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 NEW WNYMA CLASS STRUCTURE FOR 2008 MOTOCROSSMOTOCROSS BEGINNER 122cc- open/ NOVICE 122cc- open/ AMATEUR 122cc- open/ EXPERT 122cc- open/ BIKES Must Have A minimum of 53" wheel baseNEW WNYMA CLASS STRUCTURE FOR 2008 MX LITESMX Lites Beginner 122cc- 250cc/ Novice 122cc- 250cc/ Amateur 122cc- 250cc/ Expert 122cc- 250cc/ BIKES Must Have A min of 53" wheel basePIT BIKE RACES ON SATURDAY NITEAnyone interested in racing Pit Bikes on Saturday night. Bring your bikes we will have a class just for Pit Bikes.2008 WNYMA POINTS Race DatesMay 18th/ June 22nd/ July 6th ( Gold Cup Race )/ Sept 21st ( Senior Classic )/ Oct 5th/ Oct 19th CHECK OUR CALENDAR AND CLICK ON THE EVENT FOR MORE INFO2008 SATURDAY NITE- CROSS RACES ( NEW CLASSES ADDED )May 17 th/ June 21st/ July 5th th/ Sept 20 th/ October 4 thSILVER SPRINGS RACING, INC.The Beginners Guide to Motocross © 2003-2004 Silver Springs Racing,Inc. The information below should not be duplicated or sold without written permission by Silver Springs Racing. You may however print this information out for personal reference. SECTION 1: GETTING READY
SECTION 2: AT THE RACES
INTRODUCTIONWelcome to the sport of motocross racing. Silver Springs Racing has put this booklet together in an effort to help make getting started a little easier for new riders and their parents. Hopefully it will answer a lot of the common questions that are asked and help you concentrate more on having fun and discovering what a great sport motocross racing is. The information in this booklet is for Silver Springs Racing events. Information for other promoters might be different. Silver Springs Racing Rules are subject to change and any changes will be posted or announced at the event.IMPORTANT REALITY CHECK: Motorsports racing is inherently dangerous. There is always a risk of serious injury. Riders should not participate in events or ride unless they have adequate medical insurance to cover a catastrophic injury. Riders and/or their guardians are solely responsible for preparing all equipment. RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK. PICKING A DEALERWhether you already own a bike, are going to buy a new bike or are planning on buying a used machine you will still have to find a dealer to get parts and service as well as additional advise on getting started.Finding the right dealer can be invaluable. Most of the dealers that participate as sponsors in Silver Springs races are themselves racers. They understand finding out on a Friday afternoon, that you have a broken part, will often go the extra mile to help you get it fixed. They can also help you with things like tire selection for local tracks, bike setup, and can hook you up with other riders in the area. Try doing that with a mail order house or by calling and talking to an operator at an 800#. Silver Springs has some of the best vendors with the largest inventory at our track on every scheduled event. You will find them very helpful and their prices are very competitive. If a dealer or track vendor helps you with advice and a discount then return the help by listing them as a sponsor. Pick a dealer or vendor that seems most helpful and stick with them, it will be worth it in the long run. SAFETY GEARThere is a simple rule in racing, dress for the crash, not for the ride. The more gear you have on the more likely you are to go home sore than to end up in the Emergency room. Motocross racing is not a fashion show. Amateur riders, especially young beginning riders should be more concerned with wearing as much protection as possible than with looking like Ricky Carmichael or Jeremy McGrath. Buying safety gear is something that a good dealer can really help with. Sizes on gear vary a great deal and are not always accurate. Dealing locally will allow you to try on stuff before buying and also can help if there is a warranty problem later.HELMET. If you have a $10 head, you buy a $10 helmet. This is the single most important piece of protection you will buy. A helmet should be snug going on and off but not so tight it is uncomfortable. There are different DOT and SNELL certification ratings that dealers can explain to you. A full-face helmet offers more protection against both front and side impacts than a helmet with a bolt on mouth guard. GOGGLES. These should always be worn. Get used to them when you practice and you will feel naked without them later. Try different brands on while wearing your helmet to find the ones that are most comfortable. Make sure you get a good lexan or similar lens and learn to clean them with care so they will last. Be sure to purchase tear offs or roll offs and learn how to use them to protect your goggles and give you the best visibility possible when you are racing in wet weather or mud conditions. BODY ARMOR. Also known as chest and back protectors. It is very important to learn to ride with these from the beginning since they can take some getting use too later. These can help protect from an impact injury by spreading the impact over a wider area. They also protect from roost (dirt and rocks thrown up from tires). There is a huge selection of makes and models in different colors available in both body armor (front and back) and chest only protectors. CLOTHING. Long sleeve shirts are required to race. 100% cotton will be cooler but fades quicker. Racing pants are not required to race but are strongly advised. A good pair of jeans are okay to start out in. We do recommend buying some sort of kneepads. Most dealers sell them to go inside race pants so you will have to buy them eventually anyway. If you want to know what happens with out kneepads, let a friend hit you with a hammer on the kneecap. Gloves are also recommended. Elbow pads are also optional and are a good idea for beginners. BOOTS. To race some sort of work boot that covers the ankle is required. Do not wear sneakers or shoes. When you buy motocross boots it is important to take the time to break them in properly. If