Keirin - wikipedia Keirin Not to be confused with Kirin. Keirin ( ケイリン ) Keirin in Colwood, British Columbia, July 2006. Highest governing body Union Cycliste Internationale ( UCI ) and JKA Foundation ( Japanese regulating body ) Year originated 1948 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan Characteristics Type Track cycling Presence Olympic 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 Keirin ( 競輪 / ケイリン, ( keːɾiɴ ) ) -- literally `` competition ring '' -- is a form of motor - paced cycle racing in which track cyclists sprint for victory following a speed - controlled start behind a motorized or non-motorized pacer. It was developed in Japan around 1948 for gambling purposes and became an official event at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Races are typically 1.5 kilometres ( 0.93 mi ) long : 6 laps on a 250 m ( 270 yd ) track, 4 laps on a 333 m ( 364 yd ) track, 4 laps on a 400 m ( 440 yd ) track. Lots are drawn to determine starting positions for the sprint riders behind the pacer, which is usually a motorcycle, but can be a derny, electric bicycle or tandem bicycle. Riders must remain behind the pacer for 3 laps on a 250 m ( 270 yd ) track. The pacer starts at 30 km / h ( 19 mph ), gradually increasing to 50 km / h ( 31 mph ) by its final circuit. The pacer leaves the track 750 m ( 820 yd ) before the end of the race ( 3 laps on a 250 m ( 270 yd ) track ). The winner 's finishing speed can exceed 70 km / h ( 43 mph ). Competition keirin races are conducted over several rounds with one final. Some eliminated cyclists can try again in the repechages. Contents 1 World championships 2 Olympics 3 Keirin in Japan ( Japanese Keirin ) 3.1 Champions from Japan 3.2 Typical race 3.3 Ranks 3.4 Distances 3.5 Race grades 3.6 Top events for 2015 3.7 Race schedule 3.7. 1 Day 1 3.7. 2 Day 2 3.7. 3 Day 3 3.8 Equipment 3.9 Betting 4 See also 5 References 6 External links World Championships See also : UCI Track Cycling World Championships Keirin has been a UCI men 's World Championship event since 1980 and a UCI women 's World Championship event since 2002. Danny Clark of Australia and Li Na of China were the first UCI world champions. The 2017 men 's and women 's world champions are Azizulhasni Awang of Malaysia and Kristina Vogel of Germany. Olympics Olympics Men 's Champion 2000 Florian Rousseau ( FRA ) Ryan Bayley ( AUS ) 2008 Chris Hoy ( GBR ) 2012 Chris Hoy ( GBR ) 2016 Jason Kenny ( GBR ) Olympics Women 's Champion 2012 Victoria Pendleton ( GBR ) 2016 Elis Ligtlee ( NED ) Keirin made its debut at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney as a men 's event, after being admitted into the Olympics in December 1996. The women 's event was added for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. A BBC News investigation, reported in July 2008, found evidence that following admission into the Olympics, the Union Cycliste Internationale required ( in writing ) the Japan Keirin Association to support UCI projects in `` material terms '' ; over a period of time the association subsequently gave US $3 million to UCI in consideration of `` the excellent relationship the UCI has with representatives of the Olympic movement ''. Four members of the governing body were later arrested in Tokyo. Keirin in Japan ( Japanese Keirin ) See also : Gambling in Japan The entrance and grandstand at the Iwaki - Taira Velodrome in Iwaki, Fukushima. Start of a race at Tachikawa Velodrome in Tokyo. Riders start from the blocks and pace up to speed behind the pacer, wearing purple and orange. A referee observes the start in the tower to the right. During a race at Omiya Velodrome in Saitama, the nine racers form a line behind the pacer as they go around a corner. Racers sprinting to the finish line in the last lap of a race at the Ōmiya Velodrome. Professional Track cycling ( 競輪, Keirin ( sports betting ) ) 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. In 2011, the sum of bets placed on keirin races exceeded ¥ 600 billion ( approximately US $ 5 billion ), and the number of attendees in the races was approximately 4.9 million people. 