| BMX racing is where BMX started. The courses | | | | are professionals, prize money. |
| emulate motocross tracks, but are generally | | | | The NBL and the international UCI uses the |
| smoother, and are about 900 to 1,100 feet in | | | | "Olympic" or Moto System of advancing to the |
| length. Races last about 25 to 40 seconds hitting | | | | Main. In the Moto System, you must race all three |
| speeds of 15 to 35mph depending on track | | | | times to make the main or if the race is a large |
| conditions, the skill level and age bracket of the | | | | one semi finals. It is a formula combining how well |
| class. The participants race for points in which the | | | | you do with all the registered participant riders in |
| rider with the most points under district (local), | | | | your class racing all three times. It cumulatively |
| state/provicial, regional, national and international | | | | determines who will race in the finals. The higher |
| rules and regulations is declared the number one | | | | your points total, the more likely you will advance. |
| (#1) or Champion Racer. These rules and | | | | For instance if you come in 1st, 1st and 1st, |
| qualifications are determined by governing | | | | 40+50+60, which is 160 points, you are a virtual |
| organizations who promote and sanction these | | | | certainty to race in the Main (or in large races you |
| events called Sanctioning bodies. BMX racing in the | | | | are merely transferred to the quarter/semi-finals) |
| US consists of 2 leagues, NBL (National Bicycle | | | | barring disqualification for some reason. If you |
| League) and ABA (American Bicycle Association). | | | | come in Last, Last, First, which in a race with |
| Both are similar, but still have differences. | | | | eight men in your class translates to 0+0+60 or |
| BMX racing is a type of off-road bicycle racing. | | | | 60 points, you MIGHT race in the main (or in |
| The format of BMX was derived from motocross | | | | larger races the 1/8th/quarter/semi finals) |
| racing. BMX bicycle races are sprint races on | | | | determining how well the others did. The person |
| purpose built off-road single lap racetracks. The | | | | who came in 3rd place in all three motos or |
| track usually consists of a starting gate for up to | | | | 30+40+50=120p would have a much better shot |
| eight racers, a groomed serpentine dirt | | | | at making the Main than you. Even the person |
| racecourse made up of various jumps, banked | | | | who came in 2nd+6th+6th or 35+25+35=95 |
| and flat corners, and a finish line. | | | | would have a better shot even if you won the |
| The sport of BMX racing is facilitated by a | | | | final moto. |
| number of regional and international sanctioning | | | | In larger races in both the ABA and NBL, then a |
| bodies. These sanctioning bodies provide a set of | | | | 2nd moto of the same class but different racers |
| rules for governing the conduct of the races, | | | | is run right behind the first group. They also race |
| specify age-group and skill level classifications | | | | three times but instead of the winners going to |
| among the racers, and maintain some kind of | | | | the Main they face their first group counterparts |
| points accumulation system over the racing | | | | (who also went through the three-moto shake |
| season. The sport is largely participant-driven with | | | | out) in the semi finals called the Semi-Main. Then |
| the average racer age of approximately | | | | the qualifiers face off in the Main. The same for |
| 9–10 years. Professional ranks exist for | | | | races large enough for quarterfinals or |
| both men and women, where the average age is | | | | Quarter-Mains, 1/8ths and even 1/16ths. |
| 18–21. | | | | The Amateurs, once they get to the mains |
| A BMX "Class" bike is a strong, quick-handling, | | | | usually only race once for the top points and the |
| lightweight derivative of the standard 20" wheel | | | | trophy. The Professionals on the other hand run |
| single-speed youth bicycle. Variations include a | | | | multiple cumulative Mains just like in the qualifying |
| larger 24" and sometimes 26" wheel "Cruiser" | | | | motos for the points, trophy and most important, |
| class. | | | | prize money. This is both NBL and ABA practice. |
| While BMX racing is an individual sport, racing | | | | Like during the qualifying motos the points you |
| teams are often formed from racers in different | | | | earn in each running of the Pro Main are tied into |
| classifications for camaraderie and often for | | | | the position you finish in each of the three motos. |
| business exposure of a sponsoring organization or | | | | Cumulative scoring rewards consistency. The |
| company. BMX racing rewards strength, | | | | better the racer you are, the more consistent |
| quickness, and bike handling skills. Many successful | | | | you will be. The transfer system lets you |
| BMX racers have gone on to leverage their skills | | | | capitalize on the mistakes of others. The better |
| in other forms of bicycle and motorcycle | | | | the racer you are, the fewer the mistakes you |
| competitions. | | | | make. |
| BMX racing will become a medal sport at the | | | | One major drawback in cumulative scoring is that |
| 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing under the UCI | | | | it is more complicated task in keeping track than |
| sanctioning body. Other Sanctioning bodies in the | | | | in the transfer system. In the 1980's at least two |
| United States are the American Bicycle | | | | national level scoring scandals (one in 1985) in |
| Association (ABA) and the National Bicycle League | | | | which the national professional number one was |
