Difference between revisions of "Motorcycle racing"
m (no summary specified) |
|||
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
Line 69: | Line 69: | ||
{{Main|Supermoto}} | {{Main|Supermoto}} | ||
Supermoto is a racing category that is a crossover between road-racing and motocross. The motorcycles are mainly motocross types with road-racing | Supermoto is a racing category that is a crossover between road-racing and motocross. The motorcycles are mainly motocross types with road-racing tires. The racetrack is a mixture of road and dirt courses (in different proportions) and can take place either on closed circuits or in temporary venues (such as urban locations). | ||
The riding style on the tarmac section is noticeably different from other forms of tarmac-based racing, with a different line in corners, sliding of the back wheel around the corner, and using the leg straight out to corner (as opposed to the noticeable touching of the bent knee to the tarmac of road racers).{{Clear}} | The riding style on the tarmac section is noticeably different from other forms of tarmac-based racing, with a different line in corners, sliding of the back wheel around the corner, and using the leg straight out to corner (as opposed to the noticeable touching of the bent knee to the tarmac of road racers).{{Clear}} | ||
Line 102: | Line 102: | ||
====Indoor Short Track and TT Racing==== | ====Indoor Short Track and TT Racing==== | ||
Indoor races consist of either a polished concrete floor with coke syrup or other media sprayed or mopped onto the concrete for traction for the | Indoor races consist of either a polished concrete floor with coke syrup or other media sprayed or mopped onto the concrete for traction for the tires of the motorcycles, or on dirt that has been moistened and hard packed, or left loose (often called a cushion). Motorcycles race on an oval track, or over a single jump with a right hand turn called a TT track. Similar to size of the Arenacross Arenas or sometimes smaller the riders must have accurate throttle control to negotiate these tight Indoor Race Tracks.{{Clear}} | ||
In the U.S., Short Track and TT events are more commonly held outdoors. A Short Track event is one involving a track of less than 1/2 mile in length, a TT event can be of any length, but it must have at least one right turn and at least one jump. | In the U.S., Short Track and TT events are more commonly held outdoors. A Short Track event is one involving a track of less than 1/2 mile in length, a TT event can be of any length, but it must have at least one right turn and at least one jump. | ||
In the U.S., Short Track and TT races are part of a specific discipline labelled "Dirttrack" or sometimes "Flattrack" (also called Flat Track). However the AMA Sanction rule books refer to this discipline as Dirttrack racing. Whether Short Track or TT, traction is what defines a dirttrack race. The bikes cannot use "knobbies", they must use "Class C" tires which look a lot like street tires. On a Short Track course, the track is an oval, all turns to the left only, and only a rear brake is allowed. On the TT courses, as mentioned above, there must be at least one right hand turn a jump is optional, a front brake is allowed, but the same "Class C" tires are required. Although not mandated, most flattrack racers wear a steel "shoe" on the left boot which is actually a fitted steel sole that straps onto the left boot. This steel shoe lets the rider lean the bike to the left while sliding through the corners. | In the U.S., Short Track and TT races are part of a specific discipline labelled "Dirttrack" or sometimes "Flattrack" (also called Flat Track). However the AMA Sanction rule books refer to this discipline as Dirttrack racing. Whether Short Track or TT, traction is what defines a dirttrack race. The bikes cannot use "[[knobbies]]", they must use "Class C" tires which look a lot like street tires. On a Short Track course, the track is an oval, all turns to the left only, and only a rear brake is allowed. On the TT courses, as mentioned above, there must be at least one right hand turn a jump is optional, a front brake is allowed, but the same "Class C" tires are required. Although not mandated, most flattrack racers wear a steel "shoe" on the left boot which is actually a fitted steel sole that straps onto the left boot. This steel shoe lets the rider lean the bike to the left while sliding through the corners. | ||
Hard-packed tracks are generally referred to as "groove" tracks, loosely-packed tracks are called "cushions". | Hard-packed tracks are generally referred to as "groove" tracks, loosely-packed tracks are called "cushions". | ||
Line 129: | Line 129: | ||
====Ice Speedway==== | ====Ice Speedway==== | ||
[[Image:Motorcycly speedway on ice.jpg|thumb|right|Ice Racing using full-rubber | [[Image:Motorcycly speedway on ice.jpg|thumb|right|Ice Racing using full-rubber tires]] | ||
{{Main|Ice Racing}} | {{Main|Ice Racing}} | ||
Latest revision as of 02:09, 20 June 2019
Motorcycle racing (also known as moto racing (short term) and bike racing (common term)) is a motorcycle sport involving racing motorcycles.
