What is BMX?     The sport of bicycle motocross began in the early 1970’s in southern California. A handful of riders started riding their stingray type bikes off road in vacant lots and fields. Today the sport of bicycle motocross is sweeping the country and the world. There are over a 150,000 riders of all ages racing in organized races at permanent tracks across America. BMX racing is clean, exciting fun that whole families can get involved in whether as a racer, spectator, pit crew or track volunteer. BMX has something to offer everyone. Races are organized according to age group and skill levels, so everyone gets the opportunity to compete on a fair and competitive basis. Even beginning riders have the chance to race safely with other new riders. All riders compete for awards and ABA points. The ABA points system determines a riders annual ranking within that riders district. Points are published in the BMXer magazine which each rider receives monthly There a rider can check and compare his or her point standings with other riders in their own district and across the country.

Who can race?   Races are organized into separate girls and boys classes then subdivided into age groups and skill levels. The age groups range from 5 and under to 51 and over classes. Within these age groups are three skill levels: Novice, Intermediate and Expert. All riders start as novice and work up to the more advanced levels by winning races.

What kind of Bike do I need?  BMX racing does not require a lot of expensive equipment. Most racers start with their 20" street bike by removing the chain guard and kickstand and putting some inexpensive padding on the frame, handle bar and stem.

What other equipment do I need?   First, a helmet is required, and the ABA recommends one with face protection. You will also need to wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, enclosed shoes and a number plate for your bike.

How much does it cost?   Click on Rider's Fees .

How do I get started?   Once you have all the equipment, one of the first thins you'll want to do when you arrive at the track is to head toward "sign-ups".  Your local track operator will help you with any questions you may have to get you signed up to race if you have not already used our email sign up form.  As a first time racer you'll need to acquire an ABA membership which track personnel will help you with or use our email ABA sign up form.  Once your paperwork is taken car of it's time to hit the track.  Take your time and get used to the track at your own speed.  Memorize what obstacles are on the track and experiment on how to take them the fastest and the smoothest.  Watching the older experienced riders is one of the best ways of learning how to improve your racing techniques.  Right before the race begins the track operator will post motos.  Moto sheets show you which race everyone is in and who they will race against.  The sheets will also inform you of what "lane" you will have on the starting gate.  When looking at the "Moto Sheets", find your name and make sure you are entered in the right age group and classification.  Also, locate what "Moto Number"  you are in and memorize it (it helps to write your moto number on your hand so you don't forget it).  Ready to race?  Be sure you get to the staging area ahead of time so you don't miss your first race.  Staging is located to the right of the starting gate and they will have someone calling out motos in numerical order.  When the stager calls your mot number (your race), go up to the starting gate with the other riders in your race and when it's time to get on the gate, hop in the starting lane assigned to you.  The moment of truth is here.  You are propped up in the starting gate with up to seven riders of your same age and skill level.  You are ready for your first ever BMX race.  The gate is about to fall and from here, it's all up to you.  Good Luck! 

How do I earn a low district number?   One of the greatest rewards for a BMX racer, besides winning trophies, is the honor of running a low number on his or her number plate.  Riders who become "ABA District No. 1" at the end of the year have earned the privilege of running that big No. 1 on their plate the following year by accumulating the most rider points in their District.  That number, whether it's 200 or the ultimate No. 1, becomes that rider's and that rider's only.  No one else can run that number.

How do I earn points?  Just check out the chart below. 

What is the "Race for Life"?   It all started in 1981 when avid 12 year old BMX racer from Michigan discovered he had Leukemia.  Todd Kingsbury was his name, and like many BMXers, he had dreams of someday becoming a top pro in the sport.  Unfortunately, this dreaded disease would keep Todd from fulfilling his dream.  When Todd's friends and the ABA learned of his diagnosis, it was decided that an organized effort should be made to help in Todd's "Race for Life."  The first ABA "Race for Life" events were formed that year, with over 130 tracks participating and raising funds for the Leukemia Society.  Ever since, the ABA has held a series of Double Point "Race for Life" events nationwide to help in the fight to find a cure for Leukemia.  There are awards given to top fund raisers which include shirts, jackets and trips to the ABA Grandnationals of BMX.  Of course, the best reward of all is the good feeling of helping others with Leukemia.