| (NBL). The NBL is certified under the UCI | | | | decided after the Grand nationals underlined this. |
| (International Cycling Union), which is recognized | | | | There was also a scoring mix up during the 1983 |
| by the Olympic Committee. | | | | NBL Grand National in which it was thought Brian |
| Racers in the 20" class are grouped with others | | | | Patterson was the winner for two weeks but |
| of the same relative age and experience levels; | | | | after a recount initiated after Eric Rupe protested |
| Novice, Intermediate, Expert, Veteran, "A" Pro, | | | | gave Eric Rupe the number one for 1983. An |
| "AA" Pro in the ABA; Rookie, Novice, Expert, Elite | | | | even larger scoring scandal occurred in 1985 in |
| Masters, "B" Pro (Superclass) and "A" Pro (Elite) in | | | | which pro racer Peter Loncarevich apparently |
| the NBL. They range from 5 & under Novice to | | | | beat Greg Hill for the number one pro racer by a |
| 28 & over Expert in the ABA and from 5 & | | | | mere 3 points. Greg Hill's wife Nancy (who was |
| under Rookie to 35 & over Expert in the NBL. | | | | the bookkeeper for Greg Hill's BMX bicycle |
| Cruiser Class (bicycles with 24" or greater | | | | company Greg Hill Products) kept an independent |
| diameter wheels) and the girl classes are not | | | | accounting of the season points of Mr. Hill's closest |
| divided up into skill classes, only age classes in | | | | competitors and detected an error. At his wife's |
| both the NBL and the ABA. The Cruiser class age | | | | urging Mr. Hill ask for and received an audit of the |
| brackets for example range from 9 & under to | | | | points and the NBL confirmed the error had taken |
| 51 & over for males, 10 & under to 41 & over | | | | place and awarded Mr. Hill the pro title for 1985. |
| for females in the ABA; and 9 & under to 55 & | | | | The Transfer System on the other hand, was |
| over males, 10 & under to 40 & over females in | | | | never popular with the racers. While very efficient |
| the NBL. | | | | and less error prone than the cumulative method |
| In a typical day a racer will race several times | | | | (and allowing the ABA to run much quicker events |
| with their group to determine the day's finishing | | | | with fewer finish line scores), the good racers |
| order and awards. The qualifying rounds, called | | | | generally did not like it since they would only get |
| Motos (called heats in other types of racing) | | | | to race once, win their transfer moto and wait |
| determines the number of racers in the finals | | | | for hours if the races are big enough to race the |
| which are called Mains, up to eight racers. The | | | | mains (on the other hand you get to relax a little |
| sizes and number of motos at a skill level and age | | | | without the anxiety of doing poorly in the next |
| group is determined by the number of racers | | | | two qualifying motos). This means the racers race |
| who register for that race and in that skill level | | | | less often in the ABA and the fun of BMX is in |
| and age group. Usually a racer gets three chances | | | | the racing, even if you are loosing. Even racers |
| to qualify. As stated in the previous section, the | | | | who don't do well did not like the transfer system |
| two sanctioning bodies generally use two different | | | | because the fewer actual races you are in, the |
| methods of moving racers from the qualifying | | | | less chance you will have to improve your skills in |
| rounds to the Main (although there is some | | | | actual race conditions You also race two times |
| overlap), the Transfer System, the method | | | | less for your money paid for in entrance fees in |
| generally used by the ABA; and the Moto | | | | the ABA in the Transfer system if you win your |
| System, the NBL's choice. In the transfer system | | | | first moto. |
| usually one to three people are transferred to the | | | | Among the Pros the Cumulative method is |
| main depending on the size of the class. | | | | preferred. Not only because they get to race |
| For instance, in the ABA transfer system a group | | | | more, it lessens the chance of luck playing as a |
| of say eight racers sign up for the 17-18 | | | | factor in any given race event. In 1985 Greg Hill |
| Intermediate class. That is more than enough to | | | | staged a personal boycott of ABA nationals in |
| have three motos (four is the minimum). Moto #1 | | | | part of his dislike of the transfer system. |
| will have all eight racers. The first two finishers | | | | Cumulative scoring is not only used in the ABA |
| qualify for and do not race again until the Main. | | | | and NBL pro qualifying motos but in the mains, in |
| Moto #2 will be a second heat for the remaining | | | | which the pros are required to race the mains |
| six racers; again, the first two across the finish | | | | three times to win points and prize money. |
| line from that group will go the Main. Finally, a third | | | | Cumulative scoring, also known as Olympic |
| moto of the remaining four riders is run, from | | | | scoring, is used by the UCI in there international |
| which the first two racers across the finish line will | | | | BMX program and will be used in the 2008 |
| be taken to the Main, forming a six man Main. The | | | | Summer Olympics in Beijing, China for both |
| last two racers do not qualify (DNQ) and | | | | amateurs and professionals. The ABA continues |
| therefore do not race in the Main, do not collect | | | | to use the Transfer System for its amateur |
| any points, trophies, a chance to take a step in | | | | classes. |
| advancement to a higher amateur level or if they | | | | |