Human Performance in Motorcycle Road Racing: A Review of the Literature

Psychological Aspects of Motocross Racing Considering Expected, Perceived, and Actual Performance

Motocross racing is a seldom-researched popular extreme sport. This field research aimed to investigate feeling states, perceived arousal, anxiety, and negative and positive affect in the anticipatory and recovery race periods and their relationship to expected and perceived performance. Twenty Motocross racers completed psychometric scales before and after a national championship race. Results revealed that objective performance was unrelated to psychological measures. Arousal, anxiety, and positive affect were lower after the race. Expected performance was unrelated to postrace measures. Still, perceived performance correlated significantly with the feeling state, anxiety, and positive affect after the race and the feeling state before the race. Furthermore, racers who performed as expected or better showed improved feeling states after the race compared with those who did worse than expected. The core affect of the latter group declined. This research on psychological states during Motocross races could motivate new initiatives for future studies.

The Relationship Among Body Composition and Anaerobic Capacity and the Sport Level of Elite Male Motorcycle Speedway Riders

The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship among anaerobic capacity, body composition, and sport level of male junior and senior speedway riders. Sixty riders of professional clubs in the Polish top motorcycle speedway league participated in this study. They were divided into two equal groups (n = 30): junior (age = 19.7 ± 1.1 years) and senior (age = 29.7 ± 5.2). Body composition assessment, Wingate test (WAnT) on cycloergometer, with analysis of acute cardiorespiratory and biochemical responses were performed. Sport level was defined as the number of heats (races) won, winning percentage, total points scored during the season, and average points scored per heat. Seniors had higher point ratings indicating sport levels. As compared to the seniors, the juniors had lower BMI 4% (p < 0.01) and fat tissue mass by 20.5% (p < 0.01). A higher power decrease of 2.3% (p < 0.05) in the WAnT test was found in seniors. Body height negatively correlated with all indicators of seniors’ sport level (r = −0.41 to −0.55). Peak power output negatively correlated with seniors’ sport level (r = −0.39 to −0.41). Among the seniors, there was a negative correlation between post-exercise hydrogen ion concentration (r = −0.38), carbon dioxide partial pressure (r = −0.45) and average points scored per season. Conclusion: The anthropometric characteristics of body height, lean body mass and body surface area, are significantly correlated with the sport levels of the seniors motorcycle speedway riders. When selecting motorcycle speedway riders, use of these anthropometric characteristics may aid in determining the riders with the most potential to be successful. Metabolic acidosis tolerance and gas exchange efficiency show significance in seniors, indicating the need for intense exercise sessions.

Effectiveness of Custom Foot Insoles to Decrease Plantar Pressure: A Cross-over Randomized Trial Study

Background: Harderness insoles decrease plantar pressure and reduce the foot injury incidence in sport. The purpose of our study was to analyze the plantar pressure variation in moto riders after riding in a real speed circuit with a custom foot 52⁰ Shore EVA insole. Methods: A crossover randomized trial study was performed (consent no. #050520165316). Riders were assessed by an expert motorsport senior podiatry. The participants’ mean age was 35 ± 3.29. Participants completed a 20 min training riding with their own motorcycle in a real speed circuit. Plantar pressures were registered with a baropodometric platform evaluating an Ethyl Vinyl Acetate custom foot insole (CFI) manufactured with 3 mm thickness and 52° Shore A hardness. The Plantar pressures were registered before riding, after riding without EVA insole, and after riding with EVA insole. Results: Total Plantar pressures in right and left foot, and total surface area decrease after riding with EVA insoles. Conclusion: The use of an EVA insole with 52⁰ shore A hardness riding on a motorcycle in speed circuit decreased the total plantar pressures and surface areas values.

Assessment of bike handling during cycling individual time trials with a novel analytical technique adapted from motorcycle racing

A methodology to study bike handling of cyclists during individual time trials (ITT) is presented. Lateral and longitudinal accelerations were estimated from GPS data of professional cyclists (n=53) racing in two ITT of different length and technical content. Acceleration points were plotted on a plot (g-g diagram) and they were enclosed in an ellipse. A correlation analysis was conducted between the area of the ellipse and the final ITT ranking. It was hypothesized that a larger area was associated to a better performance. An analytical model for the bike-cyclist system dynamics was used to conduct a parametric analysis on the influence of riding position on the shape of the g-g diagram. A moderate (n=27, r=-0.40, p=0.038) and a very large (n=26, r=-0.83, p<0.0001) association were found between the area of the enclosing ellipse and the final ranking in the two ITT. Interestingly, this association was larger in the shorter race with higher technical content. The analytical model suggested that maximal decelerations are highly influenced by the cycling position, road slope and speed. This investigation, for the first time, explores a novel methodology that can provide insights into bike handling, a large unexplored area of cycling performance.

