WHAT IS BMX?

The sport of BMX racing is more formally known as Bicycle Motocross, a self-propelled pedal sport, where individual riders race in groups of up to 8, in singular laps, around a specially designed track as they compete with the goal of getting to the finish, fastest. BMX Racing has the exciting elements of an ‘extreme’ sport, yet it is safe and challenging for everyone.

A BMX race is compiled of a series of 3 “motos” or separate race laps and could also include a “main” race depending on the number of athletes registered in your group on race night. Striders will have 2 motos, and race a portion of the track.

Starting from a pneumatic starting gate, motos are run with 3-8 riders of the same gender/ability/age (as of December 31st of current racing year). Where this is not possible, blended groups are created using the SCA BMX Race Regulations.

If there are more than 8, but less than 17 riders registered in a group, there will be a “main”. A main is the final race in a series of qualifying heats (motos).  How you place in the main is your finishing position for that race day.  Typically, a main will consist of the top 8 riders from the qualifying heats. If there are 9 riders registered in a group, only 7 will advance to the main. If there are 17, but less than 24 riders there will be a semi final, then a main. If there are 24 riders, but less than 32 there will be a quarter final, semi, and a main. And so on. Typically, at Warman BMX, on the odd night, there are mains, but not usually semis or quarters.

The winner of the moto is the racer who crosses the finish line first. Athletes compete in at least 3 motos in a single race, and they’re ranked by accumulated points awarded based on how they finished in each of the 3 motos. Point values are awarded for each moto in the following structure:

·       1st place: 1 pt

·       2nd place: 2 pts

·       3rd place: 3 pts

·       4th place: 4 pts

·       5th place: 5 pts

·       6th place: 6 pts

·       7th place: 7 pts

·       8th place: 8 pts

Least amount of points tallied up after the three motos gets first place, second least amount of points gets second place and so on. Getting a win that goes towards ability upgrade involves a Race Day Win (RDW), which is a 1st place finish overall in your race group that day, NOT individual moto wins. After you get enough for an upgrade you will race with riders in your new ability class. 

RDW’s determine when a rider upgrades to the next ability class. When riders upgrade, a new license will be issued by SCA. Parents/riders should be keeping track of RDW’s and informing the club of an upgrade. RDW’s do not expire, so you do not need to acquire all of them to upgrade in one season. RDW’s can be accumulated at district races and provincial races. A rider who achieves a RDW at a provincial race will be awarded with 2 wins. Print your RDW tracker here.

 Ability Class Upgrades (Male):
Novice to Intermediate: 10 Wins (Rider’s wins will reset to 0 after an upgrade has been issued)
Intermediate to Expert: 20 Wins

Novice to Expert: 15 Wins (This will apply to 30-39 and 40+ Male 20” categories only)

 Ability Class Upgrades (Female):
Novice to Expert: 20 Wins