Keirin
Encyclopedia
is a track cycling
event in which racing cyclists sprint for victory. Keirin originated in Japan in 1948; the first Olympic competitions in the sport occurred in 2000.
A keirin race is a mass-start race with 6-9 sprinters
riders and a paced start. Riders draw lots to determine starting positions and start as the pacer (usually a motorcycle, a derny
, or a tandem bicycle
) approaches. The riders are required to remain behind the pacer, which starts at the deliberately slow speed of about 25 km/h, gradually increasing in speed and leaves the track approximately 600–700 meters before the end, at a speed of about 50 km/h. The first cyclist to finish the race is the winner (sometimes finishing at 70 km/h). Keirin races are about 2 kilometers in length (eight laps on a 250m track, six laps on a 333m track, and five laps on a 400m track).
In competitions, this event is often conducted in several rounds in order to reduce the number of competitors to one "final" round of 6–9 riders. Eliminated cyclists may get the opportunity to try again in the repechage
s.
men's World Championship event since 1980. It has been a UCI women's World Championship event
since 2002. Danny Clark
was the first male UCI world champion and Li Na
of China was the sport's first female UCI world champion. The current men's and women's world champions are Shane Perkins
(2011) of Australia and Anna Meares
of Australia (2011), respectively.
Keirin was admitted into the Olympics in December 1996. A BBC News
investigation, reported in July 2008, found evidence that following the sport's admission into the Olympics, the Union Cycliste Internationale
required (in writing) that the Japan Keirin Association
support UCI projects in "material terms"; over a period of time the association subsequently gave three million dollars to UCI in consideration of "the excellent relationship the UCI has with representatives of the Olympic movement."
Men's keirin became an event at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
.
began as a betting sport in Japan in 1948, and has since become very popular there. In 1957, the Nihon Jitensha Shinkōkai (NJS; also known in English as the Japanese Keirin Association) was founded to establish a uniform system of standards for the sport in Japan. Today keirin racing is regulated by the JKA Foundation
.
Aspiring professional keirin riders in Japan compete for entrance into the Japan Keirin School. The 10 percent of applicants who are accepted then undergo a strict, 15-hours per day, training regimen. Those who pass the graduation exams, and are approved by the NJS become eligible for professional keirin races in Japan.
World Track Cycling Championship wins from 1977–86 against mostly western European pro track cyclists, although he never won the Keirin World Championship. At that time, many leading sprint riders were from the Eastern bloc countries and competed in separate "amateur" events.
Kyoto
, is the defending champion of the Keirin Grand Prix. In 2010, Murakami earned nearly ¥238 million in prize money (US$2.9 million), which ranks second on the all-time list behind the ¥244 million earned by bell
or gong
, increasing in frequency until the bicyclists come around to begin the final lap of the race.
The race is monitored by four referees, each located in a tower next to one of the four turns (referred to as corners). After every race, each referee will wave either a white or red flag. A white flag indicates that no infractions occurred in that area. A red flag, however, signals a possible infraction and launches an inquiry into the race. Judges then examine the race on videotape to decide if a participant committed a rules violation; if so, he is disqualified and retires from the remainder of the meet.
Keirin ovals are divided into specific areas: The two straightaways (homestretch and backstretch), the four turns (corners), and two locations called the "center", referring to the area between corners 1 and 2 (1 center) and corners 3 and 4 (2 center).
Most keirin events are run at the standard distance of approximately 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft), with the highest-caliber events contested at a longer distance. The Keirin Grand Prix, for example, is run at 2825 metres (9,268.4 ft), or seven laps around a 400-meter course.