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. Japanese races for women were reintroduced in July 2012, under the title of Girl 's Keirin ( ガールズ ケイリン ). Women were previously permitted to participate from 1949 until 1964. Like the men, the women must also undergo a strict training regimen at the Keirin School. Champions from Japan Koichi Nakano ( 中野 浩一, Nakano Kōichi ) was one of the first Japanese keirin athletes to compete outside of his native country, Nakano holds the best matched sprint record as a track cyclist at the UCI Track World Championships with a record of ten consecutive professional Sprint 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. Katsuaki Matsumoto ( born 1928 ) is the all - time professional keirin athlete with the most wins - 1341 - over his career ( he retired in 1981 at the age of 53 ). The current Keirin Grand Prix champion ( winner of the 2015 Grand Prix ) is Kohta Asai ( 浅井 康太, Asai Kōta ). Typical race Keirin races in Japan begin with the cyclists parading to the starting blocks, bowing as they enter the track and again as they position their bikes for the start of the race. Every participant is assigned a number and a colour for identification and betting purposes. At the sound of the gun, the cyclists leave their starting blocks and attempt to gain position behind the pacer, a keirin bicyclist wearing purple with orange stripes. As the pace quickens, the pacer will usually depart the track with between one and two laps remaining, but the actual location where the pacer leaves varies with every race. With ​ 1 ⁄ laps remaining, officials begin sounding a 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 video of the race and then decide if a participant committed a rules violation ; if so, the rider 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 ). Ranks There are a total of six ranks that competitors can obtain in Japanese keirin racing. SS is the highest rank, followed by S1, S2, A1, A2 and A3. All new keirin graduates begin their careers with an A3 rank 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 to the top nine Keirin athletes. These nine compete in that year 's Keirin Grand Prix and retain their rank until the following December. Distances The distance of each race depends on gender and rank. For men, distances for those ranked A3 are at 1,600 meters, while all others compete at 2,000 meters. The finals of some of the top graded events are run at a longer distance of 2,400 meters. The season - ending Keirin Grand Prix is held at 2,800 meters. All events for women are currently run at 1,600 meters. There are usually small variances in distance based on the size of the track. Race grades A race meeting at any given keirin velodrome 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 Games, 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. Also part of the Grand Prix meet is the 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. A new addition to the meet in 2012 was the Girls ' Grand Prix for the sport 's top female competitors. 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 for 2015 Month Grade Event Host Venue Winner February GI 30th Yomiuri Shinbun Cup All - Japan Selection Keirin ( 第 30 回 読売 新聞 社 杯 全日本 選抜 競輪 ) Shizuoka Velodrome, Shizuoka Yoshihito Yamazaki ( 山崎 芳仁, Yamazaki Yoshihito ) March GI 68th Japan Keirin Championship ( 第 68 回 日本 選手権 競輪 ) Keiokaku Velodrome, Tokyo Yuudai Nitta ( 新 田 祐 大, Nitta Yuudai ) April GII 31th Kyodo News Service Cup ( 第 31 回 共同 通信 社 杯 ) Hōfu Velodrome, Yamaguchi Yuichiro Kamiyama ( 神山 雄一郎, Kamiyama Yuuichirō ) June GI 66th Prince Takamatsu Memorial Keirin Cup ( 第 66 回 高松宮 記念 杯 競輪 ) Kishiwada Velodrome, Osaka Toyoki Takeda ( 武田 豊樹, Takeda Toyoki ) July GI 24th Prince Tomohito / World Championships Commemoration Tournament ( 第 24 回 寛仁 親 王牌 ・ 世界 選手権 記念 トーナメント ) Yahiko Velodrome, Niigata Takumi Sonoda ( 園田 匠, Sonoda Takumi ) August GII 11th Summer Night Festival ( 第 11 回 サマー ナイト フェスティバル ) Hakodate Velodrome, Hokkaido Tatsunori Kondo ( 近藤 龍徳, Kondō Tatsunori ) September GI 58th All - Star Keirin ( 第 58 回 オールスター 競輪 ) Matsudo Velodrome, Chiba Prefecture Yuudai Nitta ( 新 田 祐 大, Nitta Yuudai ) November GI 57th Asahi Shinbun Cup Keirin Festival ( 第 57 回 朝日 新聞 社 杯 競輪 祭 ) Kokura Velodrome, Fukuoka Toyoki Takeda ( 武田 豊樹, Takeda Toyoki ) December GP Keirin Grand Prix 2015 ( KEIRIN グランプリ 2015 ) Keiokaku Velodrome, Tokyo Kohta Asai ( 浅井 康太, Asai Kōta ) December GII Young Grand Prix ( ヤング グランプリ ) Same as Keirin Grand Prix Taisei Noguchi ( 野口 大 誠, Noguchi Taisei ) December FII Girls ' Grand Prix ( ガールズ グランプリ ) Same as Keirin Grand Prix Yuuka Kobayashi ( 小林 優香, Kobayashi Yuuka ) 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 disqualified 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 -- 5 : A-class Preliminary ( A 級 予選, A-kyū yosen ) ( low caliber ) First four or five finishers in each race advance to Day 2 Semifinals Race 6 : A-class Special ( A 級 特選, A-kyū tokusen ) ( high caliber ) All riders compete in Day 2 Semifinals After six races, S - class riders compete : Races 7 -- 10 : S - class