Motorcycle sport

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Road racing (Yamaha YZF-R6 on track)

Motorcycle sport encompasses competitive and recreational aspects of motorcycling which test competitors' riding abilities, including races and timed-speed events.

Overview of Motorcycle sport by surface type

Motorcycle sports can generally be categorized according to the nature of the track surface. Today, circuit racing and drag racing are held on paved surfaces (asphalt, concrete), while track racing, motocross, enduro, cross country, trial, and hill climbing take place on unpaved surfaces (grass, sand, loose rock, ice, snow). Hill climbs and rallies often represent mixed formats. Within the individual sports, there is a wide variety of competition formats and class divisions.

Differentiation of motorcycle sports by track surface

Motorcycle racing disciplines

Motorcycle racing (also known as moto racing and motorbike racing) is a form of competition where riders race motorcycles. It can be divided into tarmac-based road disciplines and off-road.

Track racing

Track racing is a motorcycle sport where teams or individuals race opponents around a constructed track. There are multiple variants which race on different surface types.

Rally

A road rally is a navigation event on public roads whereby competitors must visit a number of checkpoints in diverse geographical locations while obeying road traffic laws.

Speedway

Speedway is a motorcycle sport in which racers use specialized motorcycles with one gear and no brakes to complete laps on a flat oval track.

Enduro

In enduro, riders navigate to a series of checkpoints across long cross-country courses with challenging terrain.Template:Better source needed In traditional time-keeping enduro, riders are on a strict schedule, with early and late checkpoint arrivals penalized, whereas in start control/restart enduro there is no penalty for arriving early.

Other motorcycle sports

Land speed

In land‑speed competition, a single rider accelerates along a straight track to maximize their velocity as they pass through a speed‑measurement trap near the end of the run. These tracks are typically 1 to long, often on dry lake beds. Records are categorized by class or type of bike.

Freestyle motocross

Freestyle motocross (also known as FMX) is a variation on motocross in which riders attempt to impress judges with jumps and stunts.

Trials

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Trials commonly take place on rocky terrain

Motorcycle trials, also known as observed trials and often shortened to trial or trials, are tests of skill whereby riders attempt to traverse an observed section without placing a foot on the ground (and traditionally, although not always, without ceasing forward motion). Though most trials are done outdoors on natural terrain, some are held in stadiums with artificially constructed courses.

Time and observation

Time and observation trials are trials with a time limit. The first person who completes the route sets the "standard time"; all other competitors must finish within a certain period after that time to be counted as a finisher, receiving penalty points for every minute they are behind. This is combined with the penalty points accrued from the observed sections to determine the winner. One of the most famous time and observation trials is the Scott Trial held annually in North Yorkshire.

Long distance trials

In the UK, Long Distance Trials (often shortened to LDT) are non-race events for road-registered motorcycles. A course of typically 80 to 120 miles is plotted by the organizer, taking in roads, lanes and Byways Open to All Traffic (known as BOATs). Riders are required to follow the course using a roadbook compiled by the organizer.

Gymkhana

Gymkhana is a motorcycle time trial event similar to autocross where participants navigate around traffic cones on a paved course as fast as possible. Time penalties are incurred by putting a foot down, hitting a cone, or going outside the designated area.

Motoball

Motoball, or motorcycle polo, is a sport where 4 players on each team ride motorcycles to pitch a large ball into a net, which is guarded by a goalkeeper on foot. It is similar to association football and polo.

Hillclimbing

Motorcycle hill climbs (also known as hillclimbs) are similar to those done with automobiles, where one competitor at a time attempts to ride up a steep hill, often 45 degrees or more. If riders fail to complete the course, their results are judged on the distance that they manage to achieve. Of those that succeed, the rider to reach the top with the shortest elapsed time wins.

In the United States the completions are usually held on off-road courses. For years the national competitions was held at Mount Garfield near Muskegon, Michigan. The motorcycle of choice in the early decades was the Harley-Davidson 45 cubic inch model due to its high torque at low RPM, similar to farm engines.Template:Importance inline

In other countries, notably the United Kingdom, completions mostly take place on tarmac courses and occasionally closed public roads, with the machines used for competition being similar to those used for other road disciplines.

External links

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A Supersport bike at Phillip Island.

Sanctioning bodies

• Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) – World governing body
• Motorcycling Australia (MA) – Australian Governing Body
• Auto Cycle Union – UK governing body
• American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) – US governing body
• Motorcycle Federation of Japan (MFJ) – Japan 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