An ultimate guide to motocross

Motocross is one of the most popular disciplines in motorsport. It involves riding on a motorbike off-track. The tracks are usually full of various obstacles. Some of them are natural, while others are artificial. The name of this discipline derived from two terms: “motorcycle” and “cross country”. The term “motocross” is used everywhere but the USA; in the USA this sport is called “dirt racing”.

Peculiarities

This sport is very peculiar due to the fact than sportsmen have to control heavy motorbikes and overcome obstacles at the same time. A motorbike might weight 100 kilograms. To make the process of riding easier, sportsmen use their hands and legs to make the movement smoother. Thus, they usually stand on the sideboards. This position is not convenient at all, which is why the races usually last for half an hour or less. Sometimes additional rounds are added. It means that bikers have to cover a longer distance within the same period.

This discipline requires a lot of physical strength. Not only reaching the highest speed possible is important, but also it is necessary to be able to ride in any conditions. Sometimes the ground can be covered with dust, stones or sand, sometimes ascends and descends are added. The race might take place on a track that has been build on purpose. In this case, it will be called a ‘super-cross’. Such distances are not too long and are modified by many turns and trampolines. Often super-crosses take place in gyms or stadiums. Up to 40 bikers can take part in a motocross, while only 25 sportsmen can compete in a super-cross.

Types of motocross

There are several disciplines united by the term “motocross”. They are:

• Snowcross is a discipline, in which sportsmen have to use snowmobiles instead of motorbikes. Such competitions take place off-track. The tracks are 1.5 kilometers or more, and they are modified by natural obstacles.
• Pitbike is a kind of motocross that requires covering various distances on mini-motorbikes. A pitbike is a small vehicle that does not require a driving license to control it. This is a sports equipment and it cannot be used as a mean of transport.
• The sidecar is a special device that can be attached to a motorbike or a scooter. The competitions involve two sportsmen. One of them rides a motorbike, while the second one sits in the sidecar and helps to prevent the vehicle from falling to the side. Sometimes only one sportsman can take part in a competition. In this case, the sidebar will be loaded with heavy ballast.

Disciplines originated from motocross

Some sports started as motocross, but have their own history. What are they?

• Super cross is a competition that involves covering distances created artificially. While motocross takes place in natural environment, super cross is perfect for stadiums and gyms.
• Arenacross is a variation of super cross. The difference is that it takes place in arenas. This kind of competitions is popular in small towns and cities where there are no big stadiums.
• Supermotard is a separate discipline evolved from motocross. The distances comprise asphalted and ground parts. This sport appeared in 1979 in the USA to distinguish the most experienced bikers.
• Freestyle Motocross involves jumping off the trampoline and modifying the jumps by acrobatic elements. The first freestyle competition was held in 1998 in San-Diego.

Competitions

Each competition has its own requirements concerning the number of participants, rounds and the length of the race. However, usually official races are divided into two stages. The first stage is qualifying. It is necessary to distinguish the order of the participants. The finale is basically the competition everyone waits for.

The race itself also comprises two stages. The first and the most important one is the start. A sportsman who has an advantage in this stage is more likely to win the race. This is why the starting technique is crucial. Sportsmen line up with the motors working. A special mechanism is placed on the starting line to block the forward wheel and prevent a motorbike from moving. It is made of metal. After a short countdown, this mechanism opens and the race begins.

Several persons are responsible for counting the number of rounds covered by a particular sportsman. The finish of a round is determined by the moment when the front part of the bike crosses the line. A sportsman who covers the biggest amount of rounds and finishes in the first position becomes the winner. Some bikers are likely not to get any place if they finish the race more than five minutes later than the leader, or if they do not cover at least 75 % of the rounds. If an accident happens, the race can be stopped at any moment. A red flag will be demonstrated.

History

In 1885, the first motorbike was created in Germany. This mean of transport became so popular that commercial production of motorbikes started. Back in 1908, peculiar competitions were held in Great Britain. They were arranged to demonstrate the advantages of the newest models of motorcycles. Although the competition was won by a horse-rider, a lot of people became interested in riding a motorbike. In the very beginning of the history of this sport, competitions required covering long distances. It was impossible to watch everything, which is why they soon were transferred to the hills. Sportsmen had to reach the top of a hill as soon as possible.

After the World War II, the rules changed a lot. From then on, the races took place on closed loops full of various obstacles. The distance could reach 1.5 to 30 kilometers. In 1952, the first European Championship was held. Five years later, the first World Championship took place. Nowadays, such events are annual.

All in all, motocross is a stunning discipline that is popular among bikers from all over the world. This sport is requires a lot of concentration and physical strength, but these challenges do not prevent bikers from participating in various competitions.