Welcome to the Sport of
Motocross Racing
20/20 Racing Academy has put this
information together to help make getting started in
this sport a little easier for new riders wanting to
start racing. Hopefully it will answer the many
common questions that are asked and help you
concentrate more on having fun and learning what a
wonderful sport motocross is.
Finding
a Dealer
Whether you presently own a bike, or
you are going to buy a new or used bike you will need
to find a dealer to get parts and service and provide
additional advice on getting started. Finding the
right dealer can be invaluable. Most of the dealers
that participate as sponsors are themselves racers.
They understand that finding out the day before a
race that you have a broken part and will do whatever
it takes to get it fixed because they understand how
important it is since they are also racers
themselves. They can also help you with tire
selection for the local tracks, bike setup and can
hook you up with other riders in your area. You may
be able to find some things cheaper through the
internet, and mail order however you will be better
off if you purchase locally.
If a dealer helps you with advice and
a discount then return the help by listing them as a
sponsor.Choose a dealer who seems helpful and stay
with them. It will be worth it in the long run.
Just
For Parents
Motocross racing is a great sport. It
teaches discipline, the importance of preparation,
goal setting and the satisfaction that comes from
obtaining them as well as dealing with the
disappointment of hard work, but coming up short.
Motocross is different from a lot of
sports because unlike team sports such as football,
soccer, baseball etc., it is an individual sport.
This can be helpful in teaching kids personal
responsibility. If they set a goal and don’t
achieve it, they have no one else to blame.
As in any sport that involves young
people, there are parents that sometimes push too
hard for success. This is the classic “Little
League Parent Syndrome". The difference is that
if you push too hard in motosports it can result in
your rider and possibly other riders getting hurt.
Motocross is not as easy as the pro riders make it
look. There are many skills that will develop, but it
takes time and practice. If you stand on the side of
the track yelling at your rider, he is not only not
going to hear you, but you might distract him causing
an accident. Parents are never allowed on the
racetrack.
It is good practice to step back and
look at racing through your child’s eyes
occasionally. Remember that the most important thing
in racing is to have fun!
Practice
Makes Perfect
The best thing that can prepare you
for racing is riding. Just riding around and around
the track in circles will not improve your basic
skills. There are different things you can do,
practice wheelies, doing power slides, work on using
the front break, the rear break etc. so you will know
their limits. Practice using the clutch and how it
will help you attack corners. Proper use of the
brakes will shave seconds off our lap time.While
jumping is important in motocross races, races are
still won and lost mostly in the corners. Practice
corners by doing circles or figure eights to get
better with the clutch, brakes and throttle control.
Practice looking ahead and not down at the front
wheel. Practice riding berms and ruts to get
comfortable in them. Don’t watch the front wheel
pop out of the rut or berm everytime. All of this
will make you a faster rider.
Motocross is like golf and tennis.
Learning proper form early will make it easier in the
long run. Keeping the elbows up and learning to stand
up on the bike are very important. Learning proper
body position will help you save energy and make you
a safer rider because you will be in better control
of your machine and will be able to respond easier to
what the bike does when it hits ruts, bumps and holes
on the track. Watch faster riders when you go to
practice and try to copy what they do. Most
experienced riders are happy to offer riding tips
because they had help when they were learning. Try to
find someone that is close to your speed, maybe just
a little faster and ride wit them. Have pretend races
for a set period of time, and ride it like a race.
Even if you fall off get up and keep riding until the
time is up just like you would in a race.
List
of what you need to bring to the race
General
Stuff Riding
Gear
Membership
cards Helmet
Wallet 2
Jersies
Notorized birth certificate
(minor) MX pants
Extra change of street
clothes MX
socks
Extra pair of
shoes Knee
pads
Towels
Boots
Snacks (not junk
food) Gloves
Drinks (water, sport
drinks) Mud
gloves
Water for clean
up Goggles
Paper
towels Extra
tear-offs
Spray glass
cleaner Kidney
belt
Umbrella Chest
Protector
Rain gear/light jacket or
sweatshirt Elbow pads
Chairs
Gas can
Pen & paper
Miscellaneous
Parts and Tools
The more parts and tools you have the
better your chances of being able to race after a
fall. Other racers are very generous and helpful when
another rider has problems, but there is no always
time to find someone that has the parts you might
need. The items listed below are suggestions of
things you might need.
