Influence of fitness improvement on performance level in international elite young road-race motorcyclists

Summary Objectives To describe physical fitness and performance profiles of elite young road-race motorcyclists and to evaluate the effects of four specific training stages on body composition and muscular fitness. Equipments and methods Twenty-seven elite young road-race motorcyclists aged 15.6 ± 1.1 years, were evaluated on two different occasions, at the beginning and the end of the championship (14 weeks later). Body composition was measured using anthropometric techniques. Muscular fitness was assessed using the following tests: countermovement (CMJ) jump height, lumbar isometric strength, and handgrip strength. Sixteen of the participants were randomly selected as experimental group to perform 4 complementary training stages of 4 days each, while the rest of participants were used as control group. Results Both groups improved significantly their physical fitness level, with average increments of about 3 cm in CMJ ( P  = 0.003) or 30 N in maximal handgrip strength ( P P  = 0.040), points ( P  = 0.043) and best place attained during the championship. Fitness enhancement can be an effective strategy to improve performance. Our results indicate that riders following a conditioning program can achieve better results than those only performing motorcycling specific training.