Some Fast Facts on the World of Endurance.
Endurance racing is a unique and gruelling test of power and long-distance racing encapsulated in a huge outdoor festival atmosphere. It’s a worldwide phenomenon that is a massive hit with race fans and riders alike. It is a real marathon effort, which demands the very best from teams, riders and bikes, there are a few other ingredients that are also useful. These are guts, a never say die attitude and also a fair smattering of luck.
Races attract huge crowds such as the Le Mans 24 Hour race in France. Whilst for the world’s leading Japanese and European motorcycle manufacturers are more than ever embracing the concept. The Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan for instance is seen as the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world, which still attracts top MotoGP and Superbike racers to take on bonkers Japanese homespun heroes in a myriad of works and semi-works teams. Japan also in previous years threw up the best line in team names such as Moto-Bum, Pocari Sweat (Energy Drink!) and teams had the most unusual of sponsor branding, everything from Pot Noodles to women’s underwear and cosmetics got an airing. These days there are still branding for family friendly names like Hooters, Army Girl and Blue Helmets.
Endurance races comes in a variety of guises; eight or twenty-four hours. A 24-hour race lasts from 3pm to 3pm so the bikes are fitted with headlights and they race throughout the night. You race for a set number of hours and the team that completes the most laps in that time wins. In the dark legend has it that riders such as the late Stevie Hislop and Carl Fogarty were lapping just as quick in the dark as they could in the daylight, and it is not unknown for riders to continue racing with smashed fingers, broken bones, fatigue, as well as having to ride hastily repaired crash damaged bikes.
Teams are vital of course. Each has three riders who take turns on the bike. In theory, they get an hour on the bike and two hours off. In practice, that can quickly go wrong as it gets cold, riders get tired and accidents happen. Injured riders have to rest, leaving their team mates to cover on the bike. The pit crew are the backbone of the whole effort and can even change an engine if need be to keep a rider in the race.