| The first obstensive goal of a BMX racer is to | | | | between skill levels, they are quite close i.e. for |
| become the number one amateur racer in your | | | | first place in Expert, Intermediate and Novice it is |
| district. The racer's home state/province maybe | | | | 20, 19, and 18 respectively. Also, it is only a one |
| divided up into several Districts depending how | | | | point difference between places i.e. 20 points for |
| many participants and how spread out they are | | | | first and 19 points for second place in Expert. The |
| over the state/province. A balance is seeked. Too | | | | same for the Novice and Intermediate levels. Also |
| many people in a single district could discourage | | | | unlike on the National and District level no |
| new, inexperienced riders from having a sense of | | | | participant points are awarded. |
| accomplishment if they are doing reasonably well | | | | In the NBL, the points received for moto points in |
| but not advancing his point score up the list of | | | | the cumulative "Olympic" system at the national |
| total points in relation to other racers. Too small a | | | | and regional level are similar as on the district level. |
| district would cheapen any sense of | | | | Nationals can also affect your skill level ranking. On |
| accomplishment due to paucity of racers, | | | | the local level it takes eight career wins to |
| producing an artificially high ranking for the | | | | transfer from Novice to Intermediate; from |
| following season for the racer(s) in the points | | | | Intermediate to Expert 25 career wins are |
| race. Points determine how well you do in the | | | | necessary. On the national level only five career |
| district rankings. How high you go in the rankings | | | | wins are required in both cases. This is because of |
| depends on what skill level category you are in as | | | | the much higher quality of competition found on |
| well as how well you do in your particular races | | | | the national level. |
| since it has an impact on how many points you | | | | All of the aforementioned applies with minor |
| win, which adds to your total for your district | | | | variations to the Girls and Cruiser Classes. |
| ranking. The higher your skill level, the more points | | | | Open and trophy dash events |
| you will gather at any given race (providing that | | | | A fourth class of racing in BMX which are held at |
| you have qualified for the Main). | | | | local and national events are called Opens. Opens |
| In the Amateur class, advancement to a higher | | | | are largely exhibition and are a chance to test |
| skill level depends on your success in your present | | | | yourself and practice against better competition |
| skill level. For instance at the ABA local level you | | | | without jeopardizing your point standings. You |
| start out as a Novice. From Novice eight local | | | | must be registered to race in a points race to |
| career first places in the Mains will advance you to | | | | sign up for the Open events. No points are |
| Intermediate Class. From Intermediate twenty | | | | awarded for Opens although trophy places are |
| five local career first place wins in the Main is | | | | and the moto qualification rounds are similar to |
| required to graduate to the Expert class. From | | | | the point races. These are races with more |
| there as in most other sports, it is voluntary to | | | | flexible skill level and age requirements. In Opens |
| go professional. | | | | there are no Novice, Intermediate and Expert |
| The Main will determine the winner that day and | | | | divisions. All armature skill levels are free to |
| 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and sometimes 5th place | | | | participate. The age groupings are generally |
| trophies and who gets how many points added to | | | | broader, for example 13-14 open class as |
| his total which determines his ranking in his district. | | | | opposed to 13 Intermediate and 14 Intermediate |
| The number of points a racer gets after a race is | | | | being separate groupings for those ages in the |
| usually determined by his place in the Main. On the | | | | points races. Girls may also participate in the male |
| local level, first place Novice class will get the | | | | Open class within the proper age ranges. However |
| winner 25 points, 2nd place 20 and so on with 8th | | | | expert boys are not allowed in these "Mixed" |
| getting only 3 points. The more points a racer has | | | | opens. Then an Expert Open is held in that event. |
| the higher his ranking and thus the lower the | | | | The pros are excluded from racing with the |
| number he gets to wear on his front number | | | | armatures if enough pros are at hand to race |
| plate the following season. For instance say in | | | | that a separate Pro-Open class can be created. If |
| ABA New York District #1 a racer had the 10th | | | | not, then the pros can race in the amateur Open |
| most points out of 200 racers in his district at the | | | | with some restrictions. This is called a Pro-Am |
| finish of the 2005 season. He will then be entitled | | | | event. Except for the Pro-Am exception the |
| to have the number "10" on his number plate for | | | | Expert racers usually wins the open class. Even if |
| that district during the 2006 season. | | | | there are Pros in the Open, it is not unusual for |
| The Skill level class you belong to also affects | | | | the an older Expert-17-18 age class for |
| how many points you get. The winners of the | | | | example-to win since many have the talent and |
| Expert Classes on the local level will get 100 points | | | | speed to be a pro but haven't yet taken the |
| while the winning Intermediates will get 50 points | | | | opportunity, partly because once you go Pro, you |
| and the winners of the Novice classes only 25 | | | | can go back to amateur only under very strict |
| points. Second, third et. al. placers would get lower | | | | circumstances. |
| points in proportion. The 7th place Expert finishers | | | | There are separate Open divisions for Cruisers |
| will get only 20 points, the equivalent of second | | | | where similar rules apply. |
| place in the Novice class. | | | | Sometimes an exhibition race is held after all the |
| In all classes and skill levels racers also receive the | | | | meaningful races are run with all the amateur |
| same number of points depending on how many | | | | class winners from Novice up to Expert and |
| are in their class and age group. These are called | | | | including the Open, girls classes and perhaps |
| participant points. For instance if eight riders | | | | Cruiser classes race together once. This is called |
| participate in 17-18 Intermediate class, all those | | | | the Trophy Dash. Like in the Open Classes, no |
| who make the mains will get 8 points, including the | | | | points are rewarded in this case, just a chance |
| last place finisher. If the class has 15 racers, all | | | | for bragging rights and to match yourself up |
| who make the main will get 15 points. So the | | | | against people that are at a higher skill level. Only |
| winner of the Intermediate class will get 15 points | | | | one race for a single first place trophy is awarded. |
| for the fifteen racers in that class on top of the | | | | As in the Opens the Expert usually wins with the |
| 50 points for winning for a total of 65 points. | | | | Intermediate winner pulling one out every once |
| There are separate point scoring for cruiser and | | | | and awhile. Novices usually win only when a major, |
| girl classes and separate point tables for state and | | | | catastrophic pile up occurs on the track and even |
| national rankings. Points for those events are | | | | then the mass smash up has to happen quite |
| gathered in a similar fashion as on the district, i.e. | | | | close to the finish line. |
| local, level. | | | | Professionals |
| National and special event points awards | | | | There are professional rankings in BMX. In the |
| Other important factors effects the point totals. | | | | ABA the two major ones are the "A" and "AA" |
| Some local special event races are double or even | | | | classifications in the 20" division. The Professionals |
| triple point races, doubling or tripling the points | | | | are the only class allowed to compete for cash |
| each position in the Mains each racer would | | | | prizes. |
| normally get. An Expert who wins therefore could | | | | The first level is "A" pro. To become an "A" pro |
| get either 200 or 300 points for example as | | | | you have to hold at least an Expert skill level |
| opposed to just the usual 100 points. The points | | | | rating and be at least 15 years old to be issued a |
| bonanza can be even greater. Nationals are the | | | | Pro Membership card by the ABA. If you are a |
| equivalent of triple point local races. Like at local | | | | professional BMXer with another BMX sanctioning |
| triple point races, the winner of the Expert class in | | | | body you will be recognized as a Pro by the ABA |
| a national event will get 300 points. However, | | | | and barred from competing in ABA sanctioned |
| even if one does not make the Main and only get | | | | armature classes. Once you become a pro BMX |
| as far as the quarter finals it will earn a racer | | | | racer, you cannot go back to amateur status |
| bonus points based on the number of people in | | | | except under stringent circumstances. What's |
| the eighth (if any), and quarter Main that will go to | | | | more by turning BMX Pro you very likely be |
| his total district points. | | | | disqualifying yourself from other armature sports |
| As in the local races, participant points are also | | | | depending on the state and federal laws that |
| gained. If there are 50 racers participating in the | | | | apply. |
| 17-18 Expert class, those 50 points will give the | | | | If you winnings exceed US$3000 in a season at |
