Flag: Held up to indicate to the racers that there has been an incident on or off of the track. Riders should either maintain speed or slow down. They also can not pass each other.

Red Flag: Race cannot be continued due to safety issues. Riders must return to the pit lane.

Ride Through Procedure: Penalty given to riders if they break a rule such as starting the race early.

Referees and Officials

Motorcycling referees main job is to maintain safety during a race due to the danger involved in the sport. This includes notifying racers when there are crashes or safety hazards on the course via flags. Along with that there are various penalties and infractions such as starting a race early. When penalties are assessed, riders are either warned or given points/time deductions.

Lingo and Terminology

Like every sport, motorcycle racing has a long list of lingo. Below are some common terms:

Skills and Techniques

There are a few fundamentals to racing. A few of them are cornering, body control, throttle control, braking, and finding reference points (looking ahead). When all of these are done properly riders are able to go the fastest, take the best routes, and be safe on their bikes. It also is a skill to be fit so it is easier to use body weight in order to shift the bike in the best possible ways. A key to the sport is turning corners and getting as low as possible to the ground when doing so.

Motorcycle Racing Coaches

Racing coaches are not hands on during the race but do help riders practice and develop their skill set.

Motorcycle Racing Coaching

According to motorcycle coach Ken Hill, the three components to being a good rider are physical fitness, craft and technique, and mental fitness. Those are the three areas that all coaches should attempt to help riders improve upon. In terms of technique, one way that coaches help riders is to teach them better ways to use their bodies on the bike. By shifting their weight properly, riders can execute better turns and move quicker on their motorcycles. Mentally, coaches help riders to prepare for certain situations on the track. Also, in motorcycle racing coaches form close relationships as they work together one on one mostly.

Motorcycle Racing Strategy

Motorcycle racing strategy is predicated on getting the bike to move as fast as possible and taking the quickest route around the track. One way to do this is to “hug the curve” meaning to turn as close to the inside of the track as possible on curves. Another strategy is to go as fast as possible on straightaways, the longest straight portions of the course.

Motorcycle Racing Drills

There are many different drills to increase technique. Firstly, due to a rider’s reliance on balance, many riders need to get into physical shape to be able to control the bike well. Another key drill is balance drills which allow riders to use their weight on the bike better. There are also braking drills to be able to control speeds of the bike. One essential set of drills are cornering drills which help riders to turn the numerous corners on courses. Holeshot drills teach riders how to launch off of the starting line quickly.

Motorcycle Racing Players

This list is of the best racers. Their teams are all the companies that make their motorcycles.

Motorcycle Racing Leagues

Motorcycle racing does not have specific leagues necessarily speaking. Instead, there are sanctioning bodies who all fall under the highest sanctioning body, the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme). There are some leagues that are not directly affiliated with the FIM, namely leagues run by companies like Red Bull.

Motorcycle Racing Teams

Every team in motorcycle racing is named after the company who constructs their bikes. This is due to the emphasis on how bikes are built affecting the race.

Motorcycle Racing Brands

In terms of manufacturing, the leading motorcycle brands are Yamaha, Honda, and Ducati. Other brands are MotoGP and Red Bull.

Motorcycle Racing Tournaments

There are motorcycle racing tournaments all across the world. Many of the biggest tournaments are held in Europe however, where the sport originated. Two of most famous tournaments are the Isle of Man TT and the Daytona 200.

Motorcycle Racing Books

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