The color of the shorts worn by each keirin competitor indicates rank. Those in A-class (A1, A2, A3) wear black shorts with a green stripe and white stars. S-class competitors (S1 and S2) wear a red stripe instead of a green stripe. Those in the elite SS class wear red shorts with a black stripe, white stars and special insignia. Introduced in 2007, the SS ranking is assigned by the NJS every December before the Grand Prix to the best keirin athletes, who retain the ranking for a period of one year.
in Japan is assigned a grade. The highest graded events are GP, GI (G1), GII (G2) and GIII (G3), reserved only for S-class riders. Underneath those are FI (F1) events, which are open to both S-class and A-class riders. The lowest graded events, FII (F2), are reserved for A-class riders.
The GP grade designation is reserved for the Keirin Grand Prix, a three-day meet held at the end of December for the year's top keirin competitors. The meet ultimately concludes with the Grand Prix race itself, which determines the annual Keirin racing champion.
As of December 2008, the nine competitors for the Keirin Grand Prix race are determined in the following order of priority:
Once the Grand Prix field is determined, the nine competitors are assigned the SS rank and retain it for one year. The next nine competitors that are ranked under this system also receive the SS rank and compete in the GI SS Cup held one day prior to the Grand Prix. Also part of the Grand Prix meet is the GII Young Grand Prix, which is open to the best of those that have begun competing in Keirin within the last three years; it is the only Keirin race of the year in which both S-class and A-class compete in the same race.
Another prestigious event on the annual keirin racing calendar is the GI Japan Championship. Held every March over a period of six days, it is the longest single race meeting of the year.
Each of the keirin velodromes are generally permitted to host one event per year of either GI, GII or GIII designation. The remaining events at each track consist of a combination of FI and FII races for a total of approximately 70 race days per year. On average there is one GI or GII event every month and one GIII meeting per week on the annual calendar.
Below is a schedule of races conducted during a typical three-day FI event (open to both S-class and A-class riders).
DAY 1
After six races, S-class riders compete, advancing to the next day's races in the same manner as the A class:
DAY 2
S-class riders advance to the final day in a similar manner:
DAY 3
As a result of the parimutuel gambling
that surrounds keirin racing in Japan, a strict system of standards was developed for bicycles and repair tools. There are currently 50 velodromes in operation that hold races where annually over 20 million people attend and place bets amounting to over ¥1.5 trillion($15 billion) . Since so much money is at stake, the Nihon Jitensha Shinkōkai (Japanese Bicycle Association or NJS) - now under the JKA Foundation
- requires that all keirin racers in Japan ride and use equipment that meets their standards. All riders use very similar bicycles, so that no rider will have any advantage or disadvantage based on equipment. In addition, all riders must pass strict licensing requirements.
Those who wish to race in Japan must attend the Japan Bicycle Racing School where they learn the necessary rules, etiquette, and skills. The school typically accepts only 10% of applicants. Those who pass final examination must still be approved by the Japan Keirin Association.
All bicycles and equipment must be built within strict guidelines set by the NJS, by a certified builder using NJS-approved materials. The products are then stamped by NJS and only equipment bearing this stamp may be used. The NJS standard is to ensure that no rider will have any advantage or disadvantage based on equipment and does not necessarily relate to quality or standard of manufacture. For example, 36 spoke wheels are allowed but not 32, although 32 spoke wheels are typically lighter, and frames must be built by a very limited number of approved builders.
NJS approved equipment often sells for more than comparable equipment because of its specific use, build requirements, and limited manufacturers. Popular manufacturers include Samson, Nitto, Bridgestone, 3Rensho, Shimano
, Nagasawa
, Panasonic, Hatta, MKS, Kashimax, and Sugino
. Because the NJS's main objective is supporting the Japanese cycling market, its bureaucracy is notoriously critical of foreign manufacturers attempting to enter the Japanese market. The Italian cycling equipment manufacturer Campagnolo
has, though, received NJS certification.
NJS-approved equipment is not required for keirin races outside Japan.
Some Keirin velodromes accept the following wagers over the internet:
The money wagered in the K-5 and BIG DREAM pools can carry over if there are no winning tickets.