Categories[edit | edit source]
The FIM classifies motorcycle racing in the following four main categories.[1] Each category has several sub categories.
Road racing[edit | edit source]
Road racing is the racing of motorcycles on tarmac. Races can take place either on purpose-built racing circuits or on closed public roads.
Motorcycle Grand Prix[edit | edit source]
Superbike racing[edit | edit source]
Supersport racing[edit | edit source]
Endurance racing[edit | edit source]
Endurance racing is a category of motorcycle road racing which is meant to test the durability of equipment and endurance of the riders. Teams of multiple riders attempt to cover a large distance in a single event. Riders are given the ability to change during the race. Endurance races can be run either to cover a set distance in laps as quickly as possible, or to cover as much distance as possible over a preset amount of time.
Sidecar racing[edit | edit source]
Sidecar racing is a category of sidecar motorcycle racing. Older sidecar road racers generally resembled solo motorcycles with a platform attached, modern racing sidecars are purpose built low and long vehicles. Sidecarcross resembles MX motorcycles with a high platform attached. In sidecar racing a rider and a passenger work together to make the machine perform.
Sidecar racing has many sub-categories including: - Sidecarcross (sidecar motocross) - Sidecar trials - F1/F2 road racing
True road racing[edit | edit source]
True road racing is run on tracks built from closed public and/or park roads and sometimes extra pieces of purpose built track. In the past true road racing was very commonplace but today only few races have survived and even fewer have been added. Only one truly international championship exists at present by the name of "International Road Racing Championship" (IRRC). Most races are held within Europe. Ireland is probably the country with the most true road racing circuits still in use. The Isle of Man probably has the most tracks per inhabitant or surface area. Other countries where true road races are held are the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, though due to law only outside England or in parks, the Czech Republic, New Zealand and Macau.
Motocross[edit | edit source]
Motocross (or MX) is the direct equivalent of road racing, but off road, a number of bikes racing on a closed circuit. Motocross circuits are constructed on a variety of non-tarmac surfaces such as dirt, sand, mud, grass, etc., and tend to incorporate elevation changes either natural or artificial. Advances in motorcycle technology, especially suspension, have led to the predominance of circuits with added "jumps" on which bikes can get airborne. Motocross has another noticeable difference from road racing, in that starts are done en masse, with the riders alongside each other. Up to 40 riders race into the first corner, and sometimes there is a separate award for the first rider through (see holeshot). The winner is the first rider across the finish line, generally after a given amount of time or laps or a combination.
Motocross has a plethora of classes based upon machine displacement (ranging from 50cc 2-stroke youth machines up to 250cc 2-stroke and 450cc 4-stroke), age of competitor, ability of competitor, sidecars, quads/ATVs, and machine age (classic for pre 1965/67, Twinshock for bikes with two shock absorbers, etc).Supercross[edit | edit source]
Supermoto[edit | edit source]
Supermoto is a racing category that is a crossover between road-racing and motocross. The motorcycles are mainly motocross types with road-racing tires. The racetrack is a mixture of road and dirt courses (in different proportions) and can take place either on closed circuits or in temporary venues (such as urban locations).
The riding style on the tarmac section is noticeably different from other forms of tarmac-based racing, with a different line in corners, sliding of the back wheel around the corner, and using the leg straight out to corner (as opposed to the noticeable touching of the bent knee to the tarmac of road racers).Enduro and Cross-country[edit | edit source]
Enduro[edit | edit source]
Enduro is a form of off road motorcycle sport that primarily focuses on the endurance of the competitor. In the most traditional sense ("Time Card Enduros"), competitors complete a 10+ mile lap, of predominately off road going, often through forestry. The lap is made up of different stages, each with a target time to complete that stage in exactly, there are penalties for being early and late, thus the goal is to be exactly "on time". Some stages are deliberately "tight", others are lax allowing the competitor to recuperate. There are also a variety of special tests, on variety of terrain to further aid classification, these are speed stages where the fastest time is desired. A normal event lasts for 3 to 4 hours, although longer events are not uncommon. Some events, particularly national and world championship events take place over several days, requiring the competitors motorcycles to kept securely and thus any maintenance work has to be carried out within a very limited window of time or during the event.
