Motorcycle speedway

The term Speedway (English motorcycle speedway ) denotes a motorcycle racing, which is run on a closed oval tracks ( counterclockwise direction ). As Speedway nations with successful riders also Australia, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Sweden or the United States shall be in addition to Poland.

Successful Speedway driver include:

The only German Speedway World Champion Egon Müller ( 1983 stadium Halbemond in the north).

  • 7.1 International
  • 7.2 National 7.2.1 Germany
  • 7.2.2 United Kingdom

History

The first documented Speedway races were, according to the " Maitland Mercury Newspaper " on 15 December 1923 in Maitland, New South Wales (Australia) instead. However, there were already in the U.S. and in Australia some motorsport events of this kind that smaller races with motorcycles were in the United States before the First World War drove on dirt roads. The two Australians Billy Galloway and Keith McKay came to Europe in 1928 to establish the already popular in Australia Speedway sports there. They organized the first official Speedway racing in the UK with motorbikes without brakes on oval tracks with a sandy bottom. In England, developed the first Speedway leagues, and also races were held in large stadiums such as Wembley Stadium.

In England also developed the Star Riders ' Championship, the forerunner of today's world championship. However, the British riders were inferior to American and Australian drivers by far, was so driven in two separate groups.

Brief information about the sport

Speedway races are on a flat, oval track with a bedrock of limestone instead. According to the official definition, there is a " covering made of granite, slate, brick granules or similar unbound material on a base of solid earth." The riders put their machines sideways into the corners (so-called powersliding ), the rear wheels " turn out " to the outside and they steer with the front wheels to the corners (see pictures).

In a Speedway race start four or six riders at the same time in a standing start. Your motorcycles must weigh at least 80 kg, have no brakes and only one gear. The engines are 500 cc single-cylinder four -stroke engine with methanol as a fuel. There are up to 130 km / h (on the line) speeds.

A race lasts over four rounds at a length of 300 to 400 meters in about a minute.

The most important competition is the Speedway Speedway World Cup, which will take place in the Grand Prix system since 1995. The driver that accumulates throughout the season the most points in the Grand Prix, may be at the end of World Champion call.

The greatest popularity reached the speedway sport nowadays in Eastern Europe (especially Poland), Great Britain and Scandinavia. In Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, however long course race ( about 425 meters) are more popular, which require drivers not so much technical ability, but more endurance.

In Germany there is a Speedway League, in which the German club champion is extended. In addition, German Championships of Single Professionals and U- 19 and U-21 Championships extended annually. Speedway riders usually take part in several leagues simultaneously. This is possible because not every team has a day of racing every weekend. The drivers are often members of several teams in different countries. Thus, the Speedway drivers almost always have a busy schedule, because in addition to the League races are still several cup competitions for the League Teams, national and international championships and other invitational tournaments attended by the driver added. It is also very common that drivers often change their teams. Contracts that run over more than three years, are rare.

Speeds

The average speeds are about 75 to 80 km / h On the straights speeds between 110 and 120 km / h are achieved depending on the length of the line. Be addressed, including in mind that the railway sport bikes ( Speedway ) have neither brakes, rear suspension still gearshift. After starting the driver accelerate their racing machines within a little more than five seconds to 100 km / h Dirt track machines have two gears, the first gear is used only at startup.

Railways

All official tracks to be inspected by representatives of the FIM. The FIM has the superintendence of all the paths and defines the design requirements, the size and safety requirements of the railways.

Speedway tracks have a length of 260-450 meters. The length is measured at a distance of one meter from the inner edge of the web. The path length is thus not the length of the racing line but the shortest path. The start and end line is located generally in the middle of a straight line, but can also be placed at a distance of 35 meters from the exit of a curve. In addition to warning systems in the form of traffic lights ( in case of accidents and the associated race was stopped lit the red lamp ), a floodlight system and a modern starting system may be present.

The surface of a speedway track consists of four layers, which may be all more than seven millimeters thick. Ground slate is applied as a top layer. Below this are layers of granite, bricks or other loose granular materials. The use of asphalt, concrete or other hard materials as stabilizers is, if only because of the high risk of injury, strictly prohibited. During an event, the web is often watered to keep dust emissions as low as possible.

The minimum lane width is ten meters. Thus, the drivers have at any point in the track enough space to control your motorcycle safely. There is no maximum road width. This regulation ensures the FIM Speedway on tracks that not only can take place "normal" speedway, but other events, such as sidecar race.

