Motorsports photography : which Canon Lens to begin

70-200mm 2.8 mk2 on a 60D using a monopod..

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Nick_Reading.UK has got a valid point: if it's to take pictures in a straight line, almost any lens could do as you can always come really close to the track.

Now OP, if you want to shoot motorbike races as you mentionned, you'll have to mainly shoot the bikes at the apex of the curves...that requires much more reach than on a straight line.

Which tracks are you planing to go to?

I'll have access around the track (at least for Magny-Cours SBK), but I'll cover other races Le Mans, Silverstone, also around the track. 70-700 is the only solution that fits my budget ?

Well for Magny-Cours even from the public seats you can do really nice pics in the curves with a 70-200+TC, no problem. For le Mans, It's a bit more tricky in some curves. I never raced siverstone.

If you've got a special access, then you might be able to do nice pics with a 70-200+TC+cropped sensor, if you don't always got a pass, maybe look for a third party longer lens as some suggested earlier.

I can't believe those guys are allowed on the drag strip without helmets! Is that normal in Britain? Here in the US you can't even do a parking-lot autocross without a helmet, let alone get on a real track (either dragstrip or racetrack.)
The problem I have with slower shutter speeds is displayed in some of those photos--part of the car is slightly blurred, even though the "focal point" is sharply in focus. Even though every part of the car is moving at exactly the same speed (usually!) there is a slight difference in velocity relative to the camera, creating this partial blur. Especially if the shutter speed is really close to the velocity of the car.