The Long track (more commonly known as the longtrack, or German Sandbahn) is a motorcycle sport very similar to speedway, but taking place on a 1000 metre track at much higher speeds. There are also subtle differences between the machinery in that a longtrack bike is slightly larger and has a two-speed gearbox. Races (or heats) usually consist of six riders although occasionally they have eight.
The sport is popular in Germany, perhaps even more so than speedway. This means that the majority of tracks are to be found in that country, although tracks can also be found in France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Finland and Norway. Occasionally, longtrack meetings are held in Australia and the United States, but these generally take place around converted horse trotting arenas.
The similarities with speedway means that many riders from that discipline also take part in longtrack. Whilst there are no leagues in longtrack, there are many lucrative open meetings which offer a means of additional income. Longtrack is also closely related to grasstrack and most riders compete in both disciplines.
Read more about Long Track: Competitions
Famous quotes containing the words long and/or track:
“My long sickness
Of health and living now begins to mend,
And nothing brings me all things.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“He was good-natured to a degree of weakness, even to tears, upon the slightest occasions. Exceedingly timorous, both personally and politically, dreading the least innovation, and keeping, with a scrupulous timidity, in the beaten track of business as having the safest bottom.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)