What are the State Championships?   The ABA offers several levels of competition:  local, state, district, regional and national.  One of the first steps up this competition ladder is the ABA "State Championship Series".  In this series of races, riders have the opportunity to participate in multi-point races at BMX tracks all over their state.  By building up points from their best finishes, riders ultimately race for the prestigious title of "State Champion" in each age category.  Every track in your state will hold a "State Championship Race" (SCR for short), and the series culminates at the State Championship Finals (held at the track which brings in the most new memberships).  with enough points and top finishes from the State Championship Races, topped off with a great finish at eh State Finals, You could become an ABA State Champion and receive the custom ABA award.

What are the ABA Track Rules? 

1. The race director shall have complete control of all officials, scorers and riders. The race director’s decisions are final, and he/she may rule on a situation not covered by the ABA Rules. Any ruling made by any director that is not covered in this ABA rulebook must be submitted in writing immediately to the ABA.
2. There shall be one head official on the track at all times. The head official’s decisions regarding disputes on the track will be final.
3. There shall be enough assistant officials so as to conduct the race in a safe manner.
4. All disputes will be taken to the head official who will discuss the matter with the official in whose area the dispute occurred.
5. The stager shall be the person calling the racers to their motos. He/she has complete charge of the staging area and starting hill.
6. There shall be a starter whose job it will be to start and police that start for each race. The starter’s commencement of each race shall be official and can only be changed by the race director.
7. There shall be a head scorer located at the finish line along with enough assistant scorers necessary to accurately call race finishes. All of the head scorer’s decisions regarding finishes and scoring will be final.
8. All ABA sanctioned tracks will have a starting gate wide enough to maintain 8 riders. The gate must be run in a safe manner and placed so as to be fairest to all riders.
9. All ABA sanctioned races must have awards of some type available; Trophies, ribbons, plaques or ABA Saver Stamps are recommended but cash is not allowed except for Pros only.
10. Novice, intermediate and expert awards must be of the same kind and size.
11. Tracks shall not accept Saver Stamps as payment for entry fees or membership fees.
12. Any track running an event for points only with no awards available will have its ABA sanction suspended.
13. Any increase in race fees for multi-point events must be proportionally comparable to the increase in trophy size or worth of other awards.
14. The ABA will issue an authorization card for all multi-point events to be posted in a conspicuous place. Riders: If you do not see this card, ask for it as any earned points at an unapproved multi-point race will not be issued.
15. The ABA strongly recommends that first aid personnel be available at every event. Every track must at least have a first aid kit on the premises at every event.

