title: Physical profile of elite young motorcyclists.
abstract: The aim of the study was to describe anthropometric and physical characteristics of elite young road-race motorcyclists (MC). 27 riders (15.6±1.1 years, 54.6±6.9 kg, 166.9±6.7 cm) competing at international elite level participated in this study. Anthropometric variables, hand grip and lumbar isometric strength, and lower-body muscular strength were measured. Comparisons of the MC and a reference group of Spanish physically active adolescents (16.0±0.6 years) showed that the riders were significantly lighter (-12.5 kg), and smaller (-4.7 cm). Riders also had significantly lower values for almost all skinfolds, and for all the measured girths (except forearm) than the reference group. Motorcyclists showed significantly less percent body fat (%BF) and higher muscle mass, and differences were observed for somatotype components compared to the reference group, except for the ectomorphy. Somatotype could be defined as mesomorphic-ectomorph (2.5-4.4-3.7). Mean (±SD) values of all riders were 34.8±5.0 cm for vertical jump height, 402.1±74.5 N for the right hand and 370.7±77.5 N for the left hand strengths, and 120.6±19.3 kg for lumbar isometric strength, respectively. Results demonstrate that MC are small and light, with lower body mass index, skinfolds, girth and breadth dimensions, and %BF than a reference group and other athletes, with high values of hand grip and lumbar isometric strength.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (University of Granada), Department of Physical Activity and Sport, Granada, Spain. csm@ugr.es
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Muñoz
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Casimiro-Andújar
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mateo-March
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zabala
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D056352:Athletes; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D013008:Somatotypes; D013030:Spain