you try to race with them before they are broken in you will have a hard time working the controls on your bike, which could result in an accident. If you are buying them for your child get them a little big, but not too big, to allow for growth. If you take care of your boots they will last quite awhile and then you can sell them to another rider. YOUR BIKE. It is very important to carefully maintain your machine. Inspect it carefully and look for any sharp edges or protruding bolts that can be eliminated to keep them from catching clothing or injuring a rider. Make sure grips are glued or wired on so that they will not come loose. Do not race or ride with broken clutch or brake levers because of the sharp point they have. Remove your kickstand. Cover any lights with gray tape. JUST FOR PARENTSMotocross racing is a great sport. It teaches discipline, the importance of preparation, goal setting, and the satisfaction that comes from racing as well as dealing with the disappointment of working hard but coming up short.Motocross differs from a lot of sports because unlike team sports like baseball, football, soccer, etc. it is an individual sport. This can be helpful in teaching young people personal responsibility. If they set a goal and come up short there is no one else to blame. As in any sport that involves young people there are parents that sometimes push to hard for success. It is the classic “Little League Parent Syndrome”. The difference is that if you push to hard in motocross it can result in your rider and possibly other riders getting injured. Motocross is hardly as easy as the pro riders make it look. There are skills that develop only with time and practice. If you stand on the side of the track and yell at your rider, they will not be able to hear you and you might distract your rider causing an accident. Parents are not allowed on the racetrack It’s a good idea to step back occasionally and look at racing through your child’s eyes. Remember that the most important thing in racing is to have fun. Make this a family sport. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECTThe best thing that can prepare you for racing is riding. When you go out to ride don’t just ride in circles all day. There are different things you can do to improve basic riding skills. Practice riding wheelies and doing power slides. Concentrate on using different controls like the clutch, front and rear brakes, etc. so that you will know their limits. Using the clutch will help you attack corners harder. Proper use of the brakes will shave seconds off your lap time. While jumping is important in motocross, races are still won and lost mostly in the corners. Practice corners by doing circles or figure eight’s to get better with the clutch, brakes, and throttle control. Practice riding berms and ruts to get comfortable in them. Do not watch your front wheel or you will pop out of the rut or berm everytime. Practice looking further down the track. This will make you faster and make you a safer rider.Motocross is kind of 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 with them. Have pretend races for a set period of time and ride like it was a race. Even if you fall off, get up and keep riding until the time is up just like you would in a race. WHAT TO BRINGLets start with a list of what you need to bring to the race. The more parts and tools you have the better your chances are 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 may need.Click here for a printable checklist WHAT TO EXPECTAbove 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 this 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 the 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 the 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.WHAT TO DOStart 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 racetrack.SIGN UP SHEETS: The first thing you will have to do when you arrive at the racetrack is to pay your gate fee and get your signup form. Everybody has to sign the required releases when they come in. You will also get a rider information sheet along with your sign up form showing the classes that will run that day. The race order 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 the release on your sign up form and the information on the race order sheet. 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 be sure you’re not blocking any driveways or fire lanes. Be sure not to park in the driveways. They must be kept open and clear for any emergency vehicles. REGISTRATION: Find out where the rider registration is located. This is usually at the base of the announcer’s tower at most tracks. A parent/guardian or another adult must accompany riders under the age of 18 with a notarized statement authorizing them to sign for the minor, NO EXCEPTIONS.Fill out a registration form and a minor release (under 18 only). Be sure to write legibly and then sign the forms. Be sure you tell the staff your correct riding number and membership number. You will also be given a practice ticket that needs to be given to the head starter before you will be allowed to practice. The practice order and race order was given to you when you paid at the main gate upon arriving at the racetrack. Be sure and check for any changes after practice. They will be posted by the concession stand on the result board. After you have signed up go back and unload your bike and set up your pit. Look over your bike and get it ready for your practice session. WALK THE TRACK: When you have everything set up, go walk the track. This will help you relax as well as learn the track. Take time to look at different obstacles. Find a high spot and stand and look at the track like your watching a rider go around it while they are racing. This will help you learn the layout. Take your time. RIDER’S MEETING: Be sure and go to the base of the announcer’s tower for the riders meeting. If there are any changes in the race order they will be announced. Any rule changes that have taken place will be