Motorcycle racing is a very exciting sport. Anyone who has been to a racing circuit to see the action will agree on this have been to the racing circuit in Shah Alam to see motorcycle races and I have to say the experience is indeed very thrilling.
The first thing that catches one’s attention is the sound of engines. They are no other sound like that of high ‘revving’ engines. To hear the sound is like having a dose of adrenalin injected into one’s body. The heart quickens and excitement rises.
Excitement rises even higher when one catches a glimpse of the racers moving et breakneck speed down the circuit. The motorcycle riders, dressed in brilliantly colored suits hugging their machines, make quite a spectacle. They tear down the circuit with a deafening roar trying to outpace one another. When they reach the corners it is quite incredible to see how they lean their machines until their knees almost scrape the tarmac. Yet they seldom fall. It sure takes a lot of guts and skill to do this sort of thing. Occasionally, perhaps owing to a mistake, lack of skill or inferior equipment, they do fall. When they do it is always spectacular to watch.
Usually riders and machines part company as both slide along the tarmac onto the grass verge or sandpit scattering bits of metal all over the place. Sometimes the riders do get hurt. Often though it is just a case of bruised ego more than anything else. The fallen rider walks dejectedly back to the pit, or if he is injured, is carried away on a stretcher. Strangely the machines seem to be more damaged than the riders.
Those who manage to remain on their motorcycles go on round and round the circuit for a specified number of times. Usually, the winner is one of the more famous riders who are sponsored by the manufacturers. From what I see, the ordinary rider has no chance at all against these speed merchants on their factory-prepared machines. These special machines are far faster than ordinary production models. Together with good riders, they are almost unbeatable. So the slower ones get lapped over and over again.
Still, it is exciting to watch the leaders tussle for the lead. They overtake one another repeatedly from corner to corner till the end of the race. Sometimes the winner goes past the line hardly half a wheel ahead of the second-placed man. At times a whole group of riders seems to finish at the same time. No one knows who actually won until they study the photographs of the finish. That is how close the race can get. This adds to the excitement of the whole affair.
Fierce tussles can occur all the way down the field as well as slower riders compete with one another. All in all, motorcycle racing is a great sport to watch. I do not know how it is like to be one of the riders. Maybe I may get a chance to find out one day.