Adrenaline

Manufacturer Ratings track the performance of bike brands using the same Elo rating system applied to riders. Each manufacturer earns a rating based purely on race wins and losses—when a rider on a Honda beats a rider on a Yamaha, Honda's rating goes up and Yamaha's goes down.

What Are Manufacturer Ratings?

Manufacturer Ratings are Elo scores assigned to motorcycle brands (Honda, Yamaha, KTM, etc.) based on race results. Just like rider ratings, manufacturer ratings increase with wins and decrease with losses, providing an objective measure of which brands are performing best on the track.

Key Principles

Ratings are based only on wins and losses—not lap times, rider skill, or other factors
When a rider on Brand A beats a rider on Brand B, Brand A gains rating points and Brand B loses rating points
The amount of rating change depends on the difference in current ratings (upset wins = bigger changes)
All manufacturers start at 1200 (the same baseline as riders)
Ratings are tracked per discipline (Motocross, Supercross, etc.)

How Manufacturer Ratings Work

Rating Updates After Each Race

After every race, manufacturer ratings are updated based on the finishing order:

Identify each rider's bike manufacturer (from their machine registration)
Compare pairs of manufacturers based on finishing positions
The manufacturer of the higher-finishing rider "wins" that comparison
Calculate rating changes using standard Elo formulas
Update all manufacturer ratings simultaneously

Example: How Ratings Change

Before Race:

Honda: 1350 rating
Yamaha: 1300 rating
KTM: 1250 rating

Race Finishes:

1st: Rider on KTM
2nd: Rider on Honda
3rd: Rider on Yamaha

After Race:

KTM: +18 (won despite lower rating)
Honda: -8 (lost to lower-rated KTM)
Yamaha: -10 (finished last)

KTM gains more points because it beat higher-rated brands despite being the underdog.

Multiple Riders Per Brand

If multiple riders race the same brand, all comparisons are counted:

3 Honda riders vs. 2 Yamaha riders = 6 total comparisons (3 x 2)
Each comparison affects the manufacturer rating
Brands with more riders have more opportunities to gain or lose rating
Ratings balance out over many races, reflecting true performance

What Manufacturer Ratings Tell You

Competitive performance: Which brands are winning races right now, regardless of rider skill
Upset potential: If a lower-rated brand consistently beats higher-rated brands, something's changed (new model, setup breakthrough, etc.)
Class-specific trends: A brand dominant in 450 class might struggle in 250 class—ratings reflect this
Regional differences: If tracked regionally, ratings show which brands perform better in different areas
Historic comparison: Compare current ratings to past seasons to see brand performance evolution

Important: Manufacturer ratings reflect race results, not bike quality. A brand with fewer skilled riders may have a lower rating even if their bikes are excellent. Ratings measure "which manufacturers are winning" not "which manufacturers make the best bikes."

How Ratings Are Displayed

Manufacturer ratings appear throughout Adrenaline:

Leaderboards

View manufacturer rankings per discipline, class, or region. See which brands are dominating and which are climbing.

Event Pages

Event results show manufacturer standings before and after races, highlighting big rating swings.

Race Previews

Pre-race info includes manufacturer matchups. See which brands are expected to perform based on current ratings.

Historical Trends

Charts show manufacturer rating evolution over time. Track when new models launch and how ratings respond.

Rider Profiles

When viewing a rider's profile, see their bike manufacturer's rating to understand equipment context.

Factors That Don't Affect Ratings

Manufacturer ratings are intentionally simple—only wins and losses matter. The following do not affect ratings:

Rider skill level: A pro on a low-rated brand and a beginner on a high-rated brand are treated equally in comparisons
Lap times: Only finishing position matters, not how fast the laps were
Bike modifications: Stock vs. heavily modified bikes are rated the same
Rider count: Brands don't get bonuses for having more riders (though more riders = more comparisons)
DNF/DNS/DQ: Non-finishers are excluded from manufacturer rating calculations

Why this matters: The simplicity keeps ratings objective and transparent. Anyone can understand "Brand A beat Brand B in this race, so Brand A's rating goes up." No complex adjustments or subjective factors.

Use Cases for Manufacturer Ratings

For Riders

See which manufacturers are winning in your class. If you're struggling on Brand X bikes but Brand Y has a higher rating, maybe it's time to consider switching (or maybe you just need more practice!).

For Brands

Track your brand's performance objectively. If your rating drops, investigate why. New competitor model? Setup issues? Rider talent shifting to other brands?

For Fans & Analysts

Debate which brand is "best" using data, not just opinions. Compare ratings across classes, regions, and time periods.

For Sponsors

Understand brand market dynamics. If you sponsor riders, are they on competitive bikes? Are underdog brands rising?

For Event Promoters

Promote "manufacturer battles" in your marketing. Highlight competitive matchups based on ratings.

Ratings Per Discipline

Just like rider ratings, manufacturer ratings are tracked separately for each discipline:

Motocross (MX)

Outdoor track ratings reflect bike performance on natural terrain, jumps, and varied conditions.

Supercross (SX)

Indoor stadium racing ratings emphasize tight turns, rhythm sections, and technical obstacles.

Other Disciplines

If tracked, other disciplines (Enduro, GNCC, etc.) have separate manufacturer ratings tuned to their specific demands.

A brand might dominate in Motocross (high rating) but struggle in Supercross (lower rating). Separate ratings capture these differences.

Rating Volatility

New Manufacturers

Brands new to a discipline start at 1200 and may have volatile ratings initially as they establish a win/loss record.

Low Participation

Brands with few riders have fewer rating updates per event, leading to more volatility. Ratings stabilize as participation increases.

Model Year Changes

When new bike models launch, expect rating shifts as performance changes (better suspension, more power, different handling).

Rider Exodus/Influx

If many skilled riders switch to/from a brand, ratings will shift even if bike quality hasn't changed.

Limitations & Considerations

Correlation vs. Causation

Manufacturer ratings measure results, not bike quality. A brand with a low rating might have excellent bikes but attracts fewer top riders. A brand with a high rating might win because it sponsors the best riders, not because its bikes are superior. Use ratings as one data point among many, not the definitive answer.

Sample Size Matters

Ratings are more reliable when based on many races and riders. A brand that wins one race with one rider shouldn't be considered "dominant" based on rating alone—look at trends over time.

Common Questions

Do manufacturer ratings affect rider ratings?

No. Rider ratings and manufacturer ratings are calculated independently. A rider's rating is based on their individual performance, not the bike they ride.

What if a rider switches bikes mid-season?

The manufacturer registered for each specific race is used. If a rider switches from Honda to Yamaha, Honda gets credit for wins before the switch, and Yamaha gets credit for wins after.

Are custom-built bikes rated?

If a rider lists a manufacturer (even for a custom build), that manufacturer is used for ratings. "No manufacturer" or unlisted bikes are excluded from manufacturer rating calculations.

Can I see historical manufacturer ratings?

Yes! Adrenaline tracks ratings over time. View charts showing rating evolution across seasons, compare brand performance year-over-year, and see how new models impact ratings.

Do manufacturers know their ratings?

Manufacturer ratings are public data visible to everyone. Brands can track their own ratings and compare to competitors.

What's a "good" manufacturer rating?

Like rider ratings, 1200 is the starting baseline. Anything above 1200 means the brand is winning more than it's losing. Top brands typically sit in the 1400-1600 range, while struggling brands may drop to 1000-1100.

Are electric bikes rated separately?

Electric manufacturers (e.g., Stark, Alta) compete in the same rating system. If e-bikes race against gas bikes, ratings reflect head-to-head results regardless of propulsion type.

Manufacturer Ratings