what it all means
Red Deer BMX would like to welcome you to the sport of BMX racing. BMX is an excellent individual and family orientated sport. Races are organized into girls classes and boys classes, then subdivided into age groups and skill levels. The age groups range from the 5 & under classes to the 19 & older. Within these age groups there are three skill levels: Novice, Intermediate and Expert. All riders start as Novices and must work up to the more advanced levels by winning races. A Novice will move up to the Intermediate class after they have 8 wins in the Novice class. An Intermediate will move up to the Expert class after they have 25 wins as an Intermediate.
There is also competition in the Cruiser class for boys and girls. The age groups for the Cruiser class are 10 & under to 51 & older. All Cruiser riders compete at the same skill level.
MOTO: The race that you are in.
MOTO-SHEET: A record of the riders in the days races. These are numbered, beginning at number 1 and continuing for all of the motos, this number is used to call you for your race.
POSTING OF MOTOS: Placing of the racing schedule (moto sheets) in a convenient place for all riders to see.
STAGlNG: The area at the rear of the starting hill.
STAGER: The person who will call you for your race.
STARTER: The person who starts the race by releasing the gate.
FINISH LINE: The area at the end of the track where you are scored with your finish.
HEAD TRACK OFFICIAL: The person who officiates the race and ensures the rules are followed.
CORNER JUDGES: Assistants to the Head Track Official
The first requirement is an Red Deer BMX Association membership and a UCI license. With a full membership you are covered by a secondary medical insurance policy. You can race at ABA.Full year memberships to Red Deer BMX are available at the track.
Once you become an Red Deer BMX Association member your only other cost will be the race day entry fees at other tracks. The entry fee at these tracks entitle you to race three rounds or Moto's. Race fees vary from track to track. Most of the time, as long you hold a valid bmx club membership, fees are waived.
The first thing needed to start racing is a bike. You do not need to have a full out race bike to start with, your street bike will work fine with a few minor modifications.
Your bike must have 20" diameter or less wheels. Cruisers must have either 24" or 26" wheels.
All reflectors and their mounts, axle pegs, chain guard and kick stand must be removed.
Rear brakes are required, either hand or coaster brakes are acceptable.
Front wheel brakes must be removed or disabled.
Handlebar grips must be in good shape with no bar ends protruding through the grips.
Pads are required on the top tube, stem, and handlebar cross bar.
Axles must not protrude more than 1/4" past the axle nut.
A number plate is needed. It has to be a white plate with black numbers and no stickers in the number area. A paper plate or ice cream container lid will do fine to start with.
Note: New riders may choose any number they want as long as it is not larger than 99, until they receive their first assigned number.
First and foremost you will need a good helmet. The helmet must be a full face design and will need to cover the temple area and ears. BMX is different from other forms of bicycle racing in that the riders are all in close proximity and there is the danger of falling. These helmet requirements are for the riders safety.
In addition to the helmet you will require a long sleeve shirt, long pants, full finger gloves and closed toe shoes.
Elbow pads, knee pads and shin guards are also a good idea but not mandatory.
The first thing you need to do when you get to the track on race day is to get registered for that days race. To do this go to the registration window of the moto shed before 6:30pm, give them your name and get registered. A separate registration will be needed for each class you want to race, e.g. Class or Cruiser. You can now go and practice for the nights races.
The information you provided when registering is now used to create the Moto sheets. These Moto sheets will be posted in a designated area at each track shortly after registration closes. These sheets tell you everything you will need to know about today's racing. It is every riders or their parents responsibility to check these sheets A.S.A.P. for any mistakes. If you find a mistake go back to registration and they will make any necessary corrections prior to the start of the races. Failure to do this can result in your rider being disqualified and not receiving the points earned at that race.
You will be racing other riders your age and skill level. Boys will race boys and girls will race girls. Usually a rider will race within his/her own class both age and skill level at every race, but there will be times when it won't happen.
In the event there are not enough riders to make your class, you will have to move up to the next age group at your skill level. If that still doesn't make a class you will go back to your own age group and then move up to the next higher skill level. If that still doesn't make a class you will be moved to the class that is closest to your age and skill level.
This is true for all ages and skill levels, so it may be that younger riders get moved up to your age and skill level. If you do happen to get moved up in age or skill level don't get discouraged, it won't happen all the time and it gives you the opportunity to see how you stack up against older or more experienced riders.
Why did I end up in this class? This is probably the most confusing part of BMX racing the new riders and their parents have to face. Hopefully with an understanding of some of the rules regarding the make up of classes and the following examples this confusion can be held to a minimum. Classes are always made up from the youngest to the oldest.
It takes 4 riders to make a class in any single age class whether Novice, Intermediate, Expert or Cruiser. (Example: 8 Novice, 10 Intermediate, 14 Expert, 15 Cruiser, etc.)
It takes 3 riders to make a class in all multiple age group class. (Example: 5 & under,19 & over, 21 -25 Cruiser, etc.)
