First Time Riders - The Answers to your questions
If this is your First time riding or racing, the following information will help you learn more about what you need, how much it cost and what the general terminoligy means at Valley MX
Equipment / Open Rides / Race Days
Q: What do I need to participate in an Open Ride?
A: 1. A dirt bike or ATV for off road use 2. A proper fitting full face helmet. 3. A Long sleeve shirt and full length pants (motocross speciffic equipment is reccommended) 4. Hand Protection (Gloves) 5. Boots that cover up to your ankle. 6. Look at SCHEDULE for open ride dates, and pricing (See your local dealer for a runthough of current models and proper fitting equipment)
Q: What is an OPEN RIDE?
A: Open Rides are days where the track and facilitiys are open to the public for riding. The track will be prepared and watered the same as a Race Day. Click on SCHEDULE for the open ride dates and times and pricing.
Q: What is a RACE DAY?
A: Race Days is a day where the track and facilitys operate a sceduled competition event, compsed of a practice session and 2 races for a specific CLASS that both finishes count torward an overall finishing position. SEE Groups and Terminoligy for more information on the classes and lingo.
Q: What do I need to race?
A: We suggest you attend a race day as a spectator and watch the program and attend an Open Ride date before your first race, after that you need:
1. Everyting you need for Open Rides. 2. An American Motorcycleist Assoc (AMA) Membership. and AMA District 14 (D14) Membership. Both memberships are available at the track on race days. 3. A class to race in (see groups and terminoligy)
Groups and Terminoligy
Q: What are CLASSES
A: Motocross Practices and Races are devided up into different groups called classes, split according to Motorcycl;e engine size, then Age of the rider, then Skill levels
General Age Ranges
50cc 4-8 Years old
65cc 7-11 Years old
85cc 7-15 Years old
105cc 14-16 Years old
125cc-Open cc 14 Years old - 70 Years old
General Skill Range meanings
Youth Beginner Classes - Is any Class under 16 for New or unexperianced riders, your class may race on the youth track depending on engine size.
D Class - 125cc-Open cc 14 years old and up is An absolute Beginner skill level, you will not be aloud to jump any jumps whatsoever.
C Class- 125cc-Open cc 14 years old and up. A beginner group, you allowed to jump all the jumps, but most riders do not.
B Class- 125cc-Open cc 14 years old and up. A Intermediate skill group for experianced riders. These riders jump all the jumps and are just one step away from an expert.
A Class- 125cc-Open cc 14 years old and up. The Expert skill level riders. The fastest and most experianced you will see at the track.
General Terminoligy-
- Arm-pump: A symptom from a rider gripping too hard causing the forearms muscles to get hard restricting bloodflow.
- Berm: A berm is the built up outside edge of a corner on the track.
- Braking Bumps: Just before corners, riders have created small bumps from continually braking.
- Came Up Short: When an obstacle is not completely cleared.
- CC: Cubic centimeters, refering to the bike size.
- Class: The 'groups' riders are seperated into and are based on the age of the rider, bike size or skill level.
- Disqualification: When a rider is removed from the competition.
- DNF: Did not finish.
- DNS: Did not start.
- Double jump: One large jump made of two smaller ones.
- The Gate: Is the starting gate for each race.
- Hardpack: When a track is dry and hard.
- Holeshot: The rider that makes it around the first turn of the race before anyone else.
- Lap: One full ride around the track.
- Line: This is the ideal course that you pick around the track to try and improve your times.
- Pile up: More then one bike involved in a crash.
- Roost: The mud or dirt flung in the air when spinning the rear wheel.
- Rut: An 'dug out' line in the track due to continuous riding.
- Step-down: A type of jump that appears like a step down.
- Step-up: A type of jump that appears like a step up.
- Table top: A jump with a flat top.
- Tear-offs: Several thin clear plastic lenses on top of one another that can be peeled back one at a time while riding to get rid of mud flicked onto your goggles easily.
- Wheelie: When you accelerate to raise the front wheel of the bike.
- Whip: A technique where a rider manouveres the bike flat horizontally in the air and then brings it back up for the landing.
- Whoops: Section of the track consisting of more than 10 small jumps in a row that require good timing.
FLAGS
- Red Flag: Indicates the race has been stopped.
- Yellow Flag: Indicates danger and the rider should proceed with caution.
- White Flag: Indicates that medical personnel are attending to a fallen rider.
- Green Flag: Indicates that it is all clear.
- Blue flag: Indicates that a rider is about to lap you.
- Black and white chequered flag: Finish of heat / race
Frequent Questions
Q: Can I (or my child) ride any bike at an open ride?
A: YES, although you should follow the age guidelines for racing, if you are older or younger than the raceing guidelines you can still participate on the Open Rides in the appropriate skill class, however bikes bigger than 16" front 14"rear will NOT be allowed on the PEE-WEE track.
Q: Can I Ride more than 1 Open Ride Class?
A: YES, However only if you Ride a Mini Bike (65-105cc) and a Big Bike (125-500cc). On the Big Bike you can only ride the Open AB or Open C Class. Examples: Mini and Open C OR Mini and Open AB