Glossaire

The sport of MotoGP™ has its own unique vocabulary, utilising certain pieces of terminology shared with other motorsports and some specific phrases belonging to the world of motorcycle racing. Here, motogp.com guides you through some of the words and phrases commonly used in MotoGP™.

Apex

The tightest point on a corner, which the rider usually rides through just before they begin to exit, accelerating away.

Point de freinage

A physical point that a rider uses to judge where they should start braking as they enter a corner. This could be a tree, advertising board, a mark on the track or any other distinguishing feature.

Chicane

A section of track with two corners in close succession, turning in opposite directions. A left-hander followed by a right-hander or vice versa, which looks like an ‘S’ from a bird’s eye view.

Gomme

Les pneus sont composés d'une gomme ou d'un mélange de gomme.

Curbs/Rumble Strips

Mainly painted in two colours and often featuring prominently on or just after corners, the curbs mark the sides of the race track and help to guide the riders.

Cylindrée

La capacité ou la taille du moteur, généralement exprimée en centimètres-cubes (cc), par exemple 800cc, 600cc ou 250cc.

Course sur piste sèche

Une course qui se déroule sur piste sèche est ainsi définie par la Direction de Course, contrairement à une cours sur piste mouillée. Sur piste sèche, les teams utilisent des pneus slick. Voir la rubrique Règlementation pour plus de détails.

Dorna

Dorna Sports is the company which administrates MotoGP™. See Governing Bodies section for more details.

Dirt Track

Over the years several MotoGP™ riders from the USA, including 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden, have had their racing background rooted in regional and national dirt track championships. The racing takes place on a dirt surface as opposed to asphalt. Recent years have seen many European riders start to train with this type of racing.

Endo

Une manoeuvre qui permet d'arrêter la moto brusquement en soulevant la roue arrière. Il s'agit de l'opposé du wheelie, et cette manoeuvre est parfois appelée Stoppie.

Esses

Référence phonétique à une chicane ou à une suite de virage qui a une apparence similaire à la lettre 'S'.

Carénage

Partie extérieure d'une moto de course, qui protège la partie moteur et le pilote des débris et du vent. Les carénages arborent les couleurs de chaque team, les logos des sponsors et les numéros de course.

FIM

La Fédération Internationale de Motorcyclisme dirige toutes les compétitions motocyclistes à travers le monde. Voir la section Instances dirigeantes pour plus de détails.

Gaz

Ouvrir les gaz ou 'gas' (carburant en anglais) signifie ouvrir l'accélérateur.

GP (Grand Prix)

A racing event which lasts three days, involving the three MotoGP™ classes, MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™. Grand Prix weekends consist of two days of practice and qualifying, followed by the Warm Ups and races in each class on the final day. There are currently 18 Grands Prix on the MotoGP™ calendar.

Grille

L'ensemble des positions de départ sur la ligne droite de départ/arrivée d'un circuit, où les pilotes se rassemblent avant le début de chaque course pour se placer selon les résultats de la séance de qualifications.

Épingle

Virage très serré qui est souvent pris à basse vitesse et dont la forme ressemble à un U ou un V.

Highside

A crash in which the rear wheel of the bike slides out from under the rider - so that they are essentially at a right angle to they racing line (the direction in which a rider wants to go) - and then regains grip, which flips the bike and rider over.

Hole-shot

Prendre la tête de la course dès le premier virage.

Homologation

The homologation of the track and the bikes being used in MotoGP™ racing is the approval process undertaken by the FIM and their associated committees.

IRTA

L'International Road-Racing Teams Association est l'organisation qui représente les intérêts des teams de Grand Prix. Voir la section Instances Dirigeantes pour plus de détails.

Low Side

Crashes whereby the rear wheel or both wheels of the bike lose grip and do not regain traction, resulting in the motorcycle slipping out from underneath the rider.

Angle d'inclinaison

The lean angle refers to the degree at which a rider tilts their bike into the track as they corner at high speeds. Riders’ knees and elbows can often touch the ground at maximum lean angle.

Virage à gauche

Simply a left-hand corner, where the rider ‘turns’ left, leaning the left side of the bike and body towards the ground.

MSMA

La Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers’ Association représente les intérêts de tous les constructeurs engagés en Grand Prix. Voir la section Instances Dirigeantes pour plus de détails.

OnBoard

An ‘OnBoard’ is a television camera carried by a MotoGP™ bike which gives an impression of what it is like to be involved in the action on track, often abbreviated to "OB".

Parc Fermé

Designated area in pit lane where podium finishers (first three) in each category are interviewed by television crews immediately after each race.

Paddock

The area behind the pit-boxes where teams and riders station their motorhomes and equipment for the duration of a Grand Prix.

Pit-box

A garage with access directly onto the pit lane, each one designated to a team participating in one of the three World Championship races.

Pit Crew

Le personnel composant un team, sa direction, les mécaniciens et leurs assistants.

Pit lane

An access lane which is usually directly adjacent to the main straight on the track and is used for going between the pit-boxes and the circuit.

The first three finishers in any Grand Prix race receive their trophies on the victory podium.

Pole position ou pole

Refers to securing the first starting place for the race on the grid and is secured by the quickest lap in Qualifying.

Qualifications

On the day before the races, all three classes, MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ have to qualify. The riders start the race in the order in which they have qualified, which is to say that the rider with the fastest qualifying time starts in first place or pole position, the second fastest in second place and so on.

Direction de Course

Representatives from Dorna, the FIM and IRTA form the Race Direction team at each Grand Prix, making decisions such as declaring race conditions dry or wet.

Ride Through

Une pénalité de passage aux stands contraint un pilote à passer par la pit-lane, où la vitesse est limitée, s'il a enfreint le règlement, par exemple en partant avant le départ officiel de la course.

Virage à droite

A right-hand corner, where the rider ‘turns’ right, leaning the right side of the bike and their body towards the ground.

Rookie

A rider competing in their first full year in any of the three categories of Grand Prix racing is referred to as a rookie.

Rostrum

Autre nom donné au podium en anglais.

Inspection technique

A check or inspection. Scrutineers are responsible for checking that all MotoGP™ participants abide by the technical rules.

Aspiration

To slipstream another rider is to follow them on a straight and use the flow of air around them and their machinery to your advantage, by building up the momentum to overtake them in the area of reduced pressure behind them.

Slicks

Pneus sans rainure conçus pour la course sur route et composés d'une gomme plus ou moins tendre, qui donne suffisamment d'adhérence sans freiner la moto.

Bras oscillant

La partie arrière de la moto sur laquelle la roue arrière est montée. Il monte et descend avec la suspension arrière.

Être en tête de la feuille de temps

Lorsqu'un pilote occupe la première position lors d'essais ou de qualifications.

Mur de pneus

Amas de pneus utilisé comme barrière de sécurité pour réduire les risques de blessures lors de l'impact.

Course sur piste mouillée

Une course qui se déroule sur piste mouillée, annoncée comme telle par la Direction de Course avant le départ de l'épreuve.

Wheelie

Une figure souvent réalisée après la course par les pilotes, dans laquelle ils soulèvent la roue avant grâce à une grosse accélération et une activation rapide de l'embrayage.

Wildcards

Riders who are entered for one-off races, as opposed to regular competitors.