There is a wide range of motorcycle racing types. This includes ones which feature road and off-road tracks. Sometimes circuits are used, other times open courses are favoured. The model of the bike being used also varies.
Safety Gear
Due to the vulnerability of riders in this sport, it requires a large amount of safety gear. In fact, participants are usually covered from head to toe in protective garments. Full motorcycle outfits made from durable leather help to prevent abrasions during crashes. Modern gear can even include lightweight armour which cushions impacts to stop bones from breaking.
It is usually a standard procedure for all riders to wear a helmet. Falling from a bike at high speed can be deadly. However, protecting the head gives the rider a much better chance of surviving an accident. That is why they are utilised in most forms of motorcycle racing.
Motorcycle Grand Prix
This premier category motorcycle race uses prototype vehicles which are not available to the general public. There are three classes of competition for the Grand Prix. Moto 3 was established in 2012 and is at the lower end of the classes. Riders use 250 cc machines that have single cylinders. Participants are usually under the age of 25, although there have been exceptions.
Riders at Moto 2 level use much more powerful 600 cc bikes. The engines are four-stroke and tend to be designed by a single company. For instance, they were made by Honda in 2010, and Triumph in 2019.
The highest class of race is Moto GP. Initially the engines used were four-stroke; however, these were later replaced by two-stroke 500 cc machines. In recent years these bikes have become much more powerful and are now at the 1000 cc threshold. Only the most skilled professional racers can take part in the Moto GP.