If you are making a start in Motocross,
the following information will make it
far easier for new riders.Follow us on
Finding a Dealer
If you are a bike owner or looking to purchase a new or pre-owned bike, you will need a dealer who can provide a service, as well as after sales and advice on getting started, bike setup, tire selection either for local tracks or your enjoyment and meeting other riders in your area.
To cement your relationship with a dealer who has been helpful, list the dealer as a sponsor it will create a long term association.
Motocross racing is a great sport. It teaches discipline, the importance of preparation, goal setting and the satisfaction of personal achievement.
Motocross is not as easy as the pro-riders make it look; it takes time and practice to develop bike skills. You don’t want to get hurt, injured or cause an accident affecting other riders. Be patient allow your ability to mature.
As a parent, remember that it is important for your child to have fun.
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to prepare for a race is to ride, ride and ride. Practice wheelies, power slides, work the front and rear break, use your clutch and get to know your bike so well that it becomes part of you.
Practice corners, do circles and figure eights by using your clutch, break and throttle control. Ride berms and ruts just to get comfortable and secure in them. Always look ahead and not at the front wheel.
As most sports, having good form from the start will help while you develop as bad habits will not be allowed to creep in. Keep the elbows up and train to stand up on the bike will improve your skills. Good body position will help you save energy and make you a safer rider as you will be in better control and will be able to respond easier to what the bike does when it hits ruts, bumps and holes on the track.
Watch quicker riders when you go to practice and try to copy what they do. Most experienced riders are happy to offer riding tips. Try to find someone that is close to your speed, maybe just a little faster and ride with them. Have pretend races for a set period of time, and ride it like a race. 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 & paperMiscellaneous 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 not 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 matter 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 up 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.
©2011 2020 Racing Academy.com. All Rights Reserved.
