Chequered Flag

The chequered flag is the black-and-white checked flag waved at the finish line to show that a race or practice session is over. The winner is the first rider to cross the line after it is shown, but the flag stays out and every following rider takes it as they finish their final lap.

After taking the chequered flag, riders slow down, stay alert, keep off the racing line and ride a cool-down lap back to the pits or parc fermé, following marshals' instructions. In motocross and enduro the same flag ends the moto or the timed test.

Other important flags include yellow (danger, no overtaking), red (session stopped), blue (a faster rider is about to lap you) and white (in many series, a slow vehicle on track or the last lap, depending on the rules).