BMX Discipline
Racing
BMX racing is a sprint for up to eight riders on a dirt track with a start gate, jumps and berms, governed by the UCI and an Olympic sport since 2008.
Updated 5 min read1,106 words
BMX racing is a sprint race in which up to eight riders start together from a gate at the top of a hill and race one lap of a dirt or asphalt track with jumps, rollers and banked turns. The first across the line wins. It is the original form of BMX, it is governed internationally by the UCI, and it has been an Olympic sport since 2008.
What it is
A BMX race lasts between 30 and 45 seconds. Riders line up in eight lanes behind a mechanical start gate that drops on a recorded cadence. The start is the most important part of the race: the rider who reaches the first corner in front usually wins. From there the track runs through straights of jumps and rollers, linked by berms (banked corners), to a finish line 300 to 400 metres from the gate.
Riders race in classes defined by age and sex, with separate classes for 20 inch and 24 inch cruiser bikes. A typical race day runs motos (heats), then quarter finals, semi finals and a final for each class. Points accumulate across a season for national and world rankings.
The elite level is run by the UCI, the international cycling federation, through the UCI BMX World Championships, a World Cup series and the Olympic Games. Below that, national bodies run domestic series and clubs run local racing most weekends.
Racing is where BMX began. The origins of BMX lie in early 1970s Southern California, where kids raced modified bikes on dirt tracks in imitation of motocross. Every other discipline, including dirt jumping and the entire freestyle family, grew out of racing.
Where it is ridden
Racing happens on purpose-built tracks, almost always run by a club. A track has:
- A start hill, which at the elite level can be eight metres high with a steep ramp
- A mechanical gate with lights and audio cadence
- Three or four straights of jumps, rollers, doubles and step-ups
- Two or three berms
- A finish straight and timing system
Tracks are found in most countries with a cycling culture. The United States has the largest number. France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Australia, Colombia, Latvia and Switzerland have all produced world and Olympic champions. Australia has a dense network of club tracks, and racing has been the strongest part of Australian BMX for decades. See BMX in Australia.
Supercross tracks, used for World Cup and Olympic racing, are larger and faster than club tracks, with bigger jumps and higher start hills. Most national training centres now have one.
Typical bike setup
Race bikes share the 20 inch wheel and general shape of freestyle bikes but are built for one purpose: getting to the first corner first.
| Part | Typical choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Aluminium or carbon fibre, 20.5 to 21.75 inch top tube (adult), sized by rider height | Light and stiff for acceleration; long for stability at speed, see frame geometry |
| Wheel size | 20 inch (standard) or 24 inch (cruiser) | Cruiser classes use the larger wheel |
| Rims | 20 x 1.50 or 1.75 inch, alloy, 36 or 28 spoke | Narrower and lighter than freestyle rims, see rims |
| Tyres | 1.5 to 1.95 inch, low tread, 60 to 110 psi | Fast rolling on hard-packed dirt, see tyres |
| Brakes | Rear V-brake or disc | Required by rules; used for corners and the start, see brakes |
| Rear hub | Cassette with high engagement | Instant power transfer out of the gate |
| Gearing | Around 44 tooth with 16 tooth cog, or equivalent | Tall gearing for speed; tuned to the track and rider |
| Cranks | Alloy or carbon, 170 to 180 mm, with clipless pedals | Clipless pedals let the rider pull as well as push |
| Pegs | None | Not permitted and not useful |
| Weight | 7 to 9 kg | Every gram matters in a 35 second sprint |
Brands with deep racing roots include Redline, GT, Mongoose, Haro and Profile Racing, which has made BMX cranks and hubs since the late 1970s.
Key tricks and skills
Racing has no tricks in the freestyle sense. The skills are physical and tactical:
- Gate start: balancing in the gate, reacting to the cadence and driving the first three pedal strokes. Elite riders practise starts for hours every week.
- Sprinting: raw power in the first straight decides most races.
- Manualling: the manual is used to roll rollers and doubles without leaving the ground, which is faster than jumping.
- Jumping: knowing when to jump, when to manual and when to pump. See pump.
- Cornering: carrying speed through berms, choosing a high or low line and protecting position.
- Passing: setting up a pass in a corner or over a jump without contact.
- Fitness: racing demands anaerobic power, and elite riders train like track sprinters.
Freestyle tricks are not part of racing, although some racers do a tabletop or no-hander over the last jump when they have a clear lead.
Culture and media
Racing culture is family based and club based. Children start as young as four or five on balance bikes, and it is common for parents, siblings and grandparents to race on the same day. Volunteers run the gates, the canteen and the timing. The culture is closer to junior athletics than to the skate-influenced world of freestyle.
The elite side is a professional sport. Olympic inclusion in 2008 brought national funding, coaching programmes and purpose-built training centres. Latvia's Maris Strombergs won the first two Olympic men's titles in 2008 and 2012. Australia's Sam Willoughby won silver in 2012 and two world titles. See Olympic BMX racing.
Racing and freestyle drifted apart in the 1980s and now have separate media, brands and governing structures. Racing coverage lives on broadcast cycling channels and the UCI's own streams rather than in web edits. The two sides share history and, at the grass roots, often share the same bike shops and the same kids.
How to get started
- Find the nearest club track. Most run a come and try day or beginner coaching.
- Borrow or hire a bike for the first few sessions. Clubs often have loan bikes.
- Get a full-face helmet, long sleeves, long pants and gloves. These are required to race.
- Learn to balance in the gate and pedal out hard. Everything else follows.
- Race a club night. Beginners are grouped by age and experience.
- When you buy a bike, size it by height using the club's or shop's chart. See what size BMX bike do I need.
Racing is one of the safest ways into BMX because it is supervised, structured and age graded. See how to start riding BMX.
Related
Frequently asked questions about Racing
How is BMX racing different from freestyle?
Racing is a timed sprint against other riders on a track, with a winner decided by finishing position. Freestyle is judged on tricks. The bikes look similar but race bikes are lighter, longer, have a rear brake and are not built for grinds or spins.
When did BMX racing join the Olympics?
BMX racing made its Olympic debut at the Beijing 2008 Games with men's and women's events. It has been held at every Summer Olympics since.
What is a cruiser class?
Cruiser classes race on 24 inch wheel bikes rather than the standard 20 inch. They are popular with older riders and run alongside 20 inch classes at most events.
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