History of Motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle or ATV racing held on enclosed off-road circuits
and is the widely considered the world's most popular form of motorcycle racing.
Motocross is derived from the French, and was originally called Scrambling when
the sport was invented in the UK. The name "motocross" is a contraction derived
from the words "Motorcycle" and "Cross Country". Motocross is often abbreviated
as MX.
Motocross tracks are often quite large and incorporate natural terrain features
with very few man made jumps, unlike Supercross, a sport that was originally
derived from Motocross and is executed on a smaller track with more extreme
man made obstacles. It is not unheard of for a Motocross track to be made up
entirely of hills and turns with no jumps at all. Due to the size of the track,
motocross races often include more than 40 racers whereas Supercross races are
generally limited to about 25.
Other formats may be determined by laps. In each race there is a set number of laps and the first rider to complete the set number of laps is the victor. The first three riders that finish first are declared the podium riders because of the first through third positions in the race. Races are ran in sessions called motos. There are two motos in a race and the riders place in those heats are averaged together to get their overall finish
Machines
Motocross racing requires skill and a good sense of balanceMotocross motorcycles
are lightweight and powered by highly tuned two-stroke or four-stroke engines
(but usually geared for quick acceleration rather than very high speeds). They
have knobby tires for traction on loose surfaces, a highly absorbent suspension
designed to cope with the shock of heavy landings, and short gearing designed
for swift acceleration rather than high top speed. They feature hinged footpegs
and levers so that they simply fold rather than bend or snap when the machine
is inevitably dropped. Also the exhaust may be routed carefully so that a fall
will not damage the exhaust, nor bend it so that it would obstruct the rear
swing arm's travel - something that does happen to road bikes. The saddle (seat)
is curiously shaped, in a long banana, to extend from rear of the fuel tank
to the rear fender. This offers the rider greater protection when he or she
hits bumps or lands hard and allows the rider to move and distribute his or
her weight over the front or rear of the bike. This will affect rotation pitch
while jumping and greater traction to the front wheel when necessary on the
ground. Lowering the rider's center of gravity (sitting) greatly increases the
ability to go through a turn at higher speeds. Sitting further back and accelerating
hard over a series of bumps or ("whoops") keeps the front tire from dropping
into any large gaps between them and causing you to lose control of the bike.
The gyroscopic effect of the engine along with the wheels makes jumping the
"motocross" bike over long distances possible - this effect keeps the bike from
rotating through any axis other than the axis of the wheels while in the air.
A common technique to change the attitude of the bike in air involves the use
of the rear brake. When the rear wheel is decelerated while the bike is in mid-air,
angular momentum is transferred from the wheel to the entire bike. This forces
the front of the bike lower (and likewise, accelerating the rear wheel causes
the front of the bike to rise), allowing the rider to force the bike to a specific
position or attitude relative to the ground.
Unusual for racing machines, motocross bikes can be purchased in a ready-to-race
condition at moderate prices from major motorcycle manufacturers. Professional
riders, however, modify their machines further, both for outright performance
and to have the bike's behaviour more in tune with their own preferences. The
highly tuned machines of the professionals are called "factory bikes." The latest
trend in motocross motorcycles is towards four-stroke engines. Although the
four-strokes weigh more, they have much more power to back up the weight. These
engines have been developed due to manufacturer's pressure and environmental
concerns regarding the increased emissions of two-strokes. Some predict that
two-strokes will not be available to buy after 2008, perhaps earlier in states
such as California.
Engine sizes ranges from 50cc right up to 550cc, although bikes with sidecars
can have up 1000cc engines. Four stroke motocrossers do not compete on a truly
level playing field. Currently, 250cc four strokes compete in the 125cc class
and 450cc four strokes are used in the 250cc class. They are very competitive
in these classes but need twice the displacement to rival a two-stroke. However,
the popularity of four-stroke motocross bikes has been steadily increasing.
Due to the increase in popularity and to non-matching displacements of four-stroke
and two-stroke motorcycles in the same classes, in the year 2005 the AMA changed
the class names from 250cc to Pro, and from 125cc to Pro Lite. Thus, the former
125cc Supercross series is now referred to as AMA Supercross Pro Lites; the
250cc Motocross series is now AMA Motocross Pro; etc.