There is a World Enduro Championship (WEC) that has events across Europe, with a few excursions to North America. The most significant event in the Enduro calendar is the International Six Day Enduro ISDE (formerly the ISDT), where countries enter teams of riders (i.e. Enduro's "World Cup"), as well as club teams - the event combines amateur sport with the professional level sport, it also takes place in a much more geographically dispersed range of locations.
In addition to traditional Time Card Enduros held over a long lap, a variety of other forms of sport have been taken up; notably "Short Course Enduros", a shorter (in lap length) form of Time Card Enduros Hare scrambles and "Hare and Hounds".Hare scramble[edit | edit source]
Cross-Country Rally[edit | edit source]
Track racing[edit | edit source]
Indoor Short Track and TT Racing[edit | edit source]
Indoor races consist of either a polished concrete floor with coke syrup or other media sprayed or mopped onto the concrete for traction for the tires of the motorcycles, or on dirt that has been moistened and hard packed, or left loose (often called a cushion). Motorcycles race on an oval track, or over a single jump with a right hand turn called a TT track. Similar to size of the Arenacross Arenas or sometimes smaller the riders must have accurate throttle control to negotiate these tight Indoor Race Tracks.In the U.S., Short Track and TT events are more commonly held outdoors. A Short Track event is one involving a track of less than 1/2 mile in length, a TT event can be of any length, but it must have at least one right turn and at least one jump.
In the U.S., Short Track and TT races are part of a specific discipline labelled "Dirttrack" or sometimes "Flattrack" (also called Flat Track). However the AMA Sanction rule books refer to this discipline as Dirttrack racing. Whether Short Track or TT, traction is what defines a dirttrack race. The bikes cannot use "knobbies", they must use "Class C" tires which look a lot like street tires. On a Short Track course, the track is an oval, all turns to the left only, and only a rear brake is allowed. On the TT courses, as mentioned above, there must be at least one right hand turn a jump is optional, a front brake is allowed, but the same "Class C" tires are required. Although not mandated, most flattrack racers wear a steel "shoe" on the left boot which is actually a fitted steel sole that straps onto the left boot. This steel shoe lets the rider lean the bike to the left while sliding through the corners.
Hard-packed tracks are generally referred to as "groove" tracks, loosely-packed tracks are called "cushions".
Web Site for one Indoor Racing Sanction is http://ampown.com
One webpage for a flattracking club is http://www.lodicyclebowl.com
One webpage for this form of racing is http://flattrack.com
Speedway[edit | edit source]
Grass Track[edit | edit source]
Ice Speedway[edit | edit source]
Board track[edit | edit source]
Auto Race[edit | edit source]
Other categories[edit | edit source]
Drag Racing / Sprints[edit | edit source]
Hill Climb[edit | edit source]
Landspeed Racing[edit | edit source]
Vintage Motorcycle Racing[edit | edit source]
In vintage racing riders race classic motorcycles that are no longer competitive with the latest production motorcycles. Classes are organized by production period and engine displacement. There are vintage events for almost every type of racing listed above, vintage motocross and road racing are especially popular. Equipment is limited to that available for the production period, although modern safety equipment and tires are permitted. Most vintage production periods are from the 1970s and before, but now 1980s motorcycles are being allowed into some events. Generally a motorcycle must be at least 25 years old to be considered vintage.
The sanctioning body for most US vintage racing is the American Motorcyclist Association. The main organizations that sponsor vintage racing are the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA), and WERA Motorcycle Roadracing, which has several vintage classes along with modern racers. Of historical importance is the United States Classic Racing Association (USCRA) one of the oldest vintage racing clubs in the US.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. Fim.ch. Retrieved on 2009-03-28.
External links[edit | edit source]
Sanctioning bodies[edit | edit source]
- Fédération Internationale de Motocyclismo (FIM) - World governing body
- Motorcycling Australia (MA)- Australian Governing Body
- Auto Cycle Union - UK governing body
- Supercross Motorcycle Racing - Worldwide Supercross Motorcycle Racing
- American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) - US governing body
- Motosport South Africa (MSA) - South African governing body
- Federation Francaise de moto (FFM) - French governing body
- MCUI Southern Centre - "governing body of motor cycle sport in Leinster, Munster and Connacht" (i.e., Republic of Ireland)
- Championship Cup Series - Sanctioning Body for Sportsman Level motorcycle road racing in the United States