Motorcycle racing is a sport in which riders compete for first place on circuits, tracks, or open courses. It is divided into several categories, each of which is determined by the machine that is being utilized.
Much like other sports, motorcycle racing features a number of famous races in which every racer aspires to participate. In comparison to the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, or World Cup, the most critical motorcycle races also draw thousands of spectators and the greatest motorcycle riders from across the world.
Aside from that, Motorcycle racing is a risky yet thrilling experience. Just like F1 Racing, this motorcycle sport imposes a lot of danger; that is why it should only be performed by a trained professional. Also, the inherent nature of motorcycles makes them significantly more deadly than other vehicles. With that, pushing them to their limits on a racetrack makes them even more dangerous. However, given the danger that this sport poses, the risk is worth it to both racers and spectators.
In fact, there’s another level of motorcycle racing where races are so fast, violent, and devastating that even many professional racers would avoid them. They push both man and machine to their utmost, and many never reach the finish line. Today, road racing is likely the most popular, although off-road and cross-country races are also famous.
1. The Motorcycle Grand Prix
The Motorcycle Grand Prix, also known as MotoGP, is considered the Super Bowl of motorcycle racing. Also, every spectator, as well as those who love motorcycling as a hobby, would know that it is one of the oldest motorsport competitions in the world. The first three classes are powered by four-stroke engines, while the last class is powered by electric motors.
The competition was founded in 1949 by the Federation Internationale de Motocylisme, the world’s governing body for motorcycle racing. Since then, it has become the most prestigious Superbike and road event in the world. Also, the season is made up of nineteen races held in fifteen countries. Furthermore, only custom-built machines are permitted in the race.
2. Score Baja 1000
The SCORE Baja 1000 is a torturous off-road event held every November in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. The race began in 1967 and has since grown to become one of the world’s best long-distance off-road racing events.
The Baja 1000 incorporates a variety of vehicles, including trucks, buggies, and ATVs. Moreover, the race, which varies in length from 600 to almost 1000 miles depending on the track, is now known as trophy truck racing. However, the event began as a competition between four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles to discover who could dominate the long, dry, flat Baja terrain.
A racer and also a Honda dealer named Bud Ekins was known to have created the course in 1962 to test the durability and performance of a new Honda dirt bike. However, some years later, another racer named Bruce Meyers stunned the world by running the same circuit in a home-built buggy in five hours less time. Since then, the competition has been formed.
3. The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy
The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy is also one of the most notable bike races in the world. It has been held on the small island between Ireland and England since 1907 and is statistically the most dangerous event in the world. It takes place on the Snaefell Mountain Course, a nearly 38-mile road track that winds its way around the island, passing through towns and villages and open countryside. During races, motorcyclists can lap at speeds of above 130 miles per hour.
Over the course of the TT’s history, 240 riders have died, with a large number of spectators and officials who also lose their lives. Despite this – or perhaps because of the risk – it continues to be extremely popular among racers and viewers.
4. The Daytona 200
Aside from the motorcycle races mentioned above, the Daytona 200 is also another renowned motorcycle event that is held yearly. This American Motorcyclist Association-sanctioned race is held at the famed Daytona Speedway and has a long history in motorsports. Interestingly, the first race was held in 1937, and by the 1970s, it had grown in popularity to the point where it drew some of the most incredible audiences in AMA history. It hosted a 3.56-mile Superbike course from 1985 through 2004, with notable champions such as Scott Russell and Matt Mladin. For the Sportbike division, the course now includes a 3.51-mile track.
5. Superbike World Champion
The Superbike World Championship is the highest level of competition in the superbike racing world. It began in 1988 and comprised of a series of events held at various racetracks. Riders from all over the world compete for first place in this race. Scott Russell, Ben Spies, and Nicky Hayden, to name a few, were among the best racers in American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) history to win the championship. The race is scored based on a point system, with first-place receiving 25 points, second place receiving 20 points, third place receiving 16 points, and fourth place receiving 13 points.