BMX stands for “Bicycle moto cross”. BMX races are held on dirt tracks of around 350 metres, including jumps, banked corners and other obstacles. Eight riders of the same age category and skill level compete head-to head in each heat, with the top four qualifying for the next round. Races are approximately 30-40 seconds in length and riders race three heats or motos heats per event (qualifying rounds, quarter finals, semi-finals) to qualify for the main event (finals), assuming there is more than eight riders in the corresponding class.
BMX racing is a type of off-road bicycle racing. The format of BMX was derived from motocross racing. BMX bicycle races are sprint races on purpose-built off-road single-lap race tracks. The track usually consists of a starting gate for up to eight racers, a groomed, serpentine, dirt race course made of various jumps and rollers and a finish line. The course is usually flat, about 15-foot (4.6 m) wide and has large banked corners that help the riders maintain speed. The sport of BMX racing is facilitated by a number of regional and international sanctioning bodies. They provide rules for governing the conduct of the races, specify age group and skill-level classifications among the racers, and maintain some kind of points-accumulation system over the racing season. The sport is very family oriented and largely participant-driven, with riders ranging in age from 3 to 60, and over. Professional ranks exist for both men and women, where the age ranges from 15 to 40 years old.
A BMX “Class” bike is a strong, quick-handling, lightweight derivative of the standard 20-inch (510 mm)-wheel, single-speed youth bicycle. Variations include a larger 24-inch (610 mm)-wheel “cruiser” class. Cruisers were originally made for adults who couldn’t fit the 20-inch (510 mm)-wheel bikes, but now is raced by all age groups.
While BMX racing is an individual sport, teams are often formed from racers in different classifications for camaraderie and often for business exposure of a sponsoring organization or company. BMX racing rewards strength, quickness, and bike handling. Many successful BMX racers have gone on to leverage their skills in other forms of bicycle and motorcycle competitions.
There are all types of BMX jumps, ranging from small rollers to massive step-up doubles. There are pro straights which are for junior and elite men. They are all doubles which range from about 6 m to 12 m, while “Class” straights have more flow and have many more range of jumps.
BMX racing became a medal sport at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing under the UCI sanctioning body.
