Thinking about racing motocross for the first time but are unsure on how to get started? Here's an easy to understand guide to introduce you to the sport of motocross racing! Everybody starts somewhere! Your first race can be a nerve racking experience if you don’t know what to expect. Here are a few things that will make your experience with motocross a great one!
All minors (riders under 18 years old) must bring signed Minor Release forms to the race or fill them out at the track with your parent or legal guardian. A Guardian Form must be filled out completely and notarized if not accompanied by parent in order to give legal rights to a guardian! Minor release and guardian forms may be downloaded from this site website.
HELMET: A properly fitted helmet is the most important. Cheek pads should fit snug against your face (cheeks) and the back of your head. It shouldn’t squeeze your face or give you a headache. These are signs of a tight fit.
NECK SUPPORT DEVICE: A relatively new trend for neck and back safety. A great device for any rider that protects well. Be sure that your chest protector is compatible with the neck support system you choose before purchase.
GOGGLES: Are the most underrated item but in my opinion very important. If you can’t see, you can’t win, make sure the foam around the goggle is in good shape, and the lens isn’t scratched. Tear-offs or Roll-offs are a must in all conditions.
CHEST PROTECTORS: “Dress for the crash, not the ride” is the saying. Most chest protectors serve as a roost guard and don’t offer any other protection to your shoulders and collarbones or back. I prefer the shoulder suspended type with protection on the front and back, it may not be as cool, but I feel more protection gives more confidence to push yourself harder.
GLOVES: be sure to pick a glove that offers the most in comfort. You will develop blisters in any glove, until your hands callus as any “seasoned motocrosser” will tell you. Gloves now these days do not offer great protection of your knuckles and fingers. If the track you are riding is rocky, hand guards may be a wise choice to protect your digits.
JERSEY: Pick your favorite Company and color, vented are nice for the heat!
PANTS: Be sure your pants will accommodate you knee pads or braces.
KNEE GUARDS OR BRACES: Be sure to protect your knees, these are the worst injury’s to recover from, at the very least wear a knee cup. If you buy knee braces be sure a knee cup is included.
BOOTS: Aside from the helmet, these are the other most important. Be sure the fit is snug, and all the buckles latched. As you progress a good sole and ankle support will dampen most harsh impacts from landing hard off jumps. Buying top of the line boots is money well spent.
• Tracks DO NOT provide Medical Insurance! It is up to the rider to have their own medical insurance.
• Canadian riders do not have medical insurance in the United States unless they purchase an additional policy rider. Please check with your insurance provider.
• Arrive at 7:00am if you want a better place to park. I suggest no later than 8:00am.
• A $10 gate fee is required for all spectators and riders 8 years old and up • Sign the spectator release forms • Get a race order sheet
• No Pit Riding! Pit riding is considered anything except pushing your bike with the engine off! • No bicycles!
• Locate the Tower, Spectator Area, Rider Parking, Tracks(Main track and pee-wee track), Rest Rooms, Staging Area, Start, Bike Chutes. FM Race Broadcasts frequency.
Big Bikes 1st class/$30 2nd Class/$20 3rd Class/$10
Mini's 1st class/$25 2nd Class/$20 3rd Class/$10
50's 1st class/$20 2nd Class/$20 3rd Class/$10
• See the rider guidebook
http://www.wnymotocross.com/wnyracing/2009/2009_RiderGuidebook.htm
• Race classes are based on age, ability level and bike size and displacement. • See the rider guidebook • See the track officials at the tower.
• Arrive at the main gate, Pay your gate fee and sign in. • Find a place to park. • Get your bike ready. (add gas, check tires, oil, etc…) • Sign up for your race classes at the tower. (Remember to bring a notarized rider release for minors!) • You should receive a practice ticket or colored sticker at sign up. Stickers go on you front number plate and indicate what class ranking you are practicing with. Ask at the tower if you're not sure. • Be dressed in your race gear in time for the rider meeting as first practice begins immediately afterwards.
• Attend Rider meeting. (Usually held at the tower) • Review of the rules and any last minute instructions or changes the riders need to know about.
• You will have received a practice ticket or sticker at sign-up's which signifies which group you are to practice with. (Beginner, Novice, Amateur, Expert, etc…) • Practice stickers are applied to your front number plate. • The practice order is listed on the race order sheet you received at the gate. • All riders must do at least one lap of practice to become familiar with the track. Tracks change often so don't assume it's the same as last week! • Practice is not a race, so relax! It is your chance to get familiar with the track layout and try different lines. • If you miss your assigned practice, you may ride in the late bike practice at the end of the practice rotation.
• All races are run in the order listed on the race order sheet you received at the main gate. All races are in a 2 moto format which means you get to race twice for each class you sign up for. • Your final score is based on how you did in both moto's. • When all classes have raced once, there will usually be an intermission. After intermission, the second set of moto's start from the top of the race order sheet. • Each moto (race) lasts 10-15 minutes depending on class. Usually 3-5 laps.• Listen to the announcer to determine when your race is approaching. You can also pickup the announcer on your FM radio. The frequency is listed on the race order sheets or ask at the tower.
