Freestyle motocross is a sport in which participants ride motorcycles through a course equipped with a series of ramps and landing areas. Riders use the ramps to perform jumps and are judged on the quality and difficulty of jumps performed. While motocross riders are allowed to express creativity during competition, there are rules that each participant must follow during a competition.
Course Rules
Motocross courses must meet certain requirements, which are designed with safety in mind. The course must be built on solid, level ground and must be comprised of natural material, such as sand or dirt; use of concrete or pavement is prohibited. Any ramps placed on the course must be made of metal, with the exception of the surface of the ramp; this may be made of wood, provided it has a non-slip surface. Take-off ramps must be between 2.5 and 3.2 meters high and at least 0.8 meters wide. Any landing areas must have a height between 4 and 5 meters, and the table at the top of the landing area must be 1.5 meters long by 2.5 meters wide. The distance between a ramp and a landing area must be between 10 to 28 meters, depending on the angle of the ramp, and there must be a 12-meter run-off zone after each jump.
Motorcycle Rules
Riders are allowed to modify their motorcycles to suit personal preferences, but there are a few rules that each competitor must follow. The number plates, mudguards and radiator covers must all be made of a flexible material; use of carbon composites for these components is prohibited. The side plastics, front and rear mudguards may be cut down, but enough of the rear mudguard must remain to cover the frame of the motorcycle. There may be no sharp edges on the motorcycle, and use of a handlebar protection pad is suggested. Riders may only use unleaded gasoline to fuel their motorcycles.
Competition Rules
Prior to competition, the head judge informs the riders of how much time they will have in their run and the minimum number jumps they must perform. During competition, riders are allowed to jump until the official clock runs down to zero. If the front wheel is touching the start of a ramp or runway board prior to the clock reaching zero, the rider is allowed to complete that jump and have it count for scoring. A panel of five judges will assign each jump a score based on the sequence of the jumps, the variation in types of jumps performed, how well the rider uses the track and each judge's own personal appreciation of the jumps performed. Of the five scores, the highest and lowest are removed and the remaining three are used to determine a final result.
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