1. The race director may modify a rule to meet local track conditions but only to make the event safer. Any modifications must be fair for all riders. These modifications must be made known to all participants prior to any event through P.A. announcements or printed materials.
2. The race director may not modify any rules pertaining to the ABA points system or advancement except as referred to in rule 1 above.
3. Once a race has begun, meaning the first gate of the first round of motos has dropped, that race may be postponed by the track director due to inclement weather or other extreme circumstances. The track director’s decision will be final.
4. Motosheets of a postponed race may not be altered. No sign-ups will be added, nor any refunds given.
5. The use of any drugs, stimulants or intoxicants are prohibited unless they are prescribed by a licensed physician.
6. No betting or soliciting bets is permitted at any ABA sanctioned race.
7. Only riders who are officially registered for the day’s competition or practice, having provided proper ABA membership proof, may ride on the track.
8. No rider shall, at any time, ride in an unsafe manner as to endanger other riders, officials or spectators.
9. Only authorized persons are allowed on the track. Any violation of this rule could result in a disqualification of that rider or that person’s rider.
10. The use of any two-way radio assistance for any rider on the track is strictly prohibited.
11. A rider may be disqualified or suspended for the actions of his/her parent(s), guardian(s), sponsor(s) or pit crew.
12. A rider may be disqualified for team riding - letting another rider of the same team affiliation pass, so as to affect the overall outcome of any race.
13. A rider may be suspended up to one year for damaging, stealing or destroying public or private property such as hotels, motels or arenas. (Parents, this is your responsibility, also.)
14. Any rider found misrepresenting his/her age will lose their ABA membership for one full year.
15. Any rider competing in place of another rider shall receive a one year suspension along with the rider he/she has replaced.
16. Any rider knowingly racing out of class shall receive no less than a 3 month suspension.
17. All classes must meet minimum class requirements to be legal.
18. Any rider not responding to the call of his/her name or number has one minute to get to the stager.
19. Any rider in the gate having difficulties, not ready to race or questioning another rider’s lane position can only put that race on hold by putting his/her front wheel over the gate. The action must only take place before the starting cadence begins.
20. Riders must take the lane assigned to them in each race. Any rider found in the wrong lane upon another rider’s protest may be DQed and removed from the gate for that race.
21. The only riders that may be assisted at the starting gate are those 5 years old and under. This assistance shall only include the rear wheel being placed between the assistants legs. No hands may be used to prop the rider up and any push offs will result in the rider’s disqualification.
22. All riders must have their wheel against the gate when the starter begins the starting cadence.
23. Once the starter begins the cadence, that race is considered underway and the cadence may not be discontinued.
24. A rider’s wheel may not break the plane of the gate until the gate is released.
25. Three riders down before the crest of the first obstacle constitutes a restart. The "crest" shall be defined as the top of the front most part of any jump.
26. During the course of a race, should a rider leave the track as a direct result of contact with another rider, that rider must re-enter the track at the nearest point that is safe to all riders, without improving his/her position. (A rider re-entering the track in a improved position may delay him/her self to the last place position and then continue racing from there.)
27. Any rider deliberately forcing another rider off the track may be disqualified.
28. Should a rider leave the track purely on his/her own accord, that rider must make sure NO obstacles have been missed before returning to the track in a safe manner. (Hay bales, cones, chalk lines or other markers signifying the inside of a turn are also considered obstacles.)
29. The lead rider can take any line available on the track. (This relates to any rider ahead of any other—2^nd place ahead of 3^rd, 5^th ahead of 6^th, etc.) Strategy plays a big part in the sport of BMX and moving into the line of another rider is a strategic and legal move. However, if the lead rider looks back and intentionally moves over so as to directly interfere with another rider, that can be considered a foul and may result in disqualification.
30. Any rider the victim to an officially recognized foul will NOT be given the placement he/she was currently in when the foul occurred. The only exception is if the infraction took place on the final straight between the last obstacle and the finish line. That rider would then be awarded the placement he/she was currently in before the infraction.
31. A rider must finish the race on the same bicycle that he/she started the race on.
32. A rider may push or pull his/her bicycle across the finish line to be scored. However, that rider must be touching his/her bicycle when crossing the line.
33. Any rider whose bicycle becomes entangled with another bicycle must separate the bicycles before continuing the race.
34. Any rider having a protest about a particular race must present his/her case to the head official within 5 races after the race in question. After this time frame, a protest may not be lodged.
35. Officials will have the authority to call fouls and levee disqualifications without the need for a protest being lodged by any rider.
36. Officials look for the intention of any circumstance on the track. Situations deemed under malicious intent may result in disqualification for the weekend or longer.
37. Any race that is directly interfered with by a race official will be rerun. The validity of any official interference will be determined by the head official who’s decision will be final.
38. Important—It is the responsibility of each rider and that rider’s pit crew, ie. parents, guardian or sponsor, to be in the staging area when necessary and be prepared to race. The track and its crew will not be held accountable for any adverse rider situation not directly affected by an official.

How do I Qualify for the Main Event?

The ABA recommends the use of the qualifying system as outlined, however it is not mandatory. A track operator may use any system which fits the track’s locality or which caters to the style that track’s riders are accustomed to. When the ABA qualifying system is not to be used, that track operator must submit to the ABA a detailed description of the system to be used. Upon approval by the ABA Competition Committee, that different system may be initiated.

