Paddock girls (or umbrella girls) is a term that has been used in professional motorcycle racing for many years. It refers to females employed to hold umbrellas above racers to protect them from the sun. "Paddock" refers to a pen where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race.
Before the start of a race (either SuperBike Championships or MotoGP), the riders have to pull up onto their grid and wait for all the other racers to take their places on the line. The riders stand on the grid until all pre-race checks, adjustments and fueling have been completed. This process can take several hours. Preferred racing weather is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and this together with the heavily padded fire proof racing attire can make the wait on the grid a very uncomfortable experience. To prevent the riders suffering from fatigue and heat stroke, the sponsors hire paddock girls to hold umbrellas for the racers whenever they are in the sun. more
