Swoops are a very advanced development in repulsorlift vehicles—they achieve incredibly high speeds through a combination of repulsorlift and ion-engine power, while completely sacrificing any protection.
They are much more difficult to pilot than speeder bikes, but in the hands of an expert they are far more effective, especially in high-speed chase situations. Swoop racing is popular in the Core systems, where it is viewed as more refined than the extremely dangerous podraces.
Source: REUP: 407