Motorcycle Racing- The Thrill and the Excitement
Of the many sports that have taken the world by storm in recent years, few can match the hype that motorcycle racing has elicited. Mention a name like Valentino Rossi and ears will cock to hear what race he has won again or what racing track he will be gracing next. To many a motorcycle racing enthusiasts, the thrill of the speed and daredevil stunts can not be put down in words. Fans virtually adore the road machines and the riders as well who have become household names across the globe. Little wonder that many venues across the world vie for the opportunity to host races in the global racing calendar.
In professional motorcycle racing, there are various types of racing and different race tournaments devoted for each. Each require intense levels of training and preparation far beyond typical traffic school. Perhaps the most famous of them all is MotoGP which has a worldwide following and rakes in millions of dollars every year in television rights and sponsorships. Though the nature of the race and the bike classes used in the races have been changing over the years, this premier racing championship was first held in 1949. The annual races consist of several rounds in different countries in different continents. The ultimate winner is the rider who has garnered the most cumulative points in the different rounds in a given year. As hinted to earlier, the greatest name in MotoGP since the turn of this century is the Italian Rider Valentino Rossi. The lanky rider has won all but 2 championships in the years between 2001 and 2009.
One peculiar thing about the race machines used in MotoGP is that they can not be used for conventional riding by the general public. These bikes are highly tuned racing machines so you can not get conventional car insurance like with other vehinles. The races are held in specially built tracks. Teams/Companies like Yamaha, Ducati, Michelin and others go to great lengths to ensure that they have purpose built and customized machines for their riders. Over the years, the championship organizers have introduced stringent measures on teams participating in the races to make sure only the best compete and that the winners deserve the crown after a grueling battle. Other notable names in MotoGP include Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa.
The other common and popular global motorcycle race is Motocross. These bikes don't have motorcycle speakers and audio and the difference between this and MotoGP is that this one is held in off-road tracks but in enclosed circuits. The terrain is often very rugged and tough and it is clearly not for the faint-hearted. Motocross events will include dirtbike races as well as races on other ATV vehicles. It attracts a huge following due to the excitement it creates and the resilience it requires of the participating riders. This type of racing is quite old and can be traced way back to the 1920’s. Over the years it has spawned many types of races and championships.
Then there is the motorcycle drag racing which though not popular as the above mentioned types of races has an increasing number of fanatics. The main element of this type of race is that it involves only 2 participants and the one who reaches the finish line first is declared the winner. The track is usually paved and the length is only a quarter mile long. There are several types of drag races with different rules and bike categories.
All in all, motorcycle racing regardless of the type is exciting and thrilling whether as a participant or a spectator. The good thing about professional racing is that it is administered by professional bodies and in a world where doping is cropping its ugly head every now and then, you can be sure what you see is what you actually get. And the safety measures are also being boosted for spectators and riders alike.