1. Once a rider qualifies for a semi or the main event, he/she does not race again until that time. Doing so may result in disqualification.
2. When the ABA qualifying system is used, only a class of nine riders shall have its third moto combined.
3. At any event where there are more than 300 riders, the track director may, at his/her discretion, limit the race to two qualifying motos and enter into the semis and mains.
4. When the two-moto system is used at local events, the number of riders normally qualified in the third round would be added to and qualified out of the second round.
5. At national events, the ABA will limit qualifying to two rounds when the moto count reaches 150 for the day. Each of the two qualifying rounds will transfer no less than 2 riders at a time.
6. The World Cup and the Grandnationals will both be exempt of the 150/2 qualifying rounds rule.

The ABA qualifying system is a very unique way of qualifying riders from the motos to the main events at each race. This system is the fairest to the rider and the easiest for the parent or spectator to understand. The system involves each entire set of motos being run three times to qualify riders to quarter-mains, semi-mains or directly to main events depending on the number of riders competing. The following are examples of how the qualifying works and are all based on an eight rider gate: (When riders are refered to as qualified, it means they have transferred out of their moto and into the next applicable race. These riders will not race the remaining qualifying motos, if any remain.)

Class of three or fewer riders—1 group:
First round Olympic (total points)
Second round Olympic (total points)
Third round Olympic (total points)—No main event.
(The third round can be run in the third round of qualifying motos or in the main events.)

Class of four riders—1 group:
First round—first place rider qualifies.
Second round—first place rider qualifies.
Third round—first place rider qualifies.
One rider does not qualify and a three rider main event is run.

Class of five riders—1 group:
First round—first place rider qualifies.
Second round—first place rider qualifies.
Third round—first and second place riders qualify.
One rider does not qualify and a four rider main event is run.

Class of six riders—1 group:
First round—first place rider qualifies.
Second round—first and second place riders qualify.
Third round—first and second place riders qualify.
One rider does not qualify and a five rider main event is run.

Class of seven riders—1 group:
First round—first and second place riders qualify.
Second round—first and second place riders qualify.
Third round—first and second place riders qualify.
One rider does not qualify and a six rider main event is run.

Class of eight riders—1 group:
First round—first and second place riders qualify.
Second round—first and second place riders qualify.
Third round—first, second and third place riders qualify.
One rider does not qualify and a seven rider main event is run.

 Class of nine riders—2 groups:

First group will contain 5 riders while second group will have 4.
First round—qualify first place rider out of each group.
Second round—qualify first place rider out of each group.
Third round—combine remaining riders and qualify the first four riders.

One rider does not qualify and a eight rider main event is run.

 Class of ten riders—2 groups:

Two groups containing 5 riders each. (If an additional rider is added, that rider will always go into the first group.)
First round—qualify first place rider out of each group.
Second round—qualify first place rider out of each group.
Third round—qualify 2 riders out of each group.
Two riders do not qualify and a eight rider main event is run.

 Three groups in a class:
First round—qualify first place rider out of each group.
Second round—qualify first place rider out of each group.
Third round—qualify first and second place riders out of each group.
Total of 12 riders are qualified, making up 2 semi-mains containing 6 riders each.
Semi-main—qualify the first four riders out of each semi to main event.
Eight rider main event.

Four groups in a class:
First, second and third rounds—qualify the first place rider from each group.
Total of 12 riders are qualified, making up 2 semi-mains containing 6 riders each.
Semi-main—qualify the first four riders out of each semi to main event.
Eight rider main event.

Five groups in a class:
First, second and third rounds—qualify the first place rider from each group

Total of 15 riders are qualified, making up 2 semi-mains containing 7 & 8 riders respectively.

Semi-main—qualify the first four riders out of each semi to main event.

Eight rider main event.

The breakdown for qualifying for up to 17 groups in one class is available upon request.

What are the Gold Cup Championship Rules?

