Motocross Racing - Killer Bees

Killer Bees

The Agressive Sport Of Motocross Racing

by Lindsey Smith

Publication Date: May 1998

Try to relax and picture yourself in a fielda field with hills about eight feet tall. In the background there is the slight sound of a swarm of bees. Ahhh...nature, you think to yourself. The noise gets louder and louder. Then before you know it, the swarm is just over a hill twenty yards away.

As you jump off the track, you are intrigued by these 'bees'. These bees are all about six feet tall and have no wings. After close examination of the bees, you see they are nothing more than men on some kind of motorcycle.

You haven't lost total interest in the bees though. Last week you saw something on EPN2 about this aggressive sport. It was called motocross. Where can you learn more about this crazy sport, you wonder? That's what I'm here to tell you. Here are some of the facts you need to know about this aggressive sport.

First, this is a sport for all ages and gender. Many motocross riders have started out as young as four or five years of age. The sport is very family oriented, with all members pitching in to help. It's nothing to see several brothers and sisters racing and sometimes competing against each other. There are divisions for various ages and engine size. From kids to adults, the sport has one thing in commonthe will to race as fast as you can and to win.

Visit a race track and you will see a combination of chaos and order mixed together. In the pit area you will see racers, their families, and crew near their gear trailer preparing for the day's event. There are usually two motos (races) per rider for each class. Outdoor races usually begin in the morning and end by dark, depending on the number of race participants. Before a moto you will see people scrambling around making last minute adjustments to their bikes or discussing how they plan to run the next race. During a race you can see a fury of bikes and riders battling for the coveted first place. The final standings or points are listed at the end of the race day.

Most racers compete for a trophy and some races have prize money. Some racers race on a circuit for points. At the end of the race year, their points are averaged up and they are ranked. The object being to rank higher than the other racers, and hopefully get recognized by a sponsor or team - and sometime turn professional.

Like every sport, there are professional racing teams too. A pro team consists of maybe three to four racers, each with their own personal mechanic. Their job is to take care of the racer's bikes and support the racers mentally.

Some teams have a semi truck that carries their bikes and equipment. This only happens if you're lucky enough to get on a racing team. This truck costs nearly $500,000.

A person that pays for all their equipment, motorcycles and mechanics is called a privateer. This is a person who has no contract with a racing team. There is also a team of privateers, but much of the financial burden is still put on the racers themselves. A good example of a privateer is Larry Ward.

Of course this can get quite expensive, traveling across the country can cost more than most can afford. Not to mention that a brand new bike can cost about $8,000. When you add modifications, the total cost of the bike is near $15,000 to $20,000. Getting on a racing team is nearly impossible - you have to be like Michael Jordan to make a team, which nearly eliminates 99.9% of all racers.

My favorite professional racer is Jeff Emig. For about three years, he was second best to a guy name McGrath. McGrath set a record for most consecutive wins, at fourteen wins in a row.

Then one faithful day McGrath hurt his leg in an accident and Emig then took over the number one plate. He's been number one since he won the Supercross Motocross and National 250cc division.

Now I bet you're thinking this sounds pretty cool, but how can I do this? You have to be strong, mentally and physically. A guy who loses 90% of the time makes himself lose mentally. Confidence may be the number one cause of losing in any sport.

If you're scared of getting hurt or aren't strong enough, then you may want to try a different sport. If you can't get a 125cc bike off you in the middle of a race, you could get run over. Ouch, that would hurt! Before you go out and buy a $2,500 bike, you need to consider this.

To race you must have several items: First, a motorcycle - preferably a bike with a motor of 125 or 350 cubic centimeters. These are quick - some of them can go up to 85 miles-per-hour. A good bike can cost from $1,500 up to $3,000 used. Usually you can find these in a classified ad section of local newspapers or you can buy new bikes at a motorcycle dealership.

Safety equipment is required and can cost an additional $500 or more. You must have a helmet, racing pants, gloves, boots, jersey and chest protector to race on an organized motocross track.

Where can you race? Most county fairgrounds have races once or twice a year. There are various motocross tracks in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. A great place to find info on motocross is the Internet. There are thousands of web pages and sites to look for.

Typically there are about 20 to 40 racers per race, so you need to fill out an application sheet quickly. Since motocross races are planned weeks before the events are held, weather conditions are going to be questionable and unpredictable. Whether you're a racer or spectator, bringing rain gear is absolutely necessary since races are usually run in all types of weather.

If you do buy a bike and plan on racing - be careful. I saw a racer break his back after jumping four stories in the air. This sport is an awesome one, but injuries happen quite often. It is only recommended to someone who wants to win and is willing to take a chance on injuries.

Maybe I'll see you on the track someday.