Preliminary ( S 級 予選, S - kyū yosen ) First three or four finishers in each race advance to Day 2 Semifinals Race 11 : S - class Special ( S 級 特選, S - kyū tokusen ) All riders compete in Day 2 Semifinals Day 2 Races 1 -- 2 : A-class General ( A 級 一般, A-kyū ippan ) First two finishers in each race advance to Day 3 Special Race 3 : A-class Selection ( A 級 選抜, A-kyū senbatsu ) First five finishers advance to Day 3 Special Races 4 -- 6 : A-class Semifinals ( A 級 準決勝, A-kyū junkesshō ) First three finishers in each race advance to Day 3 Final S - class riders then compete to advance : Races 7 -- 8 : S - class General ( S 級 一般, S - kyū ippan ) First one or two finishers in each race advance to Day 3 Special Races 9 -- 11 : S - class Semifinals ( S 級 準決勝, S - kyū junkesshō ) First three finishers in each race advance to Day 3 Final Day 3 Races 1 -- 2 : A-class General ( A 級 一般, A-kyū ippan ) Races 3 -- 5 : A-class Special ( A 級 特選, A-kyū tokusen ) Races 6 -- 7 : S - class General ( S 級 一般, S - kyū ippan ) Race 8 : S - class Special ( S 級 特選, S - kyū tokusen ) Race 9 : A-class Final ( A 級 決勝, A-kyū kesshō ) Race 10 : S - class Special ( S 級 特選, S - kyū tokusen ) Race 11 : S - class Final ( S 級 決勝, S - kyū kesshō ) Equipment Mikashima Chaintug With NJS Stamp 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. 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. Exceptions to this are a very limited set of equipment including carbon wheels, tires, stems and saddles used in Girls ' Keirin, which can be used without NJS certification. 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. Since its beginning, the bicycle frames used in Keirin races have been made from chromoly steel. Exceptions to this are frames used in Girls ' Keirin, and Keirin Evolution races, where the frames used are made from carbon - fiber. Manufacturers of the frames used in Girls ' Keirin are Boma, Bridgestone, Gan Well, Kalavinka, Bomber, and MBK. Participants in Keirin Evolution races may use any NJS, UCI or JCF approved carbon frame and components. NJS approved equipment often sells for more than comparable equipment because of its specific use, build requirements, and limited manufacturers. Popular manufacturers include Nagasawa, 3Rensho, Makino, Kalavinka, Level, Bridgestone, Panasonic, Samson, Shimano, Nitto, 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 sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale or its local national sporting associations, including UCI - sanctioned races in Japan. Betting Bets that can be made on Keirin races include, but are not limited to : Exacta ( 2 車 単, nishatan ) -- selecting the first two finishers in exact order Quinella ( 2 車 複, nishafuku ) -- first two finishers in any order Trifecta ( 3 連 単, sanrentan ) -- first three finishers in exact order Trio ( 3 連 複, sanrenpuku ) -- first three finishers in any order Quinella Place, or wide ( ワイド, waido ) - selecting two to finish in the top three, in any order. Some wagers can not be placed if there are a smaller number of competitors in the race. During major race meets, some jackpot wagers are offered : Dokanto ! 4 two -- selecting the first and second - place finisher in each of the last four races of the day. Dokanto ! 7 -- selecting the winner of each of the last seven races of the day. The money bet into the Dokanto wagers can carry over if there are no winning tickets, even to subsequent race meets at another velodrome in the country. See also : Parimutuel betting 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 failure ( 不成立, fuseiritsu ). 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. See also Motor - paced racing Single - speed bicycle UCI Track Cycling World Championships -- Men 's keirin UCI Track Cycling World Championships -- Women 's keirin References Jump up ^ `` Cycling Track Equipment and History ''. Retrieved 2012 - 08 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Cycling cash linked to Olympics ''. 27 July 2008 -- via news.bbc.co.uk. Jump up ^ `` Cycling cash linked to Olympics ''. BBC News. 2008 - 07 - 27. Retrieved 2012 - 08 - 07. Jump up ^ `` 競輪 を 巡る 最近 の 状況 について '' ( PDF ) ( in Japanese ). Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Jump up ^ `` KEIRIN グランプリ 2014 ( GP ) ''. keirin.jp ( in Japanese ). Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Cyclists '' ( in Japanese ). Keirin.jp. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 28. Jump up ^ `` 『 KEIRIN グランプリ 08 ( GP ) 』 出場 予定 選手 の 決定 について ''. keirin.jp ( in Japanese ). Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` 平成 24 年 7 月 ( 平成 24 年 6 月 30 日 節 初日 ) から FI 開催 の レース 数 が 変更 となり ます '' ( in Japanese ). keirin.jp. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 28. Jump up ^ `` History of Keirin Racing ''. Keirin Cycle Culture. Archived from the original on 2013 - 05 - 29. Retrieved 2012 - 08 - 04. ^ Jump up to : `` Girls ' Keirin Equipment ''. Archived from the original on 2015 - 10 - 05. ^ Jump up to : Gordan Wilson, David ( 2004 - 04 - 01 ). Bicycling Science. The MIT Press ; 3 edition. ISBN 978 - 0 - 262 - 73154 - 6. ^ Jump up to : Fritz, Yokota ( 2006 - 11 - 21 ). `` NJS : Nihon Jitensha Sinkokai ''. Cyclelicio.us. Retrieved 2009 - 10 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Keirin Evolution outline ''. Jump up ^ `` Dokanto ! 4 two ( ドカント フォー トゥー ) と は ? ''. keirin.jp ( in Japanese ). Archived from the original on 2013 - 05 - 29. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Dokanto ! 7 ( ドカント セブン ) と は ? ''. keirin.jp ( in Japanese ). Archived from the original on 2013 - 05 - 29. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Race Results : Shizuoka - Race 9 - January 2, 2008 ''. keirin.jp ( in Japanese ). Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Race Results : Iwaki - Taira - Race 10 - December 14, 2008 ''. keirin.jp ( in Japanese ). Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 29. Jump up ^ `` いわき 平 競輪 で 9 人 全員 失格... 前代未聞 の 珍事 ナゼ ? ''. zakzak.co.jp ( in Japanese ). Archived from the original on 2009 - 02 - 01. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 29. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Keirin. The Keirin Keirin 's official website in Japan ( in Japanese ) Keirin News Keirin Bike Keirin 2014 Keirin festival in London and Manchester Track cycling Races Individual pursuit Team pursuit Team sprint Sprint Track time trial Points race Madison Motor - paced racing Keirin Scratch race Omnium Elimination race Hour record recumbents Championships World Championships World Cup World Ranking Para-World Championships Junior World Championships Asian Championships European Championships Pan American Championships Other annual events Revolution Series Six - day racing Amsterdam Ghent Grenoble London Perth GP International Belgian Open See also World records Track bicycle Velodrome List of cycling tracks and velodromes Racing Running Track running Sprinting Middle - distance running Long - distance running Relay race Hurdling Steeplechase Road running Half marathon Marathon Ultramarathon Ekiden Off - road running Adventure running Cross country running Mountain running Fell running Trail running Skyrunning Other Tower running Racewalking Backward running Snowshoe running Orienteering Foot orienteering Mountain bike orienteering Ski orienteering Trail orienteering Radio orienteering Canoe orienteering Rogaining Mountain marathon Car orienteering Bicycle racing Road bicycle racing Cyclo - cross Mountain bike racing Track cycling BMX racing Cycle speedway Keirin Animal racing Camel racing Greyhound racing Horse racing Pigeon racing Sled dog racing Swimming Open water swimming Marathon swimming Paralympic swimming Motor racing Auto racing Formula racing Sports car racing Touring car racing Stock car racing Rallying Drag racing Off - road racing Motorcycle racing Beach racing Motocross Rally raid Track racing Motorboat racing Drag boat racing Hydroplane racing Jet sprint boat racing Inshore powerboat racing Offshore powerboat racing Other Kart racing Radio - controlled car racing Slot car racing Multi-sport racing Adventure racing Duathlon Triathlon List of forms of racing NDL : 00565371 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Keirin&oldid=842065479 '' Categories : Cycle racing in Japan Events in track cycling Individual sports Sports originating in Japan Keirin Hidden categories : CS1 Japanese - language sources ( ja ) Articles containing Japanese - language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August 2012 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2008 Articles with Japanese - language external links Wikipedia articles with NDL identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Español Esperanto فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano Latviešu Lietuvių Nederlands 日本 語 Português Русский Српски / srpski Українська 粵語 中文 11 more Edit links This page was last edited on 20 May 2018, at 00 : 27 ( UTC ). 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Question: what is the point of the keirin bike race
Answer: a form of motor-paced cycle racing in which track cyclists sprint for victory following a speed-controlled start behind a motorized or non-motorized pacer