Manufacturers
Current Honda (Japan)
Kawasaki (Japan)
Suzuki (Japan)
Yamaha (Japan)
KTM (Austria)
The above five are the major five manufactures in most markets, the manufactures
below command little market share (currently - 2005).
Husaberg (Sweden)
Aprilia (Italy)
TM (Italy)
VOR (Italy)
Vertemati (Italy)
Husqvarna (Italy, ex Sweden)
Event
The object of the contest is to complete either a defined number of laps (usually
three to seven for amateurs, more for professionals) or fixed time period (anything
up to 40 minutes) first. This competition is called a moto. Usually a race consists
of two or three motos with the scores combined to determine the overall result.
Motocross racing is one of the most visually appealing forms of motorsport,
with riders performing seemingly death-defying leaps, turns visibly at the edge
of traction (as indicated by a sliding, spinning rear tire throwing dirt at
all behind it), and the effort of riders clearly visible as they move their
bodies around their motorcycles to balance the bikes for maximum speed.
Recently the sport has evolved with sub disciplines like Supercross and Arenacross
(both are indoor motocross), Freestyle (or FMX) (a display of jumping skill
rather than racing) and Supermoto (Motocross machines racing on both tarmac
and off road). Motocross can be an entry sport for motorsports in general. Classes
for children as young as 4 years old exist for competition on 50cc machines.
Physical demands One of the least understood aspects of motocross racing by
non-participants is the extreme level of physical fitness required of competitors.
Those unfamiliar with the sport often assume that the rider is doing nothing
more strenuous than steering a motorized vehicle around a field, no more demanding
than driving the family car around the block. In truth, motocross racing has
been found to be one of the most physically demanding sports in existence. Observing
in detail a rider's actions while at speed on the track reveals why. He or she
must maintain ultra-precise control of a machine traversing terrain that most
people would have difficulty walking across while maintaining as high of a rate
of speed as possible. The rider is astride a machine weighing at least two hundred
pounds and, at the most elite professional level, has an engine that produces
at least fifty horsepower. A rider's arms and legs are in constant motion during
a race, fighting for control of the motorcycle and absorbing the energy produced
by high-speed landings from heights that often exceed twenty feet or from two-foot
high stutter bumps (called whoops) that jackhammer the motorcycle and the rider.
The G forces produced test the absolute limits of a rider's strength and endurance.
Finally, a typical professional moto (heat race) lasts at least thirty minutes.
That represents half of an hour in which the faster the rider goes, the more
violently and frequently he or she is punished. And there are no pauses, breaks
or pit stops. At least not if a rider expects to win.
ATV Motocross
Starting in the year 2002, ATV Motocross started to see a dramatic increase
in participation across the United States. This was a direct result of the major
ATV manufacturers getting involved in the sport. Before we can talk about the
current state of ATV motocross, we must understand the past. ATV racing floundered
after Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha dropped ATV-racing support in the mid
1980s due to the bad publicity associated with the alleged dangers of operating
these vehicles. Throughout the late 1980s and all during the 1990s, aftermarket
companies kept the sport alive, but barely. Racers would build expensive, custom
ATVs with parts from major aftermarket manufacturers like Laeger's, Walsh Race
Craft and Lonestar Racing. The engine that kept racing alive was the Honda TRX250R
engine that was manufactured from 1986 to 1989. Again, the aftermarket helped
racers get all they could out of the dated engine. Companies like Curtis Sparks
Racing Engines, Baldwin Motorsports and Hinson Racing made it so the only stock
component of the 250R engine were the left and right engine cases. Suspension
upgrades made it possible for ATVs to hit jumps never thought possible. Suspension
companies like PEP and Custom Axis, combined with long-travel A-arms and rear
suspension links smoothed out rough tracks and harsh landings.
However, in order to be competitive, it was necessary to spend upwards of $20,000
on the race ATV. In the late 90s, rules were changed to allow racers to use
dirt bike engines in ATV frames. The era of the four-stroke hybrid race ATV
was born when Harold Goodman piloted a custom-built YZ400F to a national Four-Stroke
Pro-Am championship. Soon hybrid machines were all over the tracks.