In extraordinary circumstances, races have been declared no-contests, forcing velodromes to refund millions of yen in bets. Such results are generally known as a . A race at Shizuoka velodrome on January 2, 2008 was declared a failure when the back wheel of the pacer's bicycle nicked the bicycle of an actual competitor, causing him to fall. In a race at Iwaki-Taira Velodrome
on December 14, 2008, separate infractions resulted in the disqualification of the entire field; all but one of the competitors were handed a one-year suspension by the velodrome after the race. The suspensions were lifted four months later.
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
event in which racing cyclists sprint for victory. Keirin originated in Japan in 1948; the first Olympic competitions in the sport occurred in 2000.
A keirin race is a mass-start race with 6-9 sprinters
Cycling sprinter
A cycling sprinter is a road bicycle racer or track racer who can finish a race very explosively by accelerating quickly to a high speed, often using the slipstream of another cyclist or group of cyclists tactically to conserve energy.-The road sprinter:...
riders and a paced start. Riders draw lots to determine starting positions and start as the pacer (usually a motorcycle, a derny
Derny
A Derny is a motorized bicycle for motor-paced cycling events such as during six-day and Keirin racing, or motor-paced road races. It is driven by a 98cc Zurcher two-stroke engine and by being pedalled through a fixed gear, typically of 70 teeth on the front chainring and 11 on the sprocket on the...
, or a tandem bicycle
Tandem bicycle
The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement , not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.-History:Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 19th...
) approaches. The riders are required to remain behind the pacer, which starts at the deliberately slow speed of about 25 km/h, gradually increasing in speed and leaves the track approximately 600–700 meters before the end, at a speed of about 50 km/h. The first cyclist to finish the race is the winner (sometimes finishing at 70 km/h). Keirin races are about 2 kilometers in length (eight laps on a 250m track, six laps on a 333m track, and five laps on a 400m track).
In competitions, this event is often conducted in several rounds in order to reduce the number of competitors to one "final" round of 6–9 riders. Eliminated cyclists may get the opportunity to try again in the repechage
Repechage
Repechage is a practice amongst ladder competitions that allows participants that failed to meet qualifying standards by a small margin to continue to the next round.- Types of repechage :...
s.
World championships
Keirin has been a UCIUnion Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
men's World Championship event since 1980. It has been a UCI women's World Championship event
UCI Track Cycling World Championships - Women's Keirin
The UCI Track Cycling World Championships – Women's keirin is the women's world championship keirin event held annually at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships. It was first held at the 2002 championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. , Clara Sanchez from France has the most titles with two, in...
since 2002. Danny Clark
Daniel Clark (cyclist)
Daniel "Danny" Clark OAM is a retired track cyclist and road bicycle racer from Australia, who was a professional rider from 1974 to 1997...
was the first male UCI world champion and Li Na
Li Na (cyclist)
- Palmarès :2002...
of China was the sport's first female UCI world champion. The current men's and women's world champions are Shane Perkins
Shane Perkins
-Biography:Perkins was born in Melbourne, Australia, the son of Daryl Perkins. As a youngster, Perkins played cricket, football and basketball. He played basketball at a very high level aged 7 to 14, but did not enjoy it enough to continue...
(2011) of Australia and Anna Meares
Anna Meares
Anna Maree Meares, OAM is an Australian track cyclist.She has been the 500m TT world champion twice, and a gold medalist at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.-Biography:...
of Australia (2011), respectively.
Olympics
| Olympics | (Men's) Champion |
|---|---|
| 2000 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2008 |
Keirin was admitted into the Olympics in December 1996. A BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
investigation, reported in July 2008, found evidence that following the sport's admission into the Olympics, the Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
required (in writing) that the Japan Keirin Association
JKA Foundation
The is the regulating body for pari-mutuel keirin and auto race competitions in Japan. These sports - two of Japan's four authorized where gambling is permitted - were originally regulated by two separate organizations...
support UCI projects in "material terms"; over a period of time the association subsequently gave three million dollars to UCI in consideration of "the excellent relationship the UCI has with representatives of the Olympic movement."
