Track racing

Administered internationally by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the sport became popular in the 1920s and remains so today.

The use of methanol means the engines can run high compression ratios, resulting in more power and higher speeds (approx 80 mph or 130 km/h when cornering) although the skill of Track Racing lies in the overall ability of the rider to control their motorcycle when cornering and thus avoid losing places through deceleration.

Competitions take place on tracks which are defined by the FIM as being of the following:[1] Speedway - a track with a top surface in granite, shale, brick granules or similar unbound material rolled in on the base ground Longtrack - sand, shale or similar unbound material rolled in on the base ground Grasstrack - firm, level turf with minor undulations Ice Speedway - ice with a minimum thickness of 10 cm Speedway racing takes place on a flat oval track measuring between 260 and 425 metres long, usually consisting of dirt or loosely packed shale.

FIM regulations state that the motorcycles used must have no brakes, run on pure methanol, use only one gear and weigh a minimum of 78 kg.

[2] Grasstrack racing takes place on a flat oval track usually constructed in a field.

The current European Champions are Mathieu Tresarrieu of France (Solos) and the pairing of William Mattihjssen and Sandra Mollema of The Netherlands (Sidecars) Longtrack is a variant of Grasstrack and speedway, held on tracks up to 1200 meters in length and with speeds reaching 90–100 mph (140–160 km/h).

Occasionally, Longtrack meetings are held in Australia and the United States, but these generally take place around horse trotting arenas during their off-seasons.

In the studded tyre class there is no broadsiding around the bends due to the grip produced by the spikes digging into the ice.

Instead, riders lean their bikes into the bends at an angle where the handlebars just skim the track surface.