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Motocross 101: Everything You Need to Know

Motocross: Your Ticket to the World’s Most Extreme Dirt Sport

Motocross has grown into a hugely popular motorsport, attracting fans with its high-speed action, rugged terrain, and adrenaline-pumping jumps. The combination of technical skill, raw power, and unpredictable excitement makes it a thrilling spectacle for audiences of all ages. From local dirt tracks to international arenas, motocross events draw large crowds and media attention, especially with the rise of freestyle competitions that showcase jaw-dropping stunts. The sport's appeal also extends beyond live events, with strong followings on social media, television, and video games, helping to build a passionate global community. Its blend of danger, athleticism, and spectacle continues to make motocross a major draw in the world of extreme sports.

The Origins of Motocross

In 1906, an organization called the Auto-Cycle Club hosted the first-ever motorcycle time trials. Riders raced up rugged dirt tracks, pushing their bikes to outpace the other competitors and beat personal records. This grassroots competition evolved into weekly "hare scrambles," and, by 1924, the first official race took place in Camberley, Surrey, UK. These earliest races laid the foundation for what we know today as motocross, a blend of motocyclette (French for motorcycle) and cross-country racing. By the 1930s, rigid street motorcycles were improved upon, and off-road models, equipped with suspension systems, became preferred by riders. More innovations, like swinging rear fork suspension, followed in the early 1950s. Motocross surged in popularity with the launch of the FIM Motocross World Championship in 1957.

Motocross machines have evolved from street bikes with knobby tires into highly specialized off-road racers. Key modifications include:

Narrower gear ratios for acceleration out of tight corners.
Reinforced suspension for absorbing high jumps.
Custom exhaust systems for enhanced power.
Lightweight components tailored to rider preferences and event demands.

Types of Motocross

Since its humble origins, motocross has evolved into several distinct types, each offering riders unique opportunities to showcase their skills and tricks.

Supercross: Stadium-based racing on compact, obstacle-filled dirt tracks full of steep jumps and technical turns.
Freestyle Motocross (FMX): Focus on aerial stunts and acrobatic stunts, judged on execution, originality, style, and difficulty.
Big Air: A variation of FMX with single, high-impact jumps. Riders have just two chances to wow event judges as they show off their skills jumping off a dirt ramp.
Rallycross: A fast-paced motorsport that combines elements of rally racing and circuit racing, featuring short, high-intensity races on closed circuits that mix asphalt and dirt surfaces, typically with tight corners, jumps, and elevation changes.
Supermoto: Similar to rallycross, supermoto is a hybrid format of motocross, blending off-road, asphalt, and flat-track sections.
Hard Enduro: Multi-stage races over natural obstacles like forests, mountains, and quarries. No paved tracks.

Each type of motocross has its own championship series, including the FMX X Games, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Freestyle Motocross World Championship, the FIM Supermoto World Championship, and the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, featuring events like Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs.

Competition Rules and Formats

American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Supercross: Features two heat races per event; the top 22 riders advance to a 20-minute + 1 lap Main Event in the 450cc class. The 250cc class is split into East and West divisions, culminating in a season finale.
FIM & AMA Motocross: Each round includes two 30-minute plus two-lap motos per class. Combined results determine the overall winner.
FMX Judging: Riders in Freestyle and Big Air events are scored out of 100 based on trick difficulty, creativity, and performance.

Pioneers of the Sport

Joël Robert: A Belgian rider widely celebrated for his natural talent and instinctive riding style.
Roger De Coster: Also Belgian, De Coster is known as "The Man," he became a five-time world champion, renowned for his exceptional control, physical fitness, and consistent racing.
Eric Geboers: Made history by becoming the first rider to win world titles in all three major displacement classes, setting a new benchmark for versatility and performance.
Stefan Everts: One of the most decorated riders in motocross history, he captured 10 world championships across multiple categories.
Ricky Carmichael: Dominated the AMA Motocross scene, securing 12 major titles in just 11 seasons-a feat that earned him the nickname "The GOAT".

Other Popular Motocross Riders

Tim Gajser: Slovenian rider and five-time FIM Motocross World Champion.
Jeffrey Herlings: Dutch competitor with five titles, including 2018 and 2021.
Ken Roczen: 2011 MX2 champ and 2022 FIM Supercross World Champion.
Manuel "Mani" Lettenbichler: Germany's Hard Enduro star and current titleholder, winning five of eight rounds despite an early injury setback.
Luc Ackermann: Landed a double backflip just before turning 20.
Travis Pastrana: Completed a 360° backflip between barges on the Thames River-despite a history of 32 surgeries from extreme sports injuries.

Notable FMX Tricks

Tricks and stunts are defining features of motocross culture, drawing large crowds and pushing the boundaries of what's possible on two wheels. They add to the excitement and flair that sets the sport apart from traditional racing. Riders perform daring aerial maneuvers, including whips, backflips, and nac-nacs, especially in FMX events, where creativity and technical skill are judged as much as a rider's speed. These stunts require incredible control, balance, and fearlessness, showcasing the athleticism and showmanship of motocross athletes.

