Motorcycling: #24, Going Strong

MOTORCYCLING: #24, GOING STRONG

ROUNDUP

Motorcycling was the fifth fastestgrowing sport in America during a three-year period ending in 1982, according to a nationwide poll on sports participation.

Last year, some 12 million people participated in motorcycling, making it the 24th most popular sport, reported pollster A.C. Nielsen Co.

In popularity, motorcycling ranked ahead of sailing (10.6 million participants), snowmobiling (8.5 million) and soccer (8 million). It was just behind racquetball (12 million), baseball (13.5 million) and football ( 14 million ).

The number of participants in motorcycling increased 15 percent between 1979 and 1982. In increased popularity, it was behind only snow' skiing (27 percent), sailing and soccer (23 percent each), and roller skating ( 19 percent).

The poll was the fourth conducted by Nielsen to gauge sports participation. Other surveys were taken in 1973, 1976 and 1979.

In 1973, Nielsen estimated there were 11.3 million motorcyclists. In 1976, the figure dropped to 9.7 million. It rose to 10.5 million in 1979.

The 1982 figures mark the first time participation has risen above that reflected in the 1973 survey, according to Nielsen.

Last year, the 10 most popular sports were swimming (102 million participants), bicycling (72 million), fishing (63.6 million), camping (61.5 million), boating (41.9 million), bowling (40.2 million), exercising (34.9 million), jogging (34.2 million) and pool (29.9 million).