Sportsbikes III: Track days Trivia Quiz

Answer: A series of uncontrolled movements in the steer as a result of acceleration

A tankslapper is a series of uncontrolled movements in the steer as a result of acceleration. It happens a lot when the motorcyclist accelerates on a poor road. In a fast lap, this can happen on the track as well (especially when accelerating out of a corner). Steering dampers can diminish this problem.

Answer: Increase throttle

The only correct thing to do is increase throttle to accelerate. This might sound odd since tankslappers occur because of accelerating. But when it happens it is best to accelerate even more. The increased throttle will lift the bike thus decreasing the contact with the front tire to the road. The decreased or even abundant contact makes the tankslapper will go away.

Hitting the brakes, whether it's the front brakes or the rear brake, will certainly result in a crash as the force on the front tire will increase. Declutching will not help the problem. Doing this in a corner will also result in a crash since declutching causes loss of traction.

Answer: A motorcyclist being thrown off the bike into the air

A highsider is a motorcyclist being thrown of the bike into the air. Highsiders occur when the motorcyclist pulls down the throttle too much after losing traction in a corner while accelerating. The rear wheel will regain traction. But because of the lateral movement the bike is making right now, the tire will regain grip too fast resulting in the motorcyclist being thrown of. Hitting the throttle too fast results in highsiders, but is also deliberately used to drift the back wheel (back wheel steering).

Answer: Öhlins

Öhlins parts are top of the bill, but there are other great brands like WP Suspension etc. Termignoni is an exhaust manufacturer (most of them being used for Ducati bikes). Brembo is a brake manufacturer. Dainese is a motor cycle clothing manufacturer.

Answer: MQP

The correct answer is MQP since this company only produces clothing.

Answer: All these materials are used in knee sliders

All these materials are used in knee sliders. Each rider has his/her own favourite. Leather is the least thick of all materials, this even more decreasing the angle. It can be painful to your knees though, as shock absorption is not as good as other materials. Wood is being used by those who want maximum glide effect.

The main disadvantage of wood though is durability together with the risk of fire. Titanium is used as a combination with plastic. Titanium is added to cause sparkles. The main reason for this is entertainment.

The ride ability can be compared with plastic, but the durability is very high.

Answer: Deterioration of traction

The flag is being shown before a section with reduced grip most likely the result of oil on the road. There are several flags to indicate a rider has to enter the pits, but the most common one is a black flag which does not indicate a specific reason. If you're hindering a faster rider that wants to overtake you are being shown a blue flag. A terminated race results in a red flag.

Answer: Parc fermé

The correct answer is 'parc fermé', literally meaning closed park. The term is universal, but is not widely known in some countries. 'Domaine interdit' means forbidden ground. 'Territoire supérieur' means superior territory. 'Dépôt cacheté' is a term being used in banking meaning a closed deposit.

Answer: Steel does not expand like plastic thus improving feel and speed of braking

The only correct answer is that steel does not expand like plastic. Hence the brake fluid is directly being used for braking and not for expanding the brake cable, the reaction of the brakes will be noticeably faster. The rider will also have a higher sense of control.

Answer: To register crashes

Insurance representatives attend track days to register crashes. Most participants drive on road legal bikes of which some of them are fully covered. Track days however are not being covered by the insurance. Therefore some riders pretend they crashed elsewhere after a crash on the track. This phenomenon resulted in insurance companies to 'gather evidence' on crashes. Riders responded with taping their license plates, but plates are almost always registered at the gates where it is illegal to tape your plates.

In some countries, health insurances do not cover track days and other dangerous activities. This so far has not resulted in health insurance watchdogs.