Analysis of Motorcycle Grand Prix Lap Times

• Activity Number: 453
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics in Sports
• Author(s): Leanne Streja*+ and Robert E. Weiss and Catherine A. Sugar
• Companies: University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, Los Angeles
• Keywords: sports ; graphics ; longitudinal ; repeated measures

Abstract

Motorcycle Grand Prix Racing (MOTOGP) is the most elite class of motorcycle racing, with 16 to 18 races held annually at race tracks worldwide. Tracks are unique in length and layout with various tight turns and straight-aways. Lap time provides information on a rider's ability, consistency and bike performance. We graphically analyze MOTOGP lap time data from 2002-2007 to assess differences across riders, tracks, and years. Interesting findings include: clustering of rider positions, with considerable separation in race time among the top 5-10 from the rest, lower variability in lap times for the top ten, and determination of a race winner midway through the race, where the gap in time increases substantially between the leader and the rest of the racers. These observations across riders, tracks, and years can be used to adjust a rider's strategy to win the race.