• Start coming down to the staging area when the 3rd race before yours leaves the line. This should give you about 15 minutes before you need to be in the staging area. It may take you 15 minutes to get there keeping in mind there is NO PIT RIDING and you will be pushing your bike. You may ride your bike in a designated bike chute to the staging area as long as you walk your bike to the bike chute. NO PIT RIDING means engine off, walking your bike only. Anything else is considered pit riding. • Take a last minute check, gas tank full, gas turned on?, goggles, gloves, chest protector, helmet before you head to the staging area. • After the race class before yours leaves the starting line, the starter will call your bike number when it's your turn to line up at the gate. You may choose any available gate. The gate choice for the first moto's are selected at random, the gate choice for the second set of moto's is based on how well you finished in the first moto. • The gate drop is preceded by the 2 minute warning board (The head starter will hold up a large board with a number 2 on it). Now is the time to start your engine and put your goggles on. If your bike will not start or you need a little more time, hold your hand up. The start will be delayed 2 minutes. • The head starter will flip the board to the 30 second warning side. You have less than 30 seconds before the gate drops. • When the 30 second warning board is rotated 90 degrees and the head starter walks off the track, you have 2 – 10 seconds before your gate drop. • Some tracks use a stop light instead of a starting board. A RED light is the same as the 2 minute warning. A YELLOW light is the same as the 30 second board. A GREEN light, same as the 30 second board rotated 90 degrees. • Your first moto results will be posted near the tower. • Each class's race results have a time stamp printed in the corner. If you believe there is a scoring problem, you must notify the tower within 30 minutes of this time in order to protest the results, otherwise the score stands and cannot be changed.
• Stay in your line. Keep to the inside or outside line (right or left side) but be careful crossing back and forth. Staying in your line will allow faster riders to safely pass you. Do not change lines on or near a jump. • When the gate drops, you may want to let faster riders go first. If this is your first race, you're not going to win, so relax and have fun. This race is about safely gaining racing experience. • If you need to stop, pull completely off the track on the side closest to you. Only stop where other riders can easily see you!
• The second set of moto's will start from the top of the race sheet and continue until all classes have completed their race.
• Your overall score will be posted near the tower and is based on how you did in both moto's. • The second moto result carries more weight than the first. For example, if you got 8th the first moto and 9th the second moto, you would be ranked beneath a rider who got 9th the first moto and 8th the second. • Trophy's are awarded to the top 1/3 of the class up to 10 positions.
MOTO - A single race of a 2 race format usually 3-5 laps long. RACE - Refers to both (2) moto's of the same race class. STARTING GATE - A place on the starting line that holds 1 bike/rider. STARTING LINE - Where the racers start there race. Has 40 starting gates. STAGING AREA - Where racers gather before they move to the starting line. RACE CLASS - Group of rides competing by similar skill levels or age or bike size. Each class consists of 2 moto's. BIKE CHUTE - A designated, marked path where you may ride your bike slowly in first gear to get either, to or from the starting line. TOWER - Tall building housing race officials, scoring and announcing. RACE ORDER SHEET - Lists the order of each race class and practice. BURM - Banked turn, or ledge of dirt created from bike traffic in a corner. WISKEY THROTTLE - some one out of control CASED OUT or to case a jump - coming up short on a jump and smashing the engine case into the landing of a jump. SQUID - A beginner rider that looks and rides out of control. WHIP or Scrub- to purposly turn or flick the bike sideways to stay low and scrub speed. LINES - Multipul ruts in a corner. FACE or lip- Take off of a jump KICKER- A nasty hole or inperfection found an a jump face. HOLESHOT- The start. SIGHT LAP or parade lap- slow lap before your moto so riders can see a track changes or conditions after watering.
Checker - Race is finished White - One lap until the checker flag Yellow - Danger on track! Exercise caution! No passing! No doubling jumps. Red - Stop race immediately! Exercise caution! Proceed back to starting line in first gear. Medical personal may be on track. Race will be restarted. Black - Rider is disqualified White with Red Cross - Danger on track! Caution! No passing! Hold your position. Medical personal on track.
It's tempting to offer lots of advice to your young riders. Who doesn't want their child to end up as the next Ricky Carmichael or Sarah Whitmore? If you really want them to advance, the best thing you can do is to "Stop offering them Advice!". That may seem counter intuitive but let me explain. Young riders who are having FUN, tend to spend a lot more time riding. The more they ride, the faster they will get! I have watched a number of talented kids stop racing motocross because their parents put so much pressure on them, it was not fun any more. Motocross can be as much mental as physical and your kids will ride better if they are more relaxed. The best thing you can do is to always stay positive, focus on what they're doing right, don't mention what they're doing wrong unless they ask. They will figure it out when they're ready. If they tell you they want to ride faster, offer to send them to an MX school. Your kids will listen better to an expert motocross rider than you anyway.
Realize, that even if your child never makes the expert or pro class, you are spending quality time with them and they are having the time of their lives!
• Keep the Focus on having FUN! • No Pressure! • Stay positive. • Enjoy the closer relationship that will develop with your kids.
• Feel free to contact any of our tracks if you have any questions!
PALMYRA RACING ASSOCIATION http://www.palmyramx.com/ Location: Hogback Hill, Palmyra, NY Information: 585-226-6938 Email: bond43@rochester.rr.com Gates Open: Saturday: until 11 pm, Sunday: 7 am
FROZEN OCEAN MOTOPARK http://www.frozen-ocean.com/ Location: 4415 Vanderstouw Rd., Auburn, NY Information: 315-784-5466 Email: mailto://susan@baldcom.net Gates Open: Saturday: 6 pm - 11 pm sharp, Sunday: 7 am Saturdays-June-August 2:30
AREA 51 MOTOCROSS http://www.area51motocross.com/ 3323 Harloff Road Batavia, New York 14020 Hotline 585-345-7433 E-Mail: Chris@Area51Motocross or Corey@Area51Motocross Gate Times Saturday 3pm until 11pm, Sunday 7am
FREEDOM MOTOCROSS PARK http://www.freedommotocross.com/ Location: East County Line Rd. Freedom, NY Information: 716-514-6018 Email: Freedommx@Verizon.net Gates Open: Saturday: 5 pm - 11 pm, Sunday: 7 am