Once a class is made either a single age class or a multiple age group class the only changes that can be made to that class is younger riders may be moved into this class.
If there are 3 or fewer riders in a single age class they must move to the next age group in the same skill level. (Example: 8 Novice to 9 Novice, 11 Intermediate to 12 Intermediate, 9 Expert to 10 Expert.)
If after moving to the next age group the class still does not make then these riders will move to the next available class above their home class, except that no Intermediate or Expert will ever move down to a Novice class. But a Novice may move to the Intermediate or Expert class. (Example: 8 Intermediate to 8 Expert, 9 Expert to 10 Intermediate, 11 Novice to 11 Intermediate.) 3 riders will make a legal class if two or more age groups combine. (Example: Two 6 Intermediates move up to join one 7 Intermediate this equals three riders and a legal 7 Intermediate class. One 9 Novice moves up to join two 10 Novices, this equals three riders and a legal 10 Novice class. One 14 Novice moves up to join one 15 Intermediate and one 14 Expert, this equals three riders and a legal 15 Intermediate class.)
No rider may at any time be moved down in age except if the oldest class is to small, and then they follow a move down rule exactly like the move up rule above. (Example: if the 19 Expert class does not make, they move first to the 18 Expert class and start down one class at a time until the class makes, skipping Novice classes. Intermediates also skip the Novice classes.)
If a rider is combined with a higher class he will receive the points from the higher class. (Example: if a 12 Novice moves to a 12 Intermediate class all riders in the class will receive Intermediate points. If a 14 Intermediate combines with a 14 Expert all riders in the class will receive Expert points. If a 14 Expert moves to a 15 Intermediate class all riders in the class will receive Expert points.)
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In order to determine if a rider is in the correct class, they must not only look at the class their are in but the classes above and below their class. Check the riders age and skill levels as shown on the Moto sheets (6N), (6I), (7X), etc.
Example: A parent wonders why their 6 Novice rider ended up in a 7 Intermediate class when there was a 5 & under Novice class with only three riders in it. First you must look at the make up of the 5 & under class. This is a multiple age group class and only needs three riders to make a legal class. Now look at the make up of the 7 Intermediate class. There are two 6 Novices which does not make a single age class, their first move would be to the 7 Novice class but there are no 7 Novice riders. These riders now move to the next class above their own class. There is one 6 Intermediate on the Moto sheet but two 6 Novice riders and one 6 Intermediate rider still do not make a legal single age class. Finely there is one 7 Intermediate rider now the class is made. The class consists of two 6 Novice riders, one 6 Intermediate rider and one 7 Intermediate rider. All the riders in this class will receive Intermediate points.
As soon as possible after registration closes the Moto sheets will be posted in the area designated for that propose. Moto sheets will be in numerical order starting with Moto #1 and continuing through whatever the last Moto number is. In addition to being in numerical order the Moto sheets are grouped by age and class.
Remember it is extremely important for you or your parents to check the Moto sheets before the races start. Make sure that you check everything on the Moto sheet, not just what Moto you are in. If you find any mistakes go back to registration and they can make any necessary corrections.
Now you have registered for today's race, you have done your practicing, got your bike totally tuned in for the track and most important of all you have checked your MOTO sheets to make sure everything is correct. Its now time to start the racing.
The races are run in numerical order by Moto numbers. Each rider will have to race 3 times or rounds, always in the same Moto number. Normally we will race the first 2 rounds , take a short break and the race the third and final round.
STAGING: Staging takes place behind the starting gate and you should be there at least 5 Moto's ahead of the one you are racing in. There will be a person called the Stager who will call out each Moto number, each riders name that is in that Moto and their starting lane assignments. The Stager will then direct you what to do next.
Now you are on the starting gate. You know the starting lane you are supposed to be in, but where is it? When you are standing on the gate looking out at the track lane 1 is on the same side of the gate that the first turn turns to. If the first turn is to the left then lane 1 is on the left side of the gate. There are 8 different starting lanes on the gate, with lane 8 being on the opposite end from lane 1.
The starting gate is run by a computer and has a set number of commands it must go through before it can be reset, the last of which is to drop the gate. If you are on the gate and the commands have started there is no way to stop the gate from dropping.
There are Track Official's positioned at different places on the track. These official's can and will alter the outcome of a race because of fouls, riders missing obstacles, riders using inappropriate language on the track and any other unsportsman-like conduct. If a rider feels they were fouled they must go back to the finish line within 5 Moto's and register their complaint or protest.
The finish line generally consists of 4 Finish Line Official's and 1 Chief Scorer. They are responsible for scoring each rider as they cross the finish line in each of their Moto's. If a rider fails to start a Moto or does not finish a Moto they will not be scored for that Moto. In all cases the decision of the Chief Scorer is final.
We have well qualified track officials with First Aid training. Parents if your child should fall please do not come running on to the track. Our qualified track officials will evaluate the extent of your childs injures if any. At that time if they feel your assistance is needed they will call you onto the track.
