Speed motorcycling

Superbikes, a speed bike category.

MotoGP, Grand Prix of Motorcycle.

Pilot Melvin van der Voort during a curve.

Speed motorcycling is a sports modality of motorcycling played on racetracks, tracks or paved routes, whose objective is usually to travel a certain distance in the shortest possible time, or the longest distance possible. in a specific amount of time, although there may be other modalities. The minimum distance to be traveled is usually 401 m, in the case of drag racing, and from then on to greater distances, so normally for longer competitions circuits with one or more laps are used to complete the test in question.

Features of speed motorcycles

The motorcycles that are used depend on the rules that each race allows. Therefore, they can be prototypes, that is, developed specifically for competition, or derived from series models (generally sports motorcycles) with modifications to increase performance. Motorcycles must present a series of characteristics such as stability, high speed (both straight and cornering), high acceleration, great braking, easy maneuverability, low air resistance and low weight.

Features of speed racing

The races of this modality normally consist of one or two days of training made up of several sessions (free and official) in which the drivers try to lap the circuit as quickly as possible, which will determine their position on the grid start of the race itself.

After the warm-up lap, the starting grid is formed, and the race begins when the red light goes out. The pilots must turn a certain number of laps around the circuit, or turn the greatest number of laps in a certain time. The race ends with the traditional checkered flag.

Within the same event, there can be different races depending on the type of motorcycle and its displacement, and in some of them several sleeves are held for each category.

History

• The first races.(1894-1906)
• The first race in circuit, the Ardennes circuit and the International Cup.
• Birth of the first Tourist Trophy in 1907.
• The resurgence of competitions after the first world war.(19)
• The first GP of the UMF and Belgium
• The first Grand Prix of Switzerland, the United Nations and the Ulster (1922-1923)
• FICM creates the FICM European Grand Prix (1924 1924), where every year, a country of its home will be designated the most important test award of the season. Winners in the different categories of this test will be appointed European champion in the year.
• The postwar for the World Championships. (1945-1948)
• 1949 Creation of the World Speed Motorcycle Championship (F.I.M)

Among other international speed motorcycle races, the race with the longest tradition stands out, since it has been held in Great Britain, on the Isle of Man, since 1907. This race takes place every year on a road circuit, being known as the TT Isle of Man. In this race, pilots such as Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop, David Jefferies, Giacomo Agostini and John McGuiness among others have stood out.

World Speed Motorcycling Championship

The most recognized and fastest track speed championship today is the Speed Motorcycling World Championship, whose first race was in 1949. The categories into which it was divided depended on the displacement of their engines: 125, 250, 350 and 500cc. Later the 50 cc categories were added, later replaced by the 80 cc. That division and the 350cc division were phased out in 1989 and 1982 respectively. In 2002, the 500 cc class was replaced by MotoGP, which uses four-stroke engines (initially 990 cc, and from 2007 up to 800 cc). In 2010, the 250cc division underwent a similar overhaul as it became Moto2, as four-stroke engines and a displacement of 600cc.

In the history of that world championship there have been many great drivers, such as Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Ángel Nieto, Santiago Herrero, Carlo Ubbiali, Barry Sheene, etc. During the eighties this championship lived its most glorious period in the premier class (500 cc) with riders like Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, Wayne Gardner, Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson, Randy Mamola, Freddie Spencer and Mick Doohan and already in the 19th century XXI, the idols have been Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo or Marc Márquez.

Other international championships

The World Superbike Championship (WSBK) has been held since 1988 with large displacement production motorcycles: between 850 and 1,200 cc for 2 cylinders, and 750 to 1,000 cc with 4 cylinders. Some drivers who have triumphed in this contest are Fred Merkel, Doug Polen, Carl Fogarty, Troy Bayliss, James Toseland. Unlike the Speed Motorcycling World Championship, the Superbike World Championship races are held in two rounds. Other categories that are usually disputed as the opening act for the Superbikes are the Supersport and the Superstock, also with high displacement.

In addition to the speed motorcycling categories mentioned, another one with less diffusion is the sidecar, which began being contested together with the Speed Motorcycling World Championship and later with the Superbike World Championship. Other speed motorcycle races are also held, such as national and regional speed championships, promotion cups and also resistance races.

Brands of manufacturers for speed motorcycling