Getting Started

AMA Motocross 101: an excerpt from the AMA site:
"Okay, so you're new to this whole motocross phenomenon. Perhaps you came to the sport from the growing freestyle movement or maybe you came to us because your friends are doing it. Either way, we're glad you're here. Welcome to the original "extreme sport."

"What we have here is a professional motocross and a supercross primer that explains to new fans, and reminds long-time fans, what this sport is, how it is scored, etc. Although motocross and supercross look very similar, and even have many of the same teams and competitors on the same-looking bikes, the two types of racing are different. If you are looking for more in-depth info on rules, check out AMA Pro Racing's Rulebook. You can get that at the sanctioning body's website, www.amamotocross.com ."

How it all started

"Motocross started in Europe after the end of World War II. In America, the racing emphasis was on dirt-track competition and a few national road racing events. But in Europe, a little-heralded change began in the sport when the first motocross races were held. Early motocross machines were incredibly primitive by today's standards. They were heavy, underpowered and equipped with rudimentary suspension systems that did little to smooth out the rough terrain. But motocross had two undeniable elements that promised future success; it's a sport that is enjoyable but challenging for participants, and a sport which packs incredible action for the spectators.

In 1947, the FIM (the world governing and rules making body for motorcycle sport) created the Motocross des Nations, an annual event to determine the World Team Motocross Champions. And by 1957, the world's governing body fully embraced motocross by creating an individual World Motocross Championship Series.

In the late 1960s, the European masters of motocross began to export their talents and technology to North America, where a somewhat similar discipline of "rough scrambles" had developed independently. In a matter of a few years, motocross had taken hold in America.

By 1972, American racers had motocross fever and the AMA (the U.S. governing and rules making body) established a formal AMA National Championship Motocross Series.

At the time, U.S. riders could only dream of beating their more experienced European counterparts. But international stars, led by Belgium's Roger DeCoster, gave the Americans something at which to shoot. And by the time the 1980s rolled around, the Americans had learned the lessons well enough to dominate the sport.

During this decade of motocross racing, the United States delivered to the motorcycling world a new development that has changed the very face of the sport.

In 1971, the AMA conducted a professional motocross race on a temporary track at Daytona International Speedway. The Florida track had brought motocross to the people. A year later, the concept was taken a step further - major sports stadiums, beginning with the Los Angeles Coliseum. Over time, the AMA Supercross Series steadily grew, and it now has become the nation's best-attended motorsport on dirt."

What is motocross and supercross?

 The tracks make the difference

"Motocross racing is where it all started. Motocross races are conducted on closed dirt courses and have to be a minimum of a half-mile long and a maximum of 2 miles. The course should be irregular so that both right and left hand turns have to be negotiated. It is advisable to include hills, jumps and other terrain that necessitates gear changing. Natural terrain should be used wherever possible. Tracks should try to maintain a 40-foot width but at no time should they be narrower than 16 feet. Motocross tracks are mostly in rural areas of the country.

Supercross is conducted within a stadium-type facility on a specially-constructed dirt race track. The race track generally should be 20 feet in width at its narrowest point except where narrower sections are a benefit to traffic flow, such as dual line turns, etc. The length of the course is contingent upon the track design and the size of the area of the facility used."

Basic motocross/supercross race rules

At motocrosses, choice of starting positions of the top 10 riders will be determined by current point standings in that class. In addition, all former National Champions will be exempted from qualifying requirements and will be seeded by lottery following the seeded riders. Remaining starting positions will be determined by the lottery. In all cases where qualifying motos are needed to determine an acceptable starting field, the following procedure will be used:

The finish order of riders in qualifying motos will determine start positions for main motos as follows: the winner of each qualifier will have a choice of position (after seeded riders), 2nd place finishers next, 3rd next and so on (1-1, 2-2, 3-3, etc.).

Riders qualifying in consolation motos will go to the starting line (after all other qualified riders) according to finish position in their consolation.

In all subsequent motos, the riders will choose positions according to finish position from previous motos. In the event results from the previous moto are not available, the starting position will be assigned by the Race Manager.

Riders will be called from the starting area to line up on the starting gate. A rider must take his position on the gate as assigned. Exchanging gate positions with other riders is not allowed.

When the last rider is in the gate and the track is cleared for the start, the Race Manager will direct the Starter to hold up a 30-second sign. The 30-second sign will be held upright for 30 seconds, then turned sideways for at least five seconds, but not more than ten seconds. During the five to ten second interval, the gate will fall.

There will be no grooming in front of the starting gate by riders or mechanics. Grooming may be done behind the gate provided no shovels, tools or other implements are used. Watering of starting lanes by riders or crews is prohibited.

Scoring a motocross event

At each professional motocross race, there are two motos, or races, for each class. Each moto is 30 minutes in length, plus two laps around the track. Riders earn race points in each of the motos according to their respective finish positions. Winners are determined on the basis of total points earned in all motos, except qualifying and consolation motos. In case of a tie, the winner of the tie will be determined on the basis of points earned in the final moto.

For example: Rider A finishes first in the Moto 1, and second in Moto 2. Rider B finishes second in Moto 1, and first in Moto 2. Rider B wins the "overall" because Rider B posted a better finish in the second moto, even though each rider has earned the same cumulative amount of points, in this case 47.

The rider accumulating the most number of points will be declared the overall winner of the event.

National championship points will be awarded down to a maximum of 20 places for each moto, except consolation and qualifying motos.

Riders who qualify for a starting position in the 40-rider program (each moto) but are unable to make the start or drop out of the event before completing lap one, will be listed in the results relative to the order in which they qualified or dropped out. Points and purse will be awarded for their earned position.

Points will be awarded for each moto according to the following schedule:

The Motocross Champion of each class will be decided based on the total annual series points accumulated from each moto. In the event of a tie for the championship, the winner will be determined based on total the number of moto wins. Should it still remain a tie, finishes of second, third, etc. will be tallied until the tie is broken. If a tie remains, the best finish in the last race will determine the champion.

What do all those flag means anyway?

Green Flag/Light: Indicates the start of a race or clear track conditions.

Checkered Flag: Indicates the end of a race or practice session. Proceed around the course to the designated track exit.

Red Flag: Indicates the race has been stopped. Reduce speed and proceed safely to the starting area.

Black Flag: Indicates a problem with your motorcycle or a disqualification. Number board displayed with the flag indicates the rider being signaled. Carefully reduce speed and proceed around the course to the pit area. Black-flagged riders are not permitted to return to the race course unless cleared by the Race Manager.

Stationary Yellow Flag: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation on or near the track. Passing is allowed. Exercise caution.

Waving Yellow Flag/Yellow Light: Indicates serious hazards on or near the track. Proceed with caution.

Light Blue Flag with Diagonal Yellow Stripe: Indicates you are about to be overtaken by faster riders. Hold your line and do not impede their progress. Riders disregarding this flag may be black-flagged at the discretion of Race Manager.

White Flag with Red Cross: Indicates that ambulances, safety vehicles or emergency personnel are on the course. Exercise caution. In Supercross only, should this flag or a red light be displayed at the start of a multiple-jump or a series of jumps, riders must take each jump individually with no passing permitted, exercising caution, until they are past the area of concern.

White Flag: Indicates the final lap of a race.

White and Green Flags Crossed: Indicates half of total race distance is completed.