Men's keirin became an event at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Keirin in Japan
JKA Foundation
The is the regulating body for pari-mutuel keirin and auto race competitions in Japan. These sports - two of Japan's four authorized where gambling is permitted - were originally regulated by two separate organizations...
.
Aspiring professional keirin riders in Japan compete for entrance into the Japan Keirin School. The 10 percent of applicants who are accepted then undergo a strict, 15-hours per day, training regimen. Those who pass the graduation exams, and are approved by the NJS become eligible for professional keirin races in Japan.
Champions from Japan
SprintSprint (cycling)
The sprint or match sprint is a track cycling event involving between 2 and 4 riders, though they are usually run as a one-on-one match race between opponents who, unlike in the individual pursuit, start next to each other.- Racing style :...
World Track Cycling Championship wins from 1977–86 against mostly western European pro track cyclists, although he never won the Keirin World Championship. At that time, many leading sprint riders were from the Eastern bloc countries and competed in separate "amateur" events.
Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, is the defending champion of the Keirin Grand Prix. In 2010, Murakami earned nearly ¥238 million in prize money (US$2.9 million), which ranks second on the all-time list behind the ¥244 million earned by bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
or gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
, increasing in frequency until the bicyclists come around to begin the final lap of the race.
The race is monitored by four referees, each located in a tower next to one of the four turns (referred to as corners). After every race, each referee will wave either a white or red flag. A white flag indicates that no infractions occurred in that area. A red flag, however, signals a possible infraction and launches an inquiry into the race. Judges then examine the race on videotape to decide if a participant committed a rules violation; if so, he is disqualified and retires from the remainder of the meet.
Keirin ovals are divided into specific areas: The two straightaways (homestretch and backstretch), the four turns (corners), and two locations called the "center", referring to the area between corners 1 and 2 (1 center) and corners 3 and 4 (2 center).
Most keirin events are run at the standard distance of approximately 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft), with the highest-caliber events contested at a longer distance. The Keirin Grand Prix, for example, is run at 2825 metres (9,268.4 ft), or seven laps around a 400-meter course.
Rankings
There are a total of six rankings that competitors can obtain in Japanese keirin racing. SS is the highest ranking, followed by S1, S2, A1, A2 and A3. All new keirin graduates begin their careers with an A3 ranking and work their way up by competing in keirin events.The color of the shorts worn by each keirin competitor indicates rank. Those in A-class (A1, A2, A3) wear black shorts with a green stripe and white stars. S-class competitors (S1 and S2) wear a red stripe instead of a green stripe. Those in the elite SS class wear red shorts with a black stripe, white stars and special insignia. Introduced in 2007, the SS ranking is assigned by the NJS every December before the Grand Prix to the best keirin athletes, who retain the ranking for a period of one year.
Race grades
A race meeting at any given keirin velodromeVelodrome
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights...
in Japan is assigned a grade. The highest graded events are GP, GI (G1), GII (G2) and GIII (G3), reserved only for S-class riders. Underneath those are FI (F1) events, which are open to both S-class and A-class riders. The lowest graded events, FII (F2), are reserved for A-class riders.
The GP grade designation is reserved for the Keirin Grand Prix, a three-day meet held at the end of December for the year's top keirin competitors. The meet ultimately concludes with the Grand Prix race itself, which determines the annual Keirin racing champion.
As of December 2008, the nine competitors for the Keirin Grand Prix race are determined in the following order of priority:
- Winners of each of six GI events during the year (Keirin Festival, Japan Championship, Prince Takamatsu Memorial Cup, Prince Tomohito Cup, All-Star Keirin and All-Japan Selection),
- Japanese medal winners of cycling events from the Summer Olympic GamesSummer Olympic GamesThe Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
, if they are held in the same year, - Competitors recommended by a Keirin selection committee,
- Competitors that have earned the most money from finishing first, second or third in Keirin events during the year, and finally,
- Competitors with the highest average race score during the year.
