Salivary cortisol, heart rate and blood lactate during a qualifying trial and an official race in motorcycling competition.
OBJECTIVE
The study aims to examine the physiological load on motorcycling competitors during a qualifying trial and an official race.


METHODS
Twelve male riders participated in this study, in which their anthropometric data, heart rate, blood lactate (La) and salivary cortisol (C) concentrations were measured. Two saliva samples were taken on a resting day at 8 a.m. (30 min after awakening: [T(0)] and at 8 p.m. [T(1)] and 6 saliva samples were collected on the day of the qualifying trial and on the day of the official race [T(2) through T(7)]).


RESULTS
During the race, as well as during the qualifying trial, heart rate was found to be >80-90% of the maximum heart rate. Blood La increased more than two-fold (peak 5.6+/-2.1 mM) as compared to resting values (2+/-0.1 mM). However, La were not statistically different between qualifying trial and race. C concentrations on the motorcycling day were found to be up to 3 times higher than those measured on the resting day. In fact, there was a progressive increase in the C concentrations on the motorcycling day, the values noted 10 min after the race being the highest. There was a significant decrease in C values 60 min after the race, but the concentration was maintained at a higher level for a longer period; the values reported at T(7) (8 p.m.; 4.3 h after the end of the race) were significantly higher than those reported at the same time on a resting day (T(1)).


CONCLUSIONS
The examination of heart rate, blood La and salivary C concentrations in motorcycling on a circuit shows that this sport is highly stressful, and also that a metabolic involvement is required to control the motorcycle at a high speed. Thus, riders may benefit from a specific training program aimed at improving their cardiovascular fitness and strength.
Filaire
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E
Laboratory of Physical Activity, Health and Performance UFRSTAPS-2, Orléans Cedex, France. efilaire@nat.fr
Filaire
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M
Le Scanff
C
C
D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005602:France; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles; D012463:Saliva
D019344:Lactic Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone