If you’re a fan of any motorsport, there are likely countless burning questions on your mind about how the riders or drivers do what they do. If you’re a fan of motorcycle racing, one such question may be about how MotoGP riders pee during races.
MotoGP riders pee in their suits if they have to go while racing. They don’t usually need to pee during races, as the adrenaline of racing makes it difficult to pee, and they’ll normally empty their bladders before they get on the bike. Riders also tend to lose 1-2 kg of water through sweat.
But there is more to it than simply being unlikely to go during a race, as we must also discuss the importance of hydration for MotoGP riders. Below, we go into detail about each of these aspects, while also discussing how MotoGP riders stay hydrated before and during a race.
How Do MotoGP Riders Pee During A Race?
MotoGP riders pee during a race the same way most other motorsport racers do, by simply going in their suits if they must. However, racing in MotoGP involves high speeds and intense racing situations, so it’s very unlikely the rider would even need to pee while racing, let alone be able to do so.
MotoGP is the pinnacle of two wheeled motor sport. It involves riders travelling at speeds averaging above 140 mph but reaching well above 200 mph on long straights. They’re leaning into corners at angles above 40 degrees, and they’re doing all of this against more than 20 of the world’s most talented motorcycle riders.
Focus & Concentration
This involves immense focus and concentration levels, along with extreme physical endurance. This alone makes it very difficult for MotoGP riders to even consider peeing during a race, and it would be very difficult to do so at such high speeds and in such intense racing situations.
However, another factor that affects a rider’s need to urinate during a race is their level of hydration. In MotoGP, it’s not uncommon for the rider to lose several kilograms of bodyweight through sweat while racing. Losing a couple of kilos of water through perspiration means their bodies are naturally becoming dehydrated without going to the toilet.
Proper Preparation
However, the main reason MotoGP riders don’t need to pee during a race is that they simply know their body well enough to prepare properly before they get to the grid. This involves going to the toilet a lot and ensuring that they don’t drink too much water before they get on the bike.
Races are scheduled at regular times, and riders will all abide by strict diets, along with fitness regimes, meaning their lives will be very regimented. This makes it much easier for riders to be able to manage their bathroom schedules before the race, and to time when they use the toilet beforehand to ensure they don’t need on the grid.
Going Before They Race
Riders will likely go to the toilet many times before they get to the grid, but if they do ever have to go while on the bike, they simply have to go in their suit. Needing to pee would take the rider’s focus away from what’s important – going as fast as they can. The last thing riders want to think about when on the grid is needing to pee, as this is when they need to be 100% focused.
Do MotoGP Riders Drink During Races?
MotoGP riders do drink during races, as they have a roughly 350 ml water bladder stored in a hump on the back of their racing suit. This is connected to their helmet via a tube, and they can access this water supply throughout the race by sucking on a mouthpiece connected to the tube.
In some two wheel racing series, including dirt bike racing, tubing that is used to connect to a rider’s water supply runs up and over the shoulder, where the rider can grab it with their hands and place it into their mouths as and when required. MotoGP riders don’t have the luxury of being able to take their hands off the handlebars, and so the system is directly inside the helmet.
The mouthpiece only lets water flow through it when it is squeezed, and so the rider has to bite down on the mouthpiece and suck the water when they need it. This prevents the rider from accidentally getting covered in liquid while racing. The amount of water they have access to is usually between 300 and 350 ml, and it’s usually water. This is normally enough for a 45-minute MotoGP race.
Why Do MotoGP Riders Have A Hump On Their Backs?
MotoGP riders have a hump on their backs for at least 3 reasons:
- It’s where their water is stored during a race
- The hump improves airflow over the rider
- It stores some essential electronics
While the hump was initially designed to help improve airflow over the rider and therefore boost the top speed of the bike, it now houses the rider’s water supply along with some electronics.
Multifunctional Humps
While the aerodynamic gains of this hump may be small, in the sport of MotoGP it is the small margins that make the big differences. But the hump is also now used to house the rider’s water supply that they access through a tube that connects to their helmet, along with some of the electronic systems for their airbag suits.
MotoGP riders wear special racing suits that contain airbags in various parts on them to protect them in a crash. In order for the suits to work effectively, the need to be connected to various sensors, gyroscopes, and accelerometers, and these must all sit somewhere within the suit. The hump on the back of the rider’s suit is the perfect place to house these small but important components.
KEY POINTS
• MotoGP riders can pee during races, having to simply go in their suit, but this is rare
• They’ll usually manage their hydration so that they never need to go during a race
• MotoGP riders can drink through a tube connected to their helmet
• This tube connects to a hump in their back that contains about 350 ml of water
Why Is Hydration Important For MotoGP Riders?
Hydration is important for MotoGP riders as the sport is very physically demanding. MotoGP riders might lose 1 to 2 kg of water per race through perspiration, or about 3.3 to 4.4 lbs. This will vary depending on the climate, but riders must stay hydrated to maintain focus and perform at their best.
Muscle Functionality
Adequate hydration is important for all sportspeople, as it helps keep the muscles hydrated and keeps concentration levels high. When muscles don’t get enough water, they are prone to cramping or spasming, which would be extremely dangerous for a MotoGP rider travelling at speeds of up to 200 mph or more.
Concentration Levels
Concentration levels are also dependent on hydration, and when racing at such high speeds against 20+ of the most talented motorcycle racers in the world, concentration is key to not only performing at your best, but also to ensure that you can ride the motorcycle safely. A lapse in concentration could be very dangerous not just for you but for the riders around you as well.
It is for this reason that MotoGP riders will have strict hydration programs that they must follow before, during and after races, to ensure that there are always properly hydrated. This is one of the key ways they are always able to perform at their best come race day.
Final Thoughts
MotoGP riders pee in their suits if they need to go during a race, but most won’t need to as they will go to the toilet many times before they get to the grid. Hydration is vital for MotoGP riders, and they will follow strict hydration plans that limit their chances of needing to pee during a race.
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