Forearm muscles fatigue induced by repetitive braking on a motorcycle is best discriminated by specific kinetic parameters

Maneuvering a motorcycle in racing conditions or for prolonged time is sufficiently demanding that on many occasions forearm muscles reach a state of functional failure when riders cannot properly brake or operate the throttle. This study intends to discriminate which ones of the several dynamometric parameters used in the literature to characterize the Force-time (F-t) curve during voluntary contractions are more sensitive to neuromuscular fatigue in simulated motorcycle-riding conditions. Thirty-three adults performed an intermittent fatiguing protocol (IFP) that simulated the brake-pulling and throttle-twisting actions, by using a hydraulic system equipped with a pressure sensor. Sixty pressure-time (P-t) curve parameters, including the rate of pressure development (RPD) and area under the curve were measured to characterize the time course of the braking maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Two types of variables were used to analyze the P-t curve: 1) Times interval (from 0 to 30-50-100-500-1000 and 2000 ms); 2) Percentages of MVC (10-30-60-90%MVC). Overall significant (p ≤ 0.05) fatigue-related declines were observed only at time intervals longer than 100 ms and contraction intensities higher than 30%MVC. Strong and significant linear declines (p < 0.001) were observed at 500 ms and 1 s for normalized pressures, as well as for the ratio RPD_60%MVC/MVC (p < 0.003) throughout the IFP. Our results suggest considering RPD at time windows of 0–500 ms and 0–1 s, and contraction intensities comprised between 30% and 60% of MVC, as more suitable criteria to study fatigue-related decrements in performance rather than the classical MVC force.

First steps to establishing an equestrian morphology: can Vitruvian ratios help?

Within equestrianism there is increasing focus on rider position and posture, not only in terms of aesthetics and the overall harmonious picture it may portray of the horse-rider combination, but more importantly on the rider’s physical ability to deliver clear, well-timed signals to the horse during training and competitive performance. Anthropometry has been successfully used in a wide range of non-equestrian sports to identify morphologies that are more likely to be successful than others in completing the tasks required by the particular sport or discipline. As physical data have become more readily accessible questions have arisen regarding the rider’s physical ability to achieve and maintain ‘ideal’ and symmetrical riding positions allowing them to transfer their weight and manage their limbs and consequently deliver distinguishable signals to the horse. Clearly identified ideal morphologies exist for a wide range of sports, but there is nothing for equestrianism. Da Vinci’s Vitruvian ‘man’ possesses ideal geometric proportions that depict perfect symmetry and proportion. Within equestrian it is common belief that riders (and horses) should be symmetrical. This study explored how the dimensions of a population of 51 female riders (24.8±8.29 years) aligned with Vitruvian ideals. Ten relative body proportions, selected as potentially the most relevant to horse riding, were obtained for each subject and ratios with total height derived. Only arm span, shoulder width and upper chest to the top of the head in relation to total height aligned with Vitruvian ratios (all P>0.05). Two primary principal components were identified – total height and arm span that could be of potential use for development of an equestrian morphology. Although horse riders’ physical dimensions failed to align well with Vitruvian measures, total height and arm length may have the potential to explain differences in riders’ ability to physically interact with horses and consequently impact their welfare.

A physical profile of novice and experienced professional motorcycle speedway riders

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of data relating to Professional Motorcycle Speedway riders physical characteristics despite its growing popularity.

METHODS

The participants were divided into two categories depending on their Calculated Match Average (CMA); high performers (CMA>5.0, N.=16) and low performers (CMA<4.9, N.=16). Anthropometric data, isometric hand grip strength, isometric knee extension strength, dynamic stability of the upper and lower limbs and functional movement scores were measured to establish differences between high and low performing professional speedway riders.

RESULTS

High performing riders had significantly better functional movement screen composite scores than low performers (P=0.003) and hurdle step (P=0.002) and shoulder mobility movements (P=0.032). Significant hand grip and leg strength was observed in riders right limbs compared to their left (P=0.004 and P=0.000 respectively) and greater dynamic stability in their right leg than left (P=0.011). High performing riders had greater grip strength (right hand P=0.016 and left hand P=0.034) and knee extension strength in the right (P=0.036) legs than their low performing counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study provide a benchmark of physical characteristics of high and low performing riders, highlighting mobility, functional movement, dynamic stability and isometric strength as essential attributes of an elite rider.