Brainfade/Questions

I'm having a bit of a problem with my movement and think it could be down to a technicality of some of the robocode methods. I'm looking to limit the maximum speed of my bot (both forwards and backwards) but i seem to be unable to do so.

For instance, if i call setMaxVelocity?(6), does this mean (-8 <= velocity <= 6) or (-6 <= velocity <= 6)?? and also, if i call setMaxVelocity?(-6) does this mean (-8 <= velocity <= -6) or (-6 <= velocity <= 0)??

perplexed.... Brainfade