The manufacturers started paying closer attention to the sport ATV market, and
in 1999 Honda released the four-stroke TRX400EX. While it wasn't as powerful
as the hybrids racing on the tracks, it was a positive step. In 2001, Cannondale
entered the ATV market and even fielded an ATV racing team in partnership with
Nac's Racing the following year. The Cannondale story was a short one as the
company declared bankruptcy shortly after 2002. In 2003 Suzuki released the
LT-Z400 that featured a liquid-cooled four-stroke powerplant. That same year,
the ATVA instituted a Pro Production class at the motocross nationals in order
to showcase "stock" ATVs. The traditional Pro class still allowed two-strokes
and hybrids. Many Pro racers raced both classes, but the premier class was still
the Pro class. Tim Farr, in a move that raised eyebrows, raced only the Pro
Production class. Doug Gust won the Pro Production class while Jeremiah Jones
won the Pro class. Jones' championship would be the last Pro-class championship
on a two-stroke.
Late in the 2003, Yamaha announced the YFZ450 for the 2004 model year. This
ATV represented the first time a major manufacturer built a high-performance
sport ATV suited for racing. While it wasn't as wide as many wanted for motocross
and didn't have long-travel suspension, it featured a four-stroke engine very
similar to the motocross dirt bikes Yamaha was putting out. The ATV also came
stock with fully adjustable front suspension, the first time this was available
on a stock ATV. After the Yamaha announcement, Honda announced it was going
to bring the TRX450R to market in 2004. The tide was turning for the high-performance
race ATV market.
The 2004 national ATV Motocross season was one of the most anticipated in 15
years. Suzuki announced it was going to hire Doug Gust as its motocross pilot,
Honda was hiring Tim Farr as its factory racer and Yamaha was going to offer
support Kory Ellis in limited fashion for the season. This represented the first
time since around 1986 that any manufacturer was offering factory support for
ATV racing. The moved proved to be a successful one for Suzuki as Doug Gust
walked away with the national motocross championship, and in the process winning
six overalls in a row.
The 2005 season saw more factory support and Suzuki fielding two racers, Gust
and Jeremiah Jones, out of the Yoshimura/Suzuki semi. That year it was Honda
winning the championship with support rider John Natalie taking the motocross
championship. The 2005 season proved that the factories were willing to support
ATV racing as they never had before. With that support on the track also meant
support in the dealerships in the way of new, updated machines. In the summer
of 2005, Suzuki announced it was going to produce the 2006 LT-R450. This sport
ATV was the most motocross-ready ATV ever produced. It featured electronic fuel
injection, a high-performance four-stroke engine and a chassis that could be
competitive in stock form. The front end had high-end shocks with 10 inches
of travel and a width approaching 50 inches. The rear tires with 18-inch tires
just like motocrossers sport. The swingarm was made of steel, too. In 2005,
local tracks mirrored the national tracks as more and more racers were bringing
ATVs to race thanks to raceable models. Many feel that 2006 will be the biggest
yet as the nationals continue to grow and many local AMA districts are offering
"quad-only" race weekends.
Freestyle motocross (FMX), a relatively new sport, is not racing and instead concentrates on performing acrobatic stunts while jumping motocross bikes. The winner is chosen by a group of judges. The riders are scored on style, level of trick difficulty, best use of the course, and frequently crowd reactions as well. One stunt performed is the backflip, which was first performed successfully on a large bike by Caleb Wyatt using a specially designed dirt ramp. Soon after this, Mike Metzger completed this stunt using a standard freestyle ramp and dirt landing. [1] Some consider the body varial 360 as the most difficult stunt being performed at this time. This stunt, also called the Carolla, was first performed by Chuck Carothers at the 2004 X Games. Prior to this, the backflip 360, or off-axis backflip, was widely considered the most challenging stunt. Another rider taking freestyle to a new level is Travis Pastrana, who in 2005 did the world's first double backflip although it has never been attempted in competition.
Minibikes
The latest craze is adult racing on miniature (50cc) motorcycles called a minibike.
These inexpensive minibikes designed for small children are often transformed
for adult use by adding taller handle bars and by improving the suspension.
Supermoto
Supermoto is a recent invention involving racing Motocross bikes on a part concrete,
part off road track, with "road" tires instead of off road tires. Some tracks
for these race events have jumps, berms, and whoop-dee-doos just like true motocross
tracks. For special events, the Supermoto track may incorporate metal ramps
for jumps that can be disassembled and taken to other locations. Supermoto races
may take place at modified go-kart tracks, road racing tracks, or even street
racing tracks. There are also classes for kids such as the 85cc class.
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