Auto race basics
Auto race (オートレース) is motorcycle racing on an oval track, and it's only found in Japan, at five tracks. Eight riders, bikes with no brakes and a handicap start: the strongest riders start furthest back. This lesson covers the bikes, the handicaps, the track and the weather. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.
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25 auto race words
Each card shows a word, the form you'll use most and a sentence you'd hear at the track. Five reuse words and forms from Everyday Japanese 1 and 2.
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Handicaps and the track
Two things change every race: where each rider starts (ハンデ) and the state of the track (). Both are on the programme.
| Word | What it means | You'll hear |
|---|
- Five tracks. , , , and . Kawaguchi, in Saitama, is the closest to Tokyo.
- Back is strong. In a handicap race the riders furthest back are usually the best. A big handicap is .
- Rain or shine. Racing goes on in the rain. The programme and screens show the track as (dry), (wet) or (patchy).
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Four patterns to use today
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Say it in Japanese
Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.