A good basic tool set
Tire Irons
A patch kit or extra inner
tubes A
tire pump
Extra front brake and clutch
levers Chain
lube
Extra clutch and throttle
cables WD40
An extra clutch lever
perch Carb
cleaner
At least 2 extra
sparkplugs a
plug wrench
Extra air filter and filter
oil duct
tape
Some kind of bike
stand zip
ties
Premix oil and mixing
cup Electrical
tape
Misc extra screws and
bolts shop
rags
Large trash
bags Extra
master link
Lock and chain for securing
bikes Tire
gage
Once you start coming to the races ask
other riders that ride machines similar to yours what
spare parts they recommend having at races.
Race
Day. What to Expect
Above all else expect to be nervous.
It is natural. Riders that have been racing for years
still get butterflies on race day. The secret is to
accept that it is part of racing. When you go to the
track for your practice get there early so that you
won’t feel rushed.
When you are about to ride, concentrate on taking
some deep breaths and stretching before going out on
the track. Try to watch as much of the racing as you
can so that you can see how other riders are doing
different sections and obstacles. When you go out to
ride, concentrate on not riding over your head. It
doesn’t matte whether you only race a couple of
times in your life, or if you are a future McGrath,
you will only have ONE first race. It is rare that
riders win their first race, so just try to relax,
learn and have fun.
Race
Day. What to Do
Start the night before by going over
your checklist and making sure you have everything
organized and ready to go. On race day, load uup
early so that you don’t feel rushed. You should
already have directions and know how long it should
take you to get to the track.
Pit Passes: The first thing that you
will do when you come into the track is to buy a pit
pass. Everybody will sign the required releases when
they come in. You will also get a rider information
sheet. This sheet will cover basic information for
that day’s race and will list upcoming events,
etc. As soon as you get parked take a few minutes and
read it.
Parking: Where you park is a personal
preference. At most tracks there is parking next to
the racetrack. Some riders look for shade if there is
any. Others prefer to be as close to registration as
possible. When you park, make sure you are not
blocking any driveways or fire lanes. These are sally
marked by a row of fence posts or stakes.
Registration: Find out where rider
registration is located. This is usually on the rider
info sheet.
RIDERS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE MUST
BE ACCOMPONIED BY A PARENT/GUARDIAN OR ANOTHER ADULT
WITH A NOTARIZED STATEMENT AUTHORIZING THEM TO SIGN
FOR THE MINOR. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Fill out a registration form and a
minor release (if under 18).Be sure to write legibly
and then sign the forms. Do not leave sign-up until
the staff has told you your riding number is good. If
someone else has already registered with the same
number, you will be asked to change yours. You will
also be given a practice sticker that needs to be put
on your front number plate to practice.
The practice order will be posted at
sign-up so take a pen and paper to make yourself a
copy. The race order will be made p and posted during
practice.
After you have signed up go back and
unload your bike and set up your pit. Look over your
bike and et it ready for your practice session.
Walk
the track
When you have everything set up go and
walk the racetrack. This will help you relax as well
as learn the track. Take the time to look at the
different obstacles. Find a high spot and stand and
look at the track like you are watching a rider go
around it while they are racing. This will help you
learn the layout. Take your time.
Practice
About 30-45 minutes before your
practice, start getting dressed. Check the gas in
your bike and then warm it up. Ride in first gear to
the staging area at the start gate. Do not pull into
the staging lane until it is time for our group.
Remember to take some deep breaths and stretch to
help you relax before going out on the track.
Set the practice session to learn the
track and warm up. Try different lines so you will
know what to expect if you need to take them later.
Pay attention to the track flags. Be sure and hold
your line (don’t zigzag) so that faster riders
can get past you. Don’t worry about racing wit
anyone and remember not to ride over your head.
When you are flagged off the track
slow down to 5 mph. As you exit. It is easy to get
too fast because you are nervous and have a lot of
adrenalin. Calm down and take some deep breaths
again. Ride back to your pit and look our bike over.
Refuel and lube the chain. Relax and drink something.
If you are done, then to sign in and write down the
race order. Wath some of the other groups. The
rider’s meeting will be next.
Riders
Meeting
Get somewhere near a PA speaker so
that you can hear the rider’s meeting. If there
are nay changes in the race order they will be
announced. If there are any problems that have come
up during practice, the will also be addressed.
Following
the rider’s meeting there will usually be a
short break and then a prayer and national anthem.
Riders in the first couple of qualifying races need
to work their way to the start gate during the break
so all bikes can be shut off. Riders in bigger
classes will either get to pick gates by number dray
or sign-up order.
