As with any sport, there are markets for betting on motorbike racing, in all its various forms, whether this involves classic bikes, speedway, super bikes or the famous TT races. However, the most popular form of motorbike betting concentrates on Grand Prix motorcycle racing, which, similar to Formula 1, is a global event comprising races spread across four continents in a season spanning from March to November each year.

The Moto Grand Prix championship is divided into three classes – Moto GP, Moto GP2 and Moto GP3, with each class using 4-stroke engines, the main distinction between the classes being the size of engine permitted.

Moto GP3 is the junior class, not only in terms of engine size, 250 cc, but also when it comes to age – riders cannot be older than 28 years old. Moto GP2 is the intermediate class, with engine sizes restricted to 600 cc, whilst Moto GP is the elite level, where engines range up to 1,000 cc. Moto GP2 and GP3 have various restrictions in terms of minimum weight for machine and rider, engine and tyre suppliers, and brake types – Moto GP is more open when it comes to technical specifications.

Grand Prix bikes are purpose-built machines that generally cannot be bought by the public or legally driven on normal roads, They are produced by the major motorcyle manufacturers, like Ducatti, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha, and act as brand ambassadors in addition to the sporting aspect.

Similar to F1, budgets are all important in Moto GP – the teams with the most money behind them can spend more on continuous development of their bikes and engines, and will always out-perform those who are more cash strapped. There used to be privateer riders on bikes not supported by the major factory teams, but the sheer cost of competing in races has squeezed most of them out of the sport.

In terms of motorbike betting, depending on the bookmaker, there may be a range of markets from which to choose – winning rider, top 3 finish, pole position, fastest lap, and qualifying in the top three. There are also slightly more complicated bets known as Without the Rider, where, in the case of a heavy favourite, such as Mark Marquez, or Valentino Rossi, the bettor has the option of betting on the outcome of a race without the individual being included in the odds. An expanded version of this is Without the Riders, which excludes two, or more, of the fancied riders.

And then there are the more exotic bets, such as the number of crashes, where a bettor is trying to predict that the number of accidents will be more, or less, than a line set by the bookmaker, and also the option to choose whether an individual rider will finish a particular race or not.

Odds for MotoGP are most commonly expressed in fractions, or moneyline format. Fractional odds might be expressed, for example, as 1/4 or 5/1. The first number is the amount which can be won, whilst the second represents the amount staked. So, in the case of 1/4 a wager of €4 would win €1. Equally, in the second instance, staking €1 would result in a €5 win.

Moneyline is more common in the US, and format of oods includes a number with either a plus (“+”) or minus (“-“) symbol in front of it. For example, +150 indicates that, with a US $100 stake, a bettor could win US $150 (plus their original US $100 stake); -150, by contrast, indicates that they would need to bet US $150 to win US $100 (in addition to their original stake).

In terms of tips whem it comes to motorbike betting, compare the odds offered by several bookmakers – never just accept the first odds you are offered. Then do your research on the teams, riders and courses. Who is in form, and whose confidence is a bit low after a few bad results? Learn about the track – does it suit the riding style of a particular rider, or have they crashed there in the past?

Pay attention to the weather as well. Most riders perform well when conditions are sunny and dry. It is when the rain falls, or the wind gets up ,that the very best start to excel.

Also keep a watch on the Championship standings, particularly towards the end of the season when the main prizes are still to be decided. Some riders stand-up to pressure and are able to deliver superior performances, whilst others crack under it and make mistakes, and crash.

Like any other form of betting, motorbike racing has its own rules and quirks. The advice is always the same though – do some homework on the sport, and shop around for the best odds.