Exercise training patterns and anthropometric characteristics of amateur motorcycle road racers

Exercise is an important component in preparing for competition. Failure to properly train can lead to performance decrements, fatigue and injury. Scientific based sport conditioning programs are available for a variety of sports. However, there is lack of information concerning sport conditioning for motorcycle road racing. The purpose of this investigation was to conduct an initial study of body mass index (BMI), estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) and exercise training patterns of expert and novice amateur motorcycle road racers.;A total of 53 Western Eastern Roadracing Association (WERA) racers provided self-reported height, weight, age, gender, resting heart rate (RHR), physical activity habits, aerobic exercise training patterns and resistance exercise training patterns on an on-line survey. Height and weight was used to calculate BMI. Gender, age, RHR and habitual physical activity were used to estimate VO2max. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was employed to assess total physical activity (PA) in minutes per week. A supplemental survey was utilized to assess exercise training participation, frequency, duration, resistance exercise selection, repetitions and sets. An independent sample t-test was used to compare BMI and estimated VO2max between expert and novice racers. A Mann-Whitney u test was performed to compare Total PA. Pearson Chi-Squared tests were used to compare exercise training patterns.;Expert racers had a significantly lower mean BMI (p< .05) compared to novice racers, 23.55 and 25.77, respectively. No significant difference was found in estimated VO2max between expert and novices racers, 46.65 ml/kg/min and 44.31 ml/kg/min, respectively. A significant difference (p< .05) was found in Total PA. Expert racers had a mean total PA of 1110 min/wk and novice racers had a mean total PA of 743 min/wk. A significant difference (p< .05) was established in one resistance exercise (i.e. lunges). Novices had a larger participation rate compared to expert racers in the lunge resistance exercise.;The findings do not provide sufficient information to conclusively develop a sport-specific exercise program. However, this study provides preliminary data concerning anthropometric and fitness characteristics of motorcycle road racers. Additional research is necessary to fully understand characteristics associated with improved motorcycle road racing performance.