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The sport of motocross is the extreme of the "X"treme. It's not for the faint of heart, the short of cash or the lazy slug afraid to feel a little pain. Motocross is a hardcore sport for the dedicated adrenaline junky.
Motocross is an off-road style of motorcycle racing that is conducted on a closed dirt track consisting of jumps, berms (banked turns), whoop sections and steep hills.
Racers start from a standstill in a lineup of around 20 riders. The start is one of the most exciting parts of the race. Clutches are in and throttles are open as the starter holds a board that counts down the last seconds until start. The starter steps aside, a green light blazes, the gate drops and every bike jumps from the starting line hoping to come into the first turn with the elusive hole shot, ahead of the pack. Getting caught in the middle of the pack can mean bumping other riders and going down. Many races start with an ugly pileup on the first turn.
As riders work their way around the track they must remain strong and on top of their game. Dirt bikes weigh around 250 pounds and must be wrestled around the bumpy, rutted track. The number of laps taken varies based on class (determined by age or ability level), but tiring before the allotted number can mean injury or a poor finish.
Motocross originated in Europe in the early 20th century, and didn't find a home in the United States until the 60s. Primarily an outdoor sport, motocross went indoors in 1972 when Mike Goodwin created a coliseum event that he called the "superbowl of motocross." The name was shortened to "Supercross," which now thrives as a professional tour that travels to cities across the nation. Another popular spin-off of motocross is freestyle motocross. Mike Metzger first showcased the jaw-dropping edge of motocross in the Crusty Demons of Dirt videos, performing insane stunts that take motocross to the next level. The crowd-pleasing event is judged on freestyle technique as riders try to one-up each other over enormous jumps with tricks like saran wraps, kisses of death and back flips.
Motocross can be an expensive sport, especially if done competitively. A new dirt bike costs several thousand dollars, and that's just the beginning. Motocross requires full protective gear including steel-toed boots, head-to-toe protection and a certified helmet. Dirt bikes require constant maintenance and the necessary parts are generally not cheap. Transportation is an issue (most bikes are not street legal), so a truck or trailer is necessary. Races charge entry fees and often there are charges just to practice on a course. Don't forget about gas, oil and travel fees. Last, but not least, it wouldn't be a bad idea to put away some extra money for the inevitable injuries that the sport so willingly doles out.
Though motocross is dominated by young males, there is virtually no age or gender limit. There is a growing contingent of females in the sport, and since it is often a sport enjoyed by families, there are many different age classes involved.
If you'd like to see a motocross event first hand, the International Freestyle Motocross Association comes to Denver this Friday, February 25th. The Pepsi Center doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets start at $20.
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