Academic Journal
The epidemiology of motorsport injuries: Understanding crash dynamics in elite motorcycle racing.
| Τίτλος: | The epidemiology of motorsport injuries: Understanding crash dynamics in elite motorcycle racing. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Russo M; Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Division, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. Electronic address: michele.russo@unipr.it., Bignami EG; Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Division, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy., Bitonti A; Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ospedale Infermi, Rimini, Italy; Clinica Mobile nel Mondo, World Motorbike Championships (MotoGP™ & WorldSBK), Parma, Italy., Valenti PG; Clinica Mobile nel Mondo, World Motorbike Championships (MotoGP™ & WorldSBK), Parma, Italy; Orthopaedic Clinic, Department of Surgical Sciences, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy., Zasa M; Clinica Mobile nel Mondo, World Motorbike Championships (MotoGP™ & WorldSBK), Parma, Italy. |
| Πηγή: | Injury [Injury] 2026 Oct; Vol. 57 (10), pp. 113647. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Aug 29. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 0226040 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-0267 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00201383 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Injury Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: <2002->: Amsterdam : Elsevier Original Publication: Bristol, Wright. |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Motorcycles*/statistics & numerical data , Accidents, Traffic*/statistics & numerical data , Accidents, Traffic*/prevention & control , Athletic Injuries*/epidemiology , Athletic Injuries*/prevention & control , Accidental Falls*/statistics & numerical data, United States/epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male |
| Περίληψη: | Background: Motorcycle road racing is among the most high-risk sports, with riders exposed to speeds exceeding 300 km/h. Despite advancements in safety technology, severe injuries remain a persistent concern, particularly with the introduction of the Sprint race, which has intensified race weekends. This study provides a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of crash and injury patterns in the 2024 MotoGP™ season, addressing a critical gap in contemporary data. Methods: Utilizing publicly available data from official incident reports and race classifications, this descriptive study analyzed fall incidence and injury outcomes across all 2024 Grand Prix events. Data were stratified by session type (practice, qualifying, Sprint, and main race), motorbike category (MotoGP™, Moto2™, Moto3™), circuit location, and environmental conditions. Furthermore, cases resulting in immediate medical disqualification ("unfit" status) or hospitalization were manually extracted to evaluate severe trauma patterns. Results: Findings reveal a significant shift in risk dynamics, with the Sprint race contributing heavily to crash incidence despite its shorter duration. High-risk corners and session-specific patterns were identified, with qualifying sessions and Sprint races showing elevated fall rates compared to practice. Granular clinical analysis of severe traumas (n = 23) revealed a disproportionate burden of upper extremity injuries, with hand, wrist, and clavicle fractures constituting the majority of isolated skeletal traumas due to the instinctual bracing response. Environmental factors, notably wet conditions, further exacerbated overall risks at specific circuits. Conclusion: This study establishes a contemporary baseline for injury surveillance in elite motorcycle racing, highlighting the impact of format changes like the Sprint race introduction on rider safety. By quantifying crash distribution and clinical injury patterns, these findings provide a robust evidence base for optimizing future safety protocols and trauma prevention strategies. (Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Crash dynamics; Fall incidence; Injuries; Motorcycle elite racing; Trauma prevention |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260904 Date Completed: 20261007 Latest Revision: 20261007 |
| Update Code: | 20261007 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.injury.2026.113647 |
| PMID: | 42697130 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1879-0267 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.injury.2026.113647 |