martinmauger 584 Posted November 24, 2019 Saw an ad for Guy Martin's 'Our Guy In Japan', C4 Sunday Nite 9:00PM, clip showed him having a bash at Japanese Speedway, or Autorace as I believe they call it. "It's speedway, Jim, but not as we know it"..... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grachan 7,362 Posted November 24, 2019 I've been to a couple of Autorace meetings. The relationship to speedway is very tenuous. The best thing is the noise of the bikes. None of this silencer nonsense. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tsunami 10,219 Posted November 24, 2019 Back in the day, Briggo took an interest, and might have had a ride at Japanese speedway, and brought a guy called I think Jimmy Ogushi ? who had a try out in GB. Didn't come to anything as apart from a motor bike and a circuit, there was very little comparison. I have also seem, possible on Facebook, a meeting in Japan with some leading riders from this country giving it a try again a Jap team. Interesting race tactics as there is not just one way to ride their track. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
False dawn 2,298 Posted November 24, 2019 Seemed to remember when Briggo went over there that it was reported that betting was a huge part of the sport. Riders, back then, were locked away in isolation for several days before meetings to avoid the possibility of race rigging. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,988 Posted November 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Tsunami said: Back in the day, Briggo took an interest, and might have had a ride at Japanese speedway, and brought a guy called I think Jimmy Ogushi ? who had a try out in GB. Didn't come to anything as apart from a motor bike and a circuit, there was very little comparison. I have also seem, possible on Facebook, a meeting in Japan with some leading riders from this country giving it a try again a Jap team. Interesting race tactics as there is not just one way to ride their track. Jimmy Ogisu I think his name was, who rode at Plough Lane in the Internationale Remember seeing a film on the sport at one of the Motorbike shows in the 70s at Olympia or Earls Court,probably at the MCN stand 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vince 9,458 Posted November 24, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, False dawn said: Seemed to remember when Briggo went over there that it was reported that betting was a huge part of the sport. Riders, back then, were locked away in isolation for several days before meetings to avoid the possibility of race rigging. I think it's in On any Sunday 2 that there is a segment about Japanese Speedway, obviously from several decades ago. The parts that stick in my mind are that the crowd was pretty much silent, in Japan they were for some unknown reason using Triumph engines and as you say the riders were kept isolated and taken out to their bikes in a covered trailer so they couldn't be in contact with anybody. Edited November 24, 2019 by Vince Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Stadia 1,071 Posted November 25, 2019 I found the following link on Youtube. Seems it is a challenge between flat track, roadracing and auto racing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEYEn_fpv-4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 5,017 Posted November 25, 2019 The crowds look similar to Speedway 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martinmauger 584 Posted November 25, 2019 (edited) Loved the stampede of the crowd to get in and while Guy IS a talented motorcyclist he had to have practice before racing the local champ and Guy maybe should had taken him to the fence . I'm kidding, ok . Just imagine though: a Japanese SGP with Ole Olsen and his 'temporary track laying crew' laying a shale track and installing an air fence into that Japanese stadium.... Edited November 25, 2019 by martinmauger Added thoughts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sotonian 610 Posted November 25, 2019 On 11/24/2019 at 9:26 AM, Grachan said: The best thing is the noise of the bikes. None of this silencer nonsense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gemini 4,894 Posted November 25, 2019 11 hours ago, Ray Stadia said: I found the following link on Youtube. Seems it is a challenge between flat track, roadracing and auto racing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEYEn_fpv-4 Interesting, although I have seen some before on 'On Any Sunday.' Prefer the Speedway style of riding so glad number 5 won. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryW 1,178 Posted November 25, 2019 I had no idea Haru Aoki did AutoRace these days. He was a fantastic rider at 125cc level in the road racing GPs in the 90s, winning the World title twice. He never really delivered in the higher categories, but it's nice to know he's still out there racing bikes! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Stadia 1,071 Posted November 25, 2019 2 hours ago, HenryW said: I had no idea Haru Aoki did AutoRace these days. He was a fantastic rider at 125cc level in the road racing GPs in the 90s, winning the World title twice. He never really delivered in the higher categories, but it's nice to know he's still out there racing bikes! And when he's done with auto racing, he can move onto sumo wrestling! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waytogo28 2,054 Posted November 26, 2019 On 11/24/2019 at 6:52 PM, False dawn said: Seemed to remember when Briggo went over there that it was reported that betting was a huge part of the sport. Riders, back then, were locked away in isolation for several days before meetings to avoid the possibility of race rigging. That is totally correct and betting is all that drives it on . It is very very difficult for races to be rigged, if not impossible. It IS very exciting becasue it is all about handicap racing and the stars do have to race through the pack, which is good to watch. The biggest downside is that there is a 20 /30 min gap between races for the placing of new bets and the collecting of winnings ( not even tractors to watch race ) and the meeting lasts 8 hours plus. The upside is that it costs 50p to get in and if you are not a betting person it's a very cheap "bike racing " day. I enjoyed it several times when I lived and worked in Japan. Vastly more passing than in UK speedway that's for sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites