General Rules For Racing

For complete list of NBL Rules click here

1. No one except riders officially entered in the race may ride or practice on any portion of the track.

2. Each rider must be ready when his class or moto number is called. NOTE: each rider should be in staging at least 10 motos early. Example: If you are in Moto 41 you should be in staging by Moto 31.

3. When a rider does not show for his moto the first time he/she will be scored with a "CR" which stands for credit and is comparable to last place in the moto plus two (2) points. A "Did Not Start" -(CR) applies to transfers only. Any rider not starting more than one race will not be eligible to transfer. Also, a rider’s position may not be filled by another rider to ride as his/her representative.

4. The race referee is the final authority at any meet.

5.The race referee has the right to exclude any participant from the meet if it is in the best interest and safety to the other participants or the spectators. There will be no poor sportsmanship, foul language, drugs or alcohol.

6. A rider may push his bike when it crosses the finish line.

7. Any rider, who did not complete a moto, will receive points corresponding to the total number of riders entered in his moto. A rider must have started the moto in order to receive a (DNF) did not finish.

8. Any rider leaving the course must re-enter at the nearest safe point, but in re-entering the course he may not cut the course so as to improve his position or interfere with another riders.

9. Gate positions for the first three motos are on the moto sheets. Gate positions for the semis and mains will be drawn by cards in the staging area.

10. It is the rider’s responsibility to be on the gate when his race number is called and in his assigned or drawn gate position.

11. Neither riders nor parents are permitted to talk to the scorekeepers. Protests involving contact with another rider on the course must be communicated orally to a race official at the finish line immediately following the conclusion of the race in which the contact is asserted to have taken place. A rider wishing to file such a protest must raise his hand and remain in the designated area at the finish until he is recognized by the appropriate official.

RIDING TIPS

If you are new on the track, you’ll probably make a few mistakes. Don’t worry about it. Just use these general guidelines to help you avoid some of the most common errors.

DON'T GET SCARED. If this is your first race, you’ll probably feel like you’re not too sure about what you’re doing. You might think everyone has a better bike than yours. You might have a hundred other doubts too. But relax. Remember that everybody else in your moto will be a beginner, too. You’re all in the same boat.

GATE START. The basic one-pedal start is all you need to know to get going. Put your bike straight in the gate; set your pedals so that your starting pedal (strongest) is a little above level. Lean back a little and watch the lights. When the green light comes on, throw your weight forward and push down on the pedal. Give a medium-hard first pedal, a real hard second pedal and you’re off.

TRY NOT TO GET CARRIED AWAY, Just because Johnny Expert is jumping the whoops on the last straight doesn’t mean you have to try them. Don’t push yourself beyond your capabilities. Take it easy and don’t go over your head (literally).

PEDAL ALL YOU CAN. Coast only in places where pedaling will cause you to lose control, like in a drop off or on the tight curves where you might tip far enough over to let a pedal snag on the ground.

KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE PEDALS. If you lift them off for any reason you will spend valuable time getting them back on again.

USE YOUR BRAKES AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE but be sure to use them enough to stay in control of your bike. Taking the lead won’t matter much if you wipe out later and let everyone else pass.

DON’T DO ANY TRICKS. One fancy wheelie could cost you your lead.

RACE THE WHOLE TRACK. If you are in first you want to stay there. Even if you are second, third or last, keep trying. Lead riders have been known to lose a pedal, have their chain come off, get squirrelly and lose control. The race isn’t over until you cross the finish line.

DON’T GET DISCOURAGED the first few times out. In fact, don’t get discouraged at all! BMX is just for fun. If you win, great, if you don’t, no big deal. Every ride out there is a learning process.

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