1. There will be final Gold Cup Championships East, West and Central with a specified number of Gold Cup Qualifiers in each region.
2. Riders receive eligibility to race at their respective regional final event by qualifying to their main event at any Gold Cup Qualifier in any region. This includes Canadian riders.
3. Each qualifier shall be a triple district points event.
4. Each final event shall be a quadruple district points event.
5. The Gold Cup Final events will be held in the later part of the year as announced by the ABA.
6. The winner of each class at each regional Gold Cup Final event will be awarded a special #1 number plate which may be run for the following year.
7. Any rider qualifying in any class is eligible to race all classes at the final—class, cruiser and open.

Glossary of Terms

A Pro—preparatory Pro level.

AA Pro—highest level of Professional competition.

bonus points—district points available at national events from quarter, semi and main events.

classification—skill level at which a rider competes.

Cruiser—any bicycle with at least 24" wheel diameters.

disqualify—to officially move a rider to last as a result of any rule infraction.

district—geographic region where riders reside and compete locally for ranking.

district points—earned at all ABA races with the purpose of ranking riders in each district.

earned number—the ranking within a given class and/or district at the end of the points season.

entry fee—paid to register for any ABA sanctioned race.

Expert—highest level of amateur competition.

finish points—district or national points earned for respective finishes in any main event.

foul—any flagrant or malicious move during competition resulting in a disqualification.

Girl Cruiser—girl racers competing on cruiser bicycles.

Grandnationals—Finale to the national series held every year on Thanksgiving weekend.

helmet—important item necessary for head protection.

Intermediate—skill level for riders with limited experience and ability.

lane—position 1 thru 8 on the starting gate.

local race—any single points race at any ABA sanctioned track.

main event—final class race, after all qualifying has taken place, to determine class placing.

membership receipt—returned portion of a membership form providing proof of membership.

moto—a). one complete round of qualifiers. b). any rider’s specific race.

moto number—number corresponding with any specific race (moto).

moto sheet—paperwork displaying the day’s races in moto number order.

moto board—where the moto sheets are posted for viewing by the racers.

multi-point race—any race offering more than single district points.

national age group standing—national points ranking by a specific age only.

national event—any race offering national points.

national points—earned at nationals towards national rankings in age and overall categories.

Novice—new rider to the sport.

Novice Girl—new female rider to the sport.

number plate—displays riders earned or temporary number for identification purposes.

one hundred percent payback—all entry fee money paid back to the Pro class as prize money.

Olympic system—Riders compete in all three rounds of competition accumulating points for overall finishes.

Open—non-points class available to any rider regardless of amateur skill level.

out of class—any rider not competing in his/her correct class.

overall national standing—national points ranking of all ages together.

Pro-am open—an open class combining Pro riders and amateurs.

Pro Cruiser—Pro class with riders competing on cruisers.

pro purse—Pro prize money for the day.

protest—complaint lodged with any official regarding an alleged infraction in a specific race.

qualifying system—the method by which riders are transferred from motos into the main event.

quarter main—an additional qualifying race for classes with multiple groups.

reclassification—moving a rider back in classification.

regional director—ABA contact for track operators and agents.

sandbagging—intentionally allowing other rider(s) to pass during a main event so as not to gain wins towards classification advancement.

Saver Stamps—alternative track award having cash value towards items at redemption centers.

semi main—an additional qualifying race for classes with multiple groups. (Follows quarters.)

serial number—located at the bottom left of a membership card and is that riders official ABA identification.

single points race—see local race.

staging area—where motos (races) are called to the starting hill.

starting gate—platformed area with a hinged portion. This is where each race commences.

state points—points earned towards an overall state championship title.

team—any number of riders with a sponsor or title name.

team roster—listing of team members.

team sheet—the official entry and record keeping form for a particular event.

total points race—Olympic system of competition.

two moto transfer system—when the third round of motos is canceled and the number of qualifiers from that round are combined and transferred with those of the second round.

video scoring—a video camera system with review capabilities used strictly as a backup to the official scoring crew.

Top of Page