announced at this time. If you are the first practice it is very important to be ready at this time because practice will start right after the riders meeting. PRACTICE: About 15-30 minutes before your practice start getting dressed. Check the gas in your bike and then warm it up. Push your bike to the staging area at the start gate. Do not pull into the staging lane until it is time for your group. Remember to take some deep breaths and stretch to help you relax before going out on the track. Use 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 pass you. Don’t worry about racing with anyone and remember not to ride over your head. When you are flagged off the track, slow down to 5 mph (first gear) as you exit. It is easy to go too fast because you are nervous and have a lot of adrenaline. Calm down and take some deep breaths again. Get off your bike at the end of the exit shoot and push your bike back to your pit. This would be a good time to have someone from your group help you by pushing your bike for you back to the pit. When you get back to your pit look your bike over, refuel your bike and lube the chain. Relax and drink something. When you’re done go to the pavilion and check to see if any changes have been made in the race order. Remember there is NO PIT RIDING ALLOWED. START PROCEDURE: When you get to the starting gate leave your bike shut off until your are called to the line. For your first moto your gate pick will be determined by the computer selection. You will be called to the gate in that order. Your second moto gate pick is determined by how you finish in your first moto. When you see the white flag come out for the class racing this is the time to start your bike and warm it up. Be sure your gas is turned on. Watch for the red light to come on, this is the 2-minute warning. If you are having bike problems this is the time to raise your hand and wave it so that the head starter will give you 2 minutes to correct the problem. The head starter will point to each rider to be sure everyone is ready. When everyone is ready the yellow light will be turned on. At this point the lights are on a timer and the green light will automatically come on in approx. 5 seconds. When the green light comes on you should look down at your front tire and the gate and wait for the gate to drop. This will happen in approx. 3 to 6 seconds. Do not try to guess when the gate will drop by counting to yourself and then take off because the head starter changes how many seconds he waits before dropping the gate for each moto. If you take off to early you will get stuck in the gate with your front tire. You will have to back up your bike and then take off, this could cost you time because now everyone else has already taken off. STAGGER START: Sometimes if there are several small classes that can be run on the track at the same time they will be combined and scored separately. If they are very small they leave the gate at the same time. If there are enough riders than the classes will be stagger started. One class will leave the line, the gate will reset and then the second class leaves. Stagger Starts are usually marked on the race order with slash marks (/) between the classes. If you are suppose to start with the second group and you start with the first you will be penalized one lap. Don’t get excited and start with the wrong class. The second group must be ready when the light goes on for the first group. QUALIFIERS: Qualifiers are used to determine gate pick for the mains. If there are more riders than will fit on the starting gate these qualifiers will be used to narrow the field down to a full gate. Depending on how many extra riders are in the class there will be a last chance qualifier (consi). This is usually run before the second set of motos start. Be sure to check the results board located in the pavilion for any qualifiers. The qualifiers go very quickly so be sure and keep up so you don’t miss your race. RESULTS: Shortly after your qualifier the results will be posted on the posting board in the pavilion. It is each rider’s responsibility to check the results for errors and notify the referee if there is a problem so it can be corrected. Once the results have been posted for 30 minutes they will be official unless it is changed because of a protest that came during the protest time. Riders get gate pick for the main by their qualifier finish. There is usually no intermission between qualifiers and mains. MAINS: The mains are what count for awards and series points. After the mains the results will be posted on the board just like for the qualifiers. There is a 30-minute protest time for the mains also. AWARDS: The location of where the awards will be given out will be announced at the rider’s meeting. Please check the posted results before coming to pick up your awards so that if there is a mistake it can be corrected. No awards will be given out until the protest time for a class has expired. The number of awards and the expert payback is posted prior to the first race. The time the results are posted is printed on the result sheet. MUD RACES: When you arrive at the track and see that the conditions are muddy it is very important to have your bike number on the front and sides of your bike along with that same number on your helmet and the back of your chest protector. After passing the checkered flag be sure to stop and give the scorer your number at the finish line this will help in scoring you properly. Almost every track runs rain or shine. GENERAL RULES (wnyma)A complete list of the general rules are available from the WNYMA secretary or any board member. When you sign up for a WNYMA membership you will be given a rulebook. Please read this book so you don’t have any problems on race day. If you do not understand any of the rules please ask for assistance from any WNYMA board member or the referee for the day. Click here for WNYMA web siteEXTRA TIPS
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MX at Silver Springs |
