Concept

Motorcycle Racing

section:concept

Motorcycle racing covers competition on two-wheeled motor vehicles across paved and off-road surfaces. The FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclismo) is the world governing body and classifies the sport into four main categories: road racing, motocross, track racing, and others.

Road racing is held on paved surfaces, either purpose-built closed circuits or temporarily closed public roads. Traditional road racing on closed public roads survives in Europe at events including the Isle of Man TT, North West 200, and Ulster Grand Prix. Two championships cover this format: the International Road Racing Championship and the Duke Road Racing Rankings.

Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier category, organised by Dorna Sports and divided into three classes. Moto3, introduced in 2012, uses 250cc single-cylinder four-stroke engines; rider age is capped at 25 for new signings and wild cards, and 28 absolutely. Moto2, introduced in 2010 as a 600cc four-stroke class, used Honda-supplied control engines from 2011; from 2019 Triumph Motorcycles replaced Honda with engines based on the 2017 Triumph Street Triple RS 765. MotoGP, the highest class, uses prototype machines not based on production motorcycles; the class ran 500cc two-strokes until 2002, then 990cc four-strokes until 2006, 800cc from 2007, and 1000cc from 2012.

Superbike racing uses modified production motorcycles with four-stroke engines of 800–1200cc for twins and 750–1000cc for four-cylinder machines; the overall appearance must correspond to the homologated road bike. Supersport regulations are tighter: four-stroke engines of 250–600cc for four-cylinder machines and 600–750cc for twins, with engine tuning tightly regulated. Endurance racing tests equipment durability; teams of multiple riders attempt to cover maximum distance, with rider changes permitted during the event.

Motocross (MX) is closed-circuit off-road racing on non-tarmac surfaces including dirt, sand, and mud, typically with jumps. Starts are en masse with up to 40 riders; the winner is first across the finish line after a set time or laps. Machine classes range from 50cc two-stroke youth machines to 250cc two-strokes and 450cc four-strokes. Supercross is indoor motocross held in stadiums, notable for its technical jump sequences. Supermoto combines road-racing and motocross machinery; motocross-type bikes run road-racing tyres on mixed tarmac and dirt circuits.

Cross-country rally events (Rallye Raid) are multi-day events over open off-road terrain using larger bikes. The most prominent example is the Dakar Rally, which ran from Western Europe to Dakar via the Sahara until moving to South America for 2009–2019 and Saudi Arabia from 2020. The FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship also encompasses events including the Silk Way Rally and Rallye du Maroc.

Speedway racing uses flat oval tracks of dirt or shale; bikes have a single gear and no brakes, with riders powersliding through bends. Grasstrack (also called Long Track at world level) is outdoor speedway on tracks of 400 m or more, often on grass, with two gears and rear suspension. Ice speedway is the equivalent on ice, with metal tyre spikes permitted; tracks are 260–425 metres. Flat-track racing in the US is held on outdoor dirt ovals from one mile down to short-tracks and TTs; AMA rules require Class C tyres similar to street tyres. Board track racing on wooden-plank oval surfaces was popular in the United States in the 1920s before falling into obsolescence by the early 1930s.

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