How much do you know about the different dirt bike racing formats?
In our last post, we introduced the concept of Enduro Racing, but there are other fantastic ways to enjoy competitive dirt biking around Colorado. Today, we’d like to mention those other popular racing leagues such as motocross, supercross, and cross country.
The Most Popular Dirt Bike Racing Types
Motocross - This could be the most well-known dirt bike racing program, which you’ve probably seen on sports television at one point or another. It involves manmade dirt biking tracks, often with lots of hills, difficult curves, and sharp turns. Participants would compete on courses that are about a one to three miles long. Sessions could last about 15 to 30 minutes, and the outdoor racing conditions can vary depending on climate conditions, contributing to either dry terrains or muddy and messy adventures.
Supercross - Supercross is the more spectator-oriented version of Motocross since it often takes place in stadiums or even indoor arenas. These tracks can meander around a lot (like Motocross), but viewers can see everything from any advantage point. Supercross races also feature some incredibly spectacular jumps, going over 30 feet high, before traveling dozens of feet across the air.
Cross Country (XC) - Sometimes, this is called “Hare Scrambles,” and features some of the more difficult outdoor terrain, including desert areas. XC races aren’t for the faint of heart because the terrain is often unpredictable with everything from rocks and tree roots to water crossings and steep ascents. An XC circuit also features a lengthy course, where riders will attempt to complete as many times within an hour or two.
Enduro Racing - These are the long races, which could span for dozens of miles. Much like a NASCAR racing format, the Enduro races normally include checkpoints for refueling. Like XC or Hare races, different cohorts of racers will begin at various times to spread folks for safer racing. Most of these involve timekeeping goals and stipulations, and newer leagues feature “sprinting” elements.
Vintage Racing - Here, you can enjoy races with older bikes, provided they’re in decent, road-worthy condition. In most places, vintage is defined as anything built prior to 1999. Therefore, it’s a great opportunity for folks who don’t want to spend lots of money on newer dirt bike models and parts.
Those are the most common formats for dirt bike racing, which you’ll encounter in Colorado, and throughout other parts of the country. There are many derivatives of these typical types, so feel free to explore these concepts further.
If you’d like to learn more about racing leagues, then you’re in the right place with Colorado DirtBike Info. We’re the Centennial State’s top resource for racing, training, and trail networks.
Contact us today to discover more about dirt bike racing or anything else we offer.
