CASE REPORT   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2018 June;177(6):324-30

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.17.03567-7

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Estimation of energy demands of professional motorcycle racing: a longitudinal case study

Riggs J. KLIKA ¹ ✉, Curt H. FOLLMAN ², Emanuele D'ARTIBALE ³

¹ Department of Sports Medicine, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, USA; ² North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA; ³ Department of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, USA

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this investigation was to: 1) describe the heart rate responses during racing for an entire season of Superbike motorcycle racing for a single athlete; 2) compare those responses to laboratory assessment of the same athlete; and 3) estimate the energy demands of professional motorcycle racing using a novel approach.
METHODS: The athlete was a 34-year-old male who is a six time national American Motorcycle Association champion competing in the Superbike class. VO2max, lactate threshold, pulmonary function testing and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured on a cycle ergometer at the beginning of the 2009 season while motorcycle racing competition heart rate (HR) and RPE were recorded for 19 races during the season. Energy demands of racing were estimated from an adjusted HR-power relationship.
RESULTS: During the assessment period, the athlete won seven and placed in the top six 17 times. Average time and distance per race was 30±6 min and 80.3±7.1 km, respectively. Average HR for all races was 175±4 bpm which represents 94.6% of laboratory measured maximal HR. VO2max was measured at 67.8 mL/kg/min at 425 W with a corresponding maximal HR of 185 bpm. Estimated caloric expenditure for all races was 584 kcal/race.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this case study suggest that energy demands of motorcycle racing may be estimated by comparing laboratory and racing HR responses and making adjustments based on RPE.

KEY WORDS: Motorcycles - Heart rate - Energy metabolism