Once the Grand Prix field is determined, the nine competitors are assigned the SS rank and retain it for one year. The next nine competitors that are ranked under this system also receive the SS rank and compete in the GI SS Cup held one day prior to the Grand Prix. Also part of the Grand Prix meet is the GII Young Grand Prix, which is open to the best of those that have begun competing in Keirin within the last three years; it is the only Keirin race of the year in which both S-class and A-class compete in the same race.
Another prestigious event on the annual keirin racing calendar is the GI Japan Championship. Held every March over a period of six days, it is the longest single race meeting of the year.
Each of the keirin velodromes are generally permitted to host one event per year of either GI, GII or GIII designation. The remaining events at each track consist of a combination of FI and FII races for a total of approximately 70 race days per year. On average there is one GI or GII event every month and one GIII meeting per week on the annual calendar.
Top events
| Month | Grade | Event | Host Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | II | East/West Championship (東西王座戦) |
2011: Toyohashi Toyohashi, Aichi is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on August 1, 1906. As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 383,691 and a density of 1,468.62 persons per km². The total area is . By size, Toyohashi was Aichi Prefecture's second-largest city until March 31,... Velodrome, Aichi Aichi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :... 2012: Kōchi Kochi, Kochi is the capital city of Kōchi Prefecture on Shikoku island of Japan.Kōchi is the main city of the prefecture with over 40% of its population. As of May 31, 2008, the city had an estimated population of 340,515 and a density of... Velodrome, Kōchi Kochi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography... |
| March | I | Japan Championship (日本選手権) |
2011: Nagoya Velodrome, Aichi Aichi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :... 2012: Kumamoto Kumamoto, Kumamoto is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Greater Kumamoto has a population of 1,460,000, as of the 2000 census... Velodrome, Kumamoto Kumamoto Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system... |
| April | II | Kyodo News Service Spring Cup (共同通信社杯 春一番) |
2011: Takeo Takeo, Saga is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.-Geography:Takeo is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture. It is approximately west of Saga City and approximately east of Sasebo. Takeo has a complex topography including mountains, mountain basins and riverside... Velodrome, Saga Saga Prefecture is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita... |
| May | I | SS Series (SSシリーズ風光る) |
2011: Matsudo Velodrome Matsudo Velodrome is a velodrome located in Matsudo, Chiba that conducts pari-mutuel Keirin racing - one of Japan's four authorized where gambling is permitted. Its Keirin identification number for betting purposes is 31# .... , Chiba Chiba Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture... |
| June | I | Prince Takamatsu Memorial Cup (高松宮記念杯) |
Ōtsu Otsu, Shiga is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²... Biwako Velodrome, Shiga Shiga Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established... |
| July | I | Prince Tomohito Cup (寛仁親王牌・世界選手権記) |
2011: Yahiko Velodrome Yahiko Velodrome is a velodrome located in Yahiko, Niigata that conducts pari-mutuel Keirin racing - one of Japan's four authorized where gambling is permitted. Its Keirin identification number for betting purposes is 21# .Yahiko's oval is 400 meters in circumference... , Niigata Niigata Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :... |
| July | II | Summer Night Festival (サマーナイトフェスティバル) |
2011: Matsuyama Matsuyama, Ehime is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on the Shikoku island of Japan. It is located on the northeastern portion of the Dōgo Plain. Its name means "pine mountain." The city was founded on December 15, 1889.... Velodrome, Ehime Ehime Prefecture is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province... |
| August | I | All-Japan Selection (全日本選抜) |
2011: Kishiwada Kishiwada, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan. Founded November 1, 1922, the city is well-known for its Danjiri Matsuri.-History:The oldest evidence of life in Kishiwada is the Mayuyama Kofun . The most popular origin story of Kishiwada dates from the 14th century... Velodrome, Osaka Osaka Prefecture is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :... |