Furthermore, a speedway stadium must have sufficient space for the bikes that are not currently in use. The garage area is usually located outside the actual stadium, but rarely also in the interior of the train or in the catacombs under the stands (eg Speedway events in football stadiums ). Also, press areas, medical facilities, Abfangzäune before the spectators and well-padded bands are required.

To make the sport more popular Speedway, the FIM occasionally hosts speedway in large football stadiums. So already were at Wembley (London), the Millennium Stadium ( Cardiff ), the Parken Stadium (Copenhagen), the Ullevi ( Gothenburg ), the Olympic Stadium in Munich, the Veltins -Arena ( Gelsenkirchen), the Stadium Slaski ( Chorzów ) and discharged into the new Friends Arena (Stockholm) Speedway race.

Motorcycles

The bikes are very spartan and precisely constructed for their intended purpose. The rules on the bikes has been in the " Track Racing Technical Rules" FIM: set ( to German "Technical rules of the track luge ").

Special features of these machines are the single-cylinder four -stroke engines used with a narrow overall width and light weight. The motorcycles must weigh more than 77 kg. The motors usually have a displacement of 500 cubic centimeters and depending on the voting power between 60 and 80 hp. Most of the air-cooled engines from GM and Jawa are used. The fuel used is methanol, which burns almost to form water vapor and carbon dioxide. The speedway motorcycles are built without a gearbox. There is only one countershaft with coupling between the engine and rear wheel. Adjustments to track lengths and textures done by changing the ratio by changing the sprocket and adjusting the clutch. Contrast, long course motorcycles have two gears, the first gear is only meant to start and is already shifted up shortly after the start. Braking, on these special machines are not, is braked solely by the compression of the shift operation of the motor.

The seat height is relatively low and the handlebars wide. The (very short ) footrest on the left is used only on straight lines for relief because the inside of the curve walking is sometimes placed in the corners on the floor.

Sidecar motorcycle

Sidecar races were hosted with sidecar motorcycles, the sidecar is mounted to the right. Until the 1980s, the inclination of the motorcycle could be a crank adjusted by the passenger to the curve radius in the current race. These were the so-called " Cameraman ". Currently, the inclination of the machine for reasons of security is pre-assembled.

Speed karts

The speed karts are converted series kart chassis rail or road engine. You go up to 650 cc and 75 kW and can reach a top speed of over 160 km / h

Race

Four riders lined up parallel to each other behind the starting tape. The race is on as soon as lifts the band. False starts are just as self-inflicted falls, punishable by immediate exclusion racing. It is anti -clockwise.

For the victory in a race there are (at the four - Speedway ) usually three points for second place two, for the third one and the fourth zero points.

The responsibility for the regulations lies with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM ).

Competitions

Internationally

For the best club teams are the Speedway European Cup, similar to a European Champions Cup.

National

Germany

In Germany there is a Speedway League, of which the national team title will be given. In addition, a single championship and a U -21 Championship will be conducted annually.

Great Britain

In the UK there is a strong league system, the upper house of the Speedway Elite League forms. Under it, the Speedway Premier League and the National League Speedway follow. In addition there are cup competitions.

The Elite League Knockout Cup is like the League Cup Elite League. He's just vorbethalten the teams that participate in the Elite League. He is regarded as the most important team Speedway Cup of the country. The Craven Shield represents a kind Supercup the Elite League

In individual are British Championships for professionals, held U-21 and U-18 driver.

Speedway in Germany

In Germany, the speedway sport, mainly due to the lack of international success, rather unknown. Unlike in other European countries are other railway sports, such as the grass track sports, at least as well known as Speedway. In addition, the environmental problem in Speedway Sport is unresolved. Many cars are idle because Speedway is connected to exhaust gases and noise. New technology is tried lately to renew the sport. Electric Speedway machines will help to give new impetus and new fans of the sport. Racing legend Egon Müller wants to go in 2012 with such an electric racing machine to the start and play against professional racers to classic, fueled with methanol motorcycles.

There are German Championships in which the individual champion will be determined. In addition, German U -21 Championships. The German team champion will be determined on the Bundesliga.

Results

  • Speedway World Cup single
  • Speedway World Team Cup
  • Speedway European Cup
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