The Backflip

The Backflip is one of the most iconic tricks in freestyle motocross. In this maneuver, the rider and bike rotate a full 360 degrees backward while airborne. It requires perfect timing, speed, and commitment. Although now considered a foundational trick at the elite level, it was once thought to be impossible and is still incredibly dangerous if not executed with precision.

The Superman

The Superman is an exciting trick in which the rider kicks their legs straight out behind them while gripping the handlebars, making it look as though they're flying horizontally through the air like a superhero. It's one of the first advanced tricks many FMX riders learn, and it showcases both the rider's confidence and core strength as they must reattach to the bike mid-flight before landing.

Cliffhanger

In a Cliffhanger, the rider uses the tops of their boots to hook under the handlebars, then stretches their body vertically with arms raised upward, resembling someone hanging from a ledge. This trick requires serious balance and control, as the rider momentarily relinquishes all typical riding posture, standing straight up while the bike soars beneath them.

The Rock Solid

The Rock Solid is a high-risk, high-reward trick in which the rider completely releases the motorcycle mid-air and then quickly grabs back onto the bike before landing. It's one of the most extreme displays of body control and spatial awareness in FMX, earning massive crowd reactions when done cleanly due to its "all or nothing" nature.

The Hart Attack

Named after FMX pioneer Carey Hart, the Hart Attack is a powerful-looking trick in which the rider holds onto the handlebars while thrusting their legs upward and leaning their upper body back, forming an L-shape in the air. It combines acrobatic flair with aggressive styling and requires precision and control to hold the posture and return safely to the bike.

The Helicopter

The Helicopter is a spin-based maneuver in which the rider twists the bike sideways in a horizontal motion, causing it to rotate or "whip" dramatically, sometimes appearing to spin like helicopter blades. While not always a full 360-degree rotation, this trick is technically demanding and requires mastery of body positioning and throttle control.

The Lazyboy

The Lazyboy lives up to its name by making the rider look as if they're reclining in an easy chair while airborne. The rider leans back off the bike, extending both legs forward while keeping a loose but controlled grip on the handlebars. It's a laid-back move that shows off the rider's confidence, flexibility, and spatial awareness.

The Coffin

The Coffin is a unique trick in which the rider lies flat on their back across the bike's seat and rear fender with arms and legs fully extended, resembling someone in a coffin. It's dramatic and requires total control and trust in the jump's trajectory, as there's little room for adjustment once in position.

Motocross Terminology

Arm Pump: Muscle fatigue caused by gripping the handlebars too tightly.
Block Pass: Passing another rider just before a corner to slow their momentum.
Brapping: A slang term for the sound of a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine being revved quickly-"brap brap brap!"
Case (a jump): Landing a jump short so that the rear wheel hits the top of the jump face, usually jarring and potentially damaging.
Chopping the Throttle: Abruptly letting off the gas; can unsettle the bike or cause rear-end instability if done mid-jump or in a corner.
DNS (Did Not Start): A rider registered but unable to start the race.
DNF (Did Not Finish): A rider who fails to complete the race for any reason (crash, mechanical failure, etc.).
Doubles: A jump across two sections, often easier than triples.
Frontside: The upward-facing surface of a jump; landing here can be dangerous.
Holeshot: Being the first rider to reach the first corner, often key to winning.
Lapper: A slower rider being passed by the race leaders. Lappers are expected to yield and not interfere.
Line: The optimal path through a section of the track.
Moto: Refers to a single race in a motocross event. Most competitions have two motos per class, and combined results determine the overall winner.
Moto 1 / Moto 2: The first and second races in a two-moto format. Results from both determine the event's overall placement.
Nac-Nacs: The rider swings one leg over the bike while in mid-air, so that both legs are on the same side of the motorcycle, creating a dramatic, stylish pose while the bike is airborne. The rider then quickly swings their leg back over to land safely.
Overjump: Landing beyond the intended landing zone-often dangerous.
Powerslide: Sliding the rear tire while accelerating through a turn.
Scrub: A technique to reduce air time over a jump by "flattening" the bike's trajectory, which allows faster lap times.
Seat Bounce: A jumping technique where the rider compresses the rear suspension by sitting down just before the takeoff, giving the bike extra lift.
Send It: A slang expression meaning to go full throttle or attempt something bold (e.g., "He really sent it on that triple!").
Tabletop: A flat-topped jump where takeoff and landing areas are at the same level-safer for beginners.
Triples: A jump that spans three separate sections; requires major speed and skill.
Underjump: Coming up short, landing on the face or top of the jump, can be harsh or result in crashes.
Wash Out: Losing traction with the front tire, often resulting in a fall.
Whip: A stylish sideways move in mid-air, primarily used to scrub off height and add flair.
Whoops: A series of small bumps in quick succession; the goal is to skim across the tops without letting the front wheel drop.