What You Need to Know About Racing ATVs

ATV racing, a cousin of traditional motocross racing, is a challenging motor sport. The sport tests participants physically and mentally. The speed, agility, grace and power of ATV racing has helped it become one of the fastest growing motocross sports today. Whether you are curious about ATV racing from a spectator's perspective or if you are looking to get into the sport as a participant, there are several things you should know.

  1. The Basic Idea

    • ATV racing is similar to other forms of off-road motocross racing. ATVs, also known as quads, are separated into racing classes based on several factors: rider age, rider ability, ATV engine size and, sometimes, gender. Quads line up at the starting gate, and once the gates go down it's a race to complete a certain number of laps on a one-way, closed motocross course. The race course typically contains features such as jumps, fast straights, banking and hairpin turns, tabletops and a rhythm section, also known as a whoops section. Some courses are geared toward the technical aspects of riding, and might have obstacles for riders to navigate over and around, such as rock sections, logs, rough terrain and forest conditions. Other courses are built for speed. An ATV race day consists of a sign-in, short practice session and multiple race heats, called motos. Racers try to win the day by scoring the most points during the motos. Some tracks offer race series, where several races are tabulated together and overall winners in race class divisions are recognized. Other tracks participate in a race circuit, where racers travel to tracks on the circuit in a multitrack series.

    The Physical Effect

    • Riding an ATV in competition is like riding a bucking bronco that's fueled by a rocket engine. An ATV racer is constantly leaning to maintain control over the machine. Every muscle is in motion as the rider gauges the terrain and goes through the constant cycle of scan, process and adjust. Recent studies by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Sports Performance Complex confirmed that professional motocross racers, in a comparative study, tested highest in overall fitness. MX racing is an incredibly physically demanding sport, requiring a tremendous amount of balance, strength, agility, flexibility and control.

    The Stereotypes

    • ATV racing is a newcomer in motocross sports. Some bikers feel ATV riders have it easy, that they're essentially "flying couches" compared with the nimbleness required to control a MX bike.

    The Fear

    • Fear is real element in ATV racing. You are on the edge of control of several hundred pounds of metal and plastic, floating through the air over huge gaping jumps, sliding gracefully through tight corners, screaming down a straightaway surrounded by a pack of other quads thundering all around you. All of the safety gear in the world doesn't matter the first time your hands come off the grips and you free-fall through the air with the dirt coming up at you. As with any motor sport, ATV racing has its share of danger and potential for pain.

    The Mental Game

    • Like any other sport, ATV racing presents mental challenges. Visualizing yourself crossing the line in front and in one piece is essential before each race, and many racers, like athletes in other sports, will find that they develop their own set of strategies to conquer the self-doubt and fear that come with participating in an extreme sport.

    THE BENEFITS

    • It's common for whole families to become involved in the sport, from pit and support crew, to full families of racers, and the family-oriented aspect of motocross racing as a whole can be a very positive experience for both parents and kids.