Motorcycling Australia's Guide to Ride
It's with great pleasure that Motorcycling Australia takes the opportunity to inform readers of JUST BIKES on how to go racing in the different disciplines of motorcycling sport across this great country. If you're looking to get involved in motorcycle sport in Australia, the "Guide to Ride" will give you the low-down on what's required. Keep a look out for this page every month for the latest installment - and get the knowledge you need to get involved in competitive riding!
For more specific enquiries and further information, you can always visit our website: www.ma.org.au
Quad Motocross
The four-wheeled cousin of the motorcycle has found its place in Motorcycle Sport in the form of Quad Racing. From some fairly humble beginnings, Quad Racing has emerged as an exciting discipline where quads of various capacities now compete on Motocross tracks, Dirt Tracks, and Enduro loops. With all the thrills and spills of Motocross, and the added excitement of four wheels, Quad Motocross, in particular, has grown in popularity and since 2006 has been an official MA sanctioned Australian Championship event.
There are four Senior and four Junior Australian Quad Motocross Championship classes: Riders competing in Quad Motocross must wear protective clothing as per the General Competition Rules pertaining to Motocross and Supercross. This protective clothing includes an approved helmet, clothing that provides protection against abrasion to the body and arms, boots that cover at least ¾ of the length of the lower leg, gloves, and all riders must begin the race wearing goggles or a similar form of eye protection. In addition to the above, Junior competitors must wear commercially manufactured body armour - soft roost protection is not acceptable.
Quad Motocross machines must be rear wheel drive, contain a seat for one person, have a self closing throttle and an engine cut-out switch of lanyard type attached to the body of the rider. Mudguards must be fitted over both the front and rear wheels, number plates must be mounted centrally at the front and rear of the machine and no competitor may compete unless wearing a machine identification number on their back in contrasting colours and meeting the minimum size requirements listed in the 2009 Manual of Motorcycle Sport.
As with Motocross, Quad Motocross begins with a mass start, however, a maximum of 20 machines may line up. Competitors will then complete laps of a Motocross circuit for either a set amount of time or for a set number of laps with the first competitor to cross the finish declared the winner of that race.
The 2009 Australian Quad Motocross Championship will be held at the Monarto Motocross Track at Murray Bridge, South Australia, on 18-20 September. Entries close on 31 August and in addition to the eight Senior and Junior Championship classes, the event will also play host to six support classes. In 2008 Ryan Lancaster took out the Men's Pro Open title, ahead of Chris Brenton and Chad McKay, while Patrisha Bartley took the honours in the Women's Pro Open class ahead of Donna Newman and Roxanne Peterson. In order to participate in Quad Motocross, riders must have a Motorcycling Australia (MA) Competition License. To get this you will need to join an affiliated club and your SCB will have lists of these. If you would like more information on these clubs, simply get in touch with your SCB.
