When Did Dirt Biking Start?

Dirt biking, also called motocross, is often considered an extreme sport because of the power and speed of the machines, and the potentially dangerous terrain of the courses. The danger has not stopped enthusiasts from making this a popular sport.

  1. Early History

    • The first recorded motocross competition took place in Britain on March 29, 1924. The event, known as the Scrambles, included machines that were little more than regular bikes with small combustion engines attached to the back.

    Growing Popularity

    • Throughout the 1930s, popularity spread, mostly because of production of better competition bikes and more challenging tracks, including obstacles such as jumps. Britain remained the most popular place to find motocross as a sport.

    Effects of World War II

    • The outbreak of World War II in 1939 all but eliminated motocross competition. After the war, dirt biking became an international competition in 1947.

    Coming to America

    • While an unofficial motocross competition took place in New York around the time of the Scrambles, motocross would not receive recognition or a spread in popularity as a sport in America until the 1970s. Technological advances such as better suspensions and water-cooled engines made the sport safer and more exciting.

    Modern Interpretation

    • By the 1990s, official motocross competitions took place across Europe, Asia and North America. Laws have been created to advance bike technology to focus on environmentally friendly machines. Also, variations such as arenacross (indoor racing) and freestyle motocross (including jumps and tricks) have become popular.