| September | I | All-Star Keirin (オールスター競輪) |
2011: Gifu Gifu, Gifu is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used... Velodrome, Gifu Gifu Prefecture is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō... |
| October | II | Kyodo News Service Autumn Cup (共同通信社杯 秋本番) |
2011: Matsusaka Matsusaka, Mie , sometimes called Matsuzaka, is a city located in central Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan. The city is famous for its beef.-Founding:... Velodrome, Mie Mie Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province.... |
| November | I | Keirin Festival (競輪祭) |
Kokura Velodrome, Kokura Kokura is an ancient castle town and the center of Kitakyūshū, Japan, guarding, via its suburb Moji, the Straits of Shimonoseki between Honshū and Kyūshū. Kokura is also the name of the penultimate station on the southbound Sanyo Shinkansen line, which is owned by JR Kyūshū and an important part of the... |
| December | II | Young Grand Prix (ヤンググランプリ) |
2011: Hiratsuka Hiratsuka, Kanagawa is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 259,991 and the density of 3,830 persons per km²... Velodrome, Kanagawa Kanagawa Prefecture is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period... |
| December | I | SS Cup Minori (SSカップみのり) |
2011: Hiratsuka Velodrome, Kanagawa |
| December | GP | Keirin Grand Prix (KEIRINグランプリ) |
2011: Hiratsuka Velodrome, Kanagawa |
Race schedule
Keirin velodromes follow the same basic schedule of races when conducting a race meeting. On the first day of competition, the better keirin competitors are assigned to races of higher caliber, while others are assigned to low-caliber races. Keirin racers are guaranteed to compete on each day of the meeting unless they are disqualfied from a race or retire from the meet for any reason - in which case alternate competitors are called up to fill in the lower-caliber races.Below is a schedule of races conducted during a typical three-day FI event (open to both S-class and A-class riders).
DAY 1
- Races 1-3: (low caliber)
- First two finishers in each race advance to Day 2 Semi-finals
- Third place finishers advance to Day 2 Selection
- Remaining riders compete in Day 2 General
- Races 4 & 5: (medium caliber)
- First six finishers in each race advance to Day 2 Semi-finals
- Remaining riders compete in Day 2 Selection
- Race 6: (high caliber)
- All riders compete in Day 2 Semi-finals
After six races, S-class riders compete, advancing to the next day's races in the same manner as the A class:
- Races 7-9:
- Races 10 & 11:
- Race 12:
DAY 2
- Races 1 & 2:
- First two finishers in each race advance to Day 3 Selection
- Remaining riders compete in Day 3 General
- Race 3:
- First three finishers advance to Day 3 Special Excellence
- Fourth and fifth place finishers advance to Day 3 Selection
- Remaining riders compete in Day 3 General
- Races 4-6:
- First three finishers in each race advance to Day 3 Final
- Fourth through eighth place finishers in each race advance to Day 3 Special Excellence
- Ninth place finisher competes in Day 3 Selection
S-class riders advance to the final day in a similar manner:
- Races 7 & 8:
- Race 9:
- Races 10-12:
DAY 3
- Races 1 & 2:
- Race 3:
- Races 4 & 5:
- Races 6 & 7:
- Race 8:
- Race 9:
- Races 10 & 11:
- Race 12:
Equipment
Parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the "house-take" or "vig" is removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets...
that surrounds keirin racing in Japan, a strict system of standards was developed for bicycles and repair tools. There are currently 50 velodromes in operation that hold races where annually over 20 million people attend and place bets amounting to over ¥1.5 trillion($15 billion) . Since so much money is at stake, the Nihon Jitensha Shinkōkai (Japanese Bicycle Association or NJS) - now under the JKA Foundation
JKA Foundation
The is the regulating body for pari-mutuel keirin and auto race competitions in Japan. These sports - two of Japan's four authorized where gambling is permitted - were originally regulated by two separate organizations...
- requires that all keirin racers in Japan ride and use equipment that meets their standards. All riders use very similar bicycles, so that no rider will have any advantage or disadvantage based on equipment. In addition, all riders must pass strict licensing requirements.