| winner 350 points plus bonus points. The point | | | | national events the racer will be promoted to |
| levels for other skill classes and the points | | | | "AA" pro. |
| awarded for positions racers come in the mains | | | | "A" and "AA" pros race in separate classes |
| are similarly affected. Indeed, in these large | | | | generally, but if there are too few of one or the |
| national races simply participating and not | | | | other type of pro to race separately-four is the |
| advancing to even the eighth finals could earn the | | | | minimum-then they race together in a combined |
| racer enough participant points as if he won a | | | | class. This occurs generally in at large multi point |
| local race. For instance, A novice can sign up in | | | | local district races but usually not at Nationals. |
| say 19-27 Novice at a national with 107 of his | | | | Pro ranking points are similar to the National |
| fellow novices in his class and come in dead last in | | | | armature points awards. "A" Pros get the |
| all three of his motos and not make the quarter | | | | equivalent of National Intermediate points. i.e. 120 |
| Main let alone the Main and still walk away with | | | | for first, 100 points for second etc. "AA" Pro get |
| 108 district points, the equivalent of a local 100 | | | | Expert equivalent points i.e. 240 for first etc. Both |
| point Expert win with eight men participating. | | | | like in the amateur classes get participant points if |
| In the ABA Grand Nationals, the year end event | | | | the racer makes the Main. The person with the |
| where the National standings of the participants | | | | most points in a season will be District Pro #1, the |
| are finalized, quadruple district points are awarded, | | | | same is true to become state Pro #1. However, |
| so an Expert winner could look forward to | | | | on the national level not only you must receive |
| collecting 400 points for winning his class in | | | | the most points, you must race in at least 10 |
| addition to bonus points and participant points. | | | | nationals plus the Grand Nationals, the ABA's |
| To compete on a National level for national titles | | | | multi-day season ending event, for the best 10 of |
| you must compete in Nationals. Nationals have | | | | your finishes will go toward your national rankings. |
| their own separate points tables that are | | | | For example if you participate in 13 national |
| accumulated by the racers similarly to local district | | | | events, your best 10 will be considered and your |
| points. However the points rewarded are not the | | | | worst three disregarded. You must meet this |
| same amount. For instance 240 National points are | | | | qualification on the national level to wear National |
| awarded to the first place Expert winner as well | | | | numbers one though ten on your number plate |
| as his 300 district triple points, but his national | | | | the following year. |
| points are not added to his district points or vice | | | | The rules are similar for Pro Cruiser and Pro Girls |
| versa. Like in local races he or she is also awarded | | | | classes. |
| participant points. The amateur with the most | | | | There is a fourth class of pro called Veteran Pro. |
| National points at the end of the year is the | | | | These are professionals in the 20" class that are |
| overall National number one (#1) racer and gets | | | | at least 30 years old and generally past their |
| to wear a #1 on his number plate at national | | | | racing prime but still love to compete. Most of the |
| events the following season. Professionals are not | | | | rules that apply to the "A" and "AA" pros apply to |
| effected since they have their own points | | | | the "Vet" Pros except that they are required to |
| system and table separate from the amateurs | | | | race in only six national events plus the Grand |
| for the number one pro title. | | | | Nationals and are classified as "A" Pros and get |
| In the NBL there is no overall #1 amateur, only a | | | | "A" Pro points, However, they can win unlimited |
| number one title for their age group, so a racer in | | | | prize money as a Vet pro on this "A" Pro level |
| say 17 expert that has most points can wear a | | | | without the requirement of moving up to "AA" |
| national #1 plate even if the number one rider in | | | | pro upon winning US$3000 in a season. Some Vet |
| 12 expert actually has more points. Again, the | | | | Pros are retired "AA" pros that have came back |
| professionals have their own points system for | | | | to the sport. In those cases they had to go |
| number one pro. | | | | through a reclassification process with certain |
| There is yet another points table for State | | | | criteria having to be met, including written |
| Provincial wide events for the State/Provincial | | | | permission from conventional "A" Pros. "Vet" Pros |
| Championship. However, instead of wide gap | | | | cannot compete for the National #1 Championship. |
| points between winners and those who follow and | | | | |