Motocross

Motocross is a fast, physically demanding and visually spectacular racing discipline. It's an intense and exciting sport that can see anything from a few friends bangin' bars at a practice facility to 40 competition-hardened professionals lining up for a big money race or, in MX jargon, moto...

Motocross races are held on an enclosed, marked and fenced circuit that combines the terrain's natural features such as hills and cambers with man-made jumps to create spectacular and physically challenging circuits. On a typical MX track you'll find all manner of elements including fast straights, sharp climbs and drops, big jumps, technical corner sections and rough n' bumpy bits.

Motocross is a highly specialised sport so it makes sense that MX machines are also highly specialised. Bikes have a sharp, powerful motor to get the acceleration and high speeds needed to race competitively - and powerful disc brakes to cope with the rapid changes of speed called for.

The tyres have an aggressive 'knobbly' profile to get traction on the terrain, which can range from deep sand through to almost concrete-hard clay. There is also long travel, heavy-duty suspension to deal with the big jumps.

Bikes range in size and engine capacity from 50cc children's automatic machines right up to fire-breathing 500cc-plus monsters. With a large number of 50cc kiddie bikes available from a wide range of manufacturers, youngsters can start riding a motocross bike and get an introduction to off-road motorcycling pretty much as soon as they can ride a push bike.

But junior riders have to wait until they're six before they are allowed to compete with officially-sanctioned youth racing organisations. They can then progress through age and engine capacity restricted classes on 65cc, 85cc and 125cc machines until they're old enough to enter into adult competition. Some youth organisations also run classes for adults so dad - and sometimes even mum - can get in on the action.