Those who wish to race in Japan must attend the Japan Bicycle Racing School where they learn the necessary rules, etiquette, and skills. The school typically accepts only 10% of applicants. Those who pass final examination must still be approved by the Japan Keirin Association.
All bicycles and equipment must be built within strict guidelines set by the NJS, by a certified builder using NJS-approved materials. The products are then stamped by NJS and only equipment bearing this stamp may be used. The NJS standard is to ensure that no rider will have any advantage or disadvantage based on equipment and does not necessarily relate to quality or standard of manufacture. For example, 36 spoke wheels are allowed but not 32, although 32 spoke wheels are typically lighter, and frames must be built by a very limited number of approved builders.
NJS approved equipment often sells for more than comparable equipment because of its specific use, build requirements, and limited manufacturers. Popular manufacturers include Samson, Nitto, Bridgestone, 3Rensho, Shimano
Shimano
Shimano, Inc. is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of cycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment.In 2005, the company had net sales of US $1.4 billion. Bicycle components provided 75% of its sales income...
, Nagasawa
Yoshiaki Nagasawa
Yoshiaki Nagasawa is a Japanese bicycle frame builder who builds primarily Keirin track racing bicycles. He has a one-man shop near Osaka, Japan. He studied building under Ugo De Rosa of De Rosa Bicycles, and has been building bicycles in Japan since the late 1970s. Notable riders of his bikes...
, Panasonic, Hatta, MKS, Kashimax, and Sugino
Sugino
Sugino is a Japanese manufacturer of road and track bicycle components, founded in Nara, Japan, in 1910. It made a variety of cycling components, including cranksets and chainrings...
. Because the NJS's main objective is supporting the Japanese cycling market, its bureaucracy is notoriously critical of foreign manufacturers attempting to enter the Japanese market. The Italian cycling equipment manufacturer Campagnolo
Campagnolo
Campagnolo is an Italian manufacturer of high-end bicycle components with headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. The components are organised as groupsets and are a near-complete collection of a bicycle's mechanical parts. Campagnolo's flagship components are the Super Record, Record, and Chorus...
has, though, received NJS certification.
NJS-approved equipment is not required for keirin races outside Japan.
Betting
Bets that can be made on Keirin races include: - selecting the first two finishers in exact order - first two finishers in any order - first three finishers in exact order - first three finishers in any order- Quinella Place, or - selecting two to finish in the top three, in any order.
Some Keirin velodromes accept the following wagers over the internet:
- K-3 - selecting the winner of each of the last three races of the day.
- K-5 - selecting the winner of each of the last five races of the day.
- BIG DREAM - selecting the first two finishers, in any order, in each of the last four races of the day.
The money wagered in the K-5 and BIG DREAM pools can carry over if there are no winning tickets.
In extraordinary circumstances, races have been declared no-contests, forcing velodromes to refund millions of yen in bets. Such results are generally known as a . A race at Shizuoka velodrome on January 2, 2008 was declared a failure when the back wheel of the pacer's bicycle nicked the bicycle of an actual competitor, causing him to fall. In a race at Iwaki-Taira Velodrome
Iwaki-Taira Velodrome
is a velodrome located in Iwaki, Fukushima that conducts pari-mutuel Keirin racing - one of Japan's four authorized where gambling is permitted. Its Keirin identification number for betting purposes is 13# ....
on December 14, 2008, separate infractions resulted in the disqualification of the entire field; all but one of the competitors were handed a one-year suspension by the velodrome after the race. The suspensions were lifted four months later.
External links
- Japan's official website in Japan
- Keirin from the BBC SportBBC SportBBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC. It became a fully dedicated division of the BBC in 2000. It incorporates programmes such as Match of the Day, Grandstand , Test Match Special, Ski Sunday, Rugby Special and coverage of Formula One motor racing, MotoGP and the Wimbledon Tennis...
Academy website