Why did you quit Racing Motocross?

For me it was always an attempt to make to the pro level. When l was in my early twenties it was clear l wasn't going to get all the way there. Since there was no longer a reason to pursue racing every weekend l pulled way back. I also blew out my knee three times in quick succession.

I kept racing on and off for a couple years and finally got sick of spending a good chunk of money for a few laps of practice and two four lap motos during a fourteen hour day.

So l quit riding for eight years, surfed my ass off and then came back to riding as a pro practice type guy. I've done a few GPs for kicks but for me racing has no meaning or use in my life.

I started at 10 yrs old and quit at 31 yrs old as I chose to invest in flying helicopters. By then I was educated... for every 5 yrs of riding I would suffer a bad injury. Broke a femur, countless colorbones, knees done in...guys getting paralyzed made me pull the plug. Also it had become a expensive hobby.

To this day, as I write this, I want to ride but the cost verses reward dont add up. As it is my body is fucked. I live on pain killers. Yes, I'm a responsible addict.

It's always been ride time vs $. I ride an occasional MX Modern/vintage MX but to pay $40 sit around all day waiting for your moto on a track that consists of do or die obstacles against riders that make that their home track is a waste of good riding time. That's why I do enduros/harescambles 95% of my racing time. You get to RIDE for hours for the same dollar and not on some burned out dust pit track. Oh and say what you want but MX people don't compare to the woods family environment. But it is fun to show up to a MX track on a woods bike and still beat some of the "home town" boyz.

In 2013 I raced my last 30+B race. If I recall correctly, I broke my scapula in a few pieces, had a 18 month old son, and a daughter on the way. My priorities just sort of shifted towards working more/harder, being a dad and husband. Ultimately resulting in selling my 450, and just taking a break to focus on my family.

I'm actually at the point now to start riding some practice motos on my restored 04 YZ125 at the local MX spot with my son on his PW50 this coming weekend. I've ridden a handful of times since 2013, but would like to get out and ride more than a handful of times this summer. The thought of racing is there, but we'll see about all that. One thing I see locally is that guys go away, but they also come back to the sport we love.

Family, mortgage, job. Why race for a 3 dollar trophy to prove how fast I am in the local 35+ class. It is no more fun than a day of practice anyhow. I can ride (practice) at my comfort level and for longer periods of time for less $$$. as opposed to a day of racing. Makes absolutely no logical sense to me.

For me, it pretty much an echo of everything said here already. I still ride for fun, ride trails, do some off road trips, etc.

The biggest single factor though was the "race vs. ride" ratio tipping heavily towards riding:

1) tired of prepping, packing and traveling and expense for the 10-12 laps (maybe) I was going to get at a race, and that includes practice with a bunch of nuts out on the track with me!
2) for the same effort above, I could go ride trails all day with some friends and have an absolute blast
3) at a race, I feel like I must compete and give it my all (including taking risks). Riding with friends is zero pressure and good fun and memories.
4) needing to show up to work on Monday morning to support a family

I'm 50 and have been racing since age 9... I realize my opinion is all age based, but despite still loving and following the sport, it also just doesn't seem like the same sport I grew up with anymore.
In short- I guess I'm finally an old fart now!! LoL!!

Rode 4 times a week and raced on the weekends for 4 years- got my Pro card in 1977, raced the Winter-Am series in Florida, qualifed for a couple of Nationals, was riding good and hoping I could keep on the same lap as the Hurricane, Smith, LaPorte and the other top guys at the time, THEN....... a high speed crash in High Points first turn. Got up on my knees and got hit square in the back by a guy that was in 4th gear tapped that got caught under the gate-- broke all the ribs on my right side,shredded my lung with the broken bones. 35 days later I got out of the hospital ,4 months later doing a Pro night race at a fairground, and during the first lap jumped down out of the stadium onto an unlit downhill. A not so bright young lady decided to run across the track while I was in mid-air and of course I blasted her as I landed. Broke all the ribs on my LEFT side this time and broke a wrist. (she was in MUCH worse shape,unfortunately) But after I healed over the winter, I decided that I wasn't the same no-fear rider that I used to be and pretty much left Moto entirely. Met my wife to-be 6 months after I "retired" and began real life. Fast forward 30+ years and my wife and daughter got me convinced to start riding again. Started building bikes about 4 years ago, now have 22 perfectly restored Vintage Mx'ers from my era 77-82. Started racing Vintage MX --COMPLETE BLAST !!! No 100' gaps to huck and great competition and just waaaaay too much fun !! Also got 2 modern bikes that I race Woods/Cross country in the Senior class and get some quality seat time. Odd thing is, I couldn't stand woods riding back in the day and would make fun of the Woods racers back then,lol. Now I think its fun as hell !! So the moral of the story is, yes I quit because of the fairly major injuries I sustained, but after a 35 year hiatus ,I'm back 110% just in a little different area of the sport !!

My name is Jere and I'm a moto addict. I subscribe and watch SX and MX live every Sat. Do a fantasy league.
Health has me delayed.....not really quiting. Raced in the 70's and family had a Maico shop. Of course I quit between injuries sometimes for years. 2008 Cancer caught me. Nine years of treatments,clinical trials, etc and now getting some clean scans. I did compete twice after diagnosis but lost all strength and stamina after first year of Chemo. I'm 61 and rode last weekend for first time in 4 months? Had a BLAST and will continue as my health permits. My goal is to race again...Just don't mention this to my Drs. #keepmotoing

Have a fantasy of racing a few times this summer-miss it. Have been a practice day rider for the last few years, having raced once each of the last three years. Would like to try again despite all of what has been said-expensive, long days at the track, far to go etc, ad nauseam.......a +50 class has been added to our local scene, which perks my interest at getting on the line again. Have the goal of going to the Cdn Vet National at Antler Lake this August-heard nothing but good things about it but figured I should get a few gate drops first! I'm really hoping to ride more often this summer. I'm on the clock for how much longer I can actually ride, at 56. Kinds of scares me-like there will be an end to this hobby for me sooner than later. Known it my whole life and not ready to just let it go. I'm in pretty good shape and can still everything I want to do but we all know how that getting older, while a privilege, still does dictate your activity level as the years pile up. I mean I would love to ride till I'm in my 70's but staying healthy and strong is the key ingredient to this whole dealio.

If I do end up racing, I'm not going to stress about the day or the cost-I'm going to go, enjoy it, watch the fast guys, watch the up and comers, smell it all, and allow myself to get good and properly nervous and try to remember how to race. Still nothing like it that I have come across since my first race in 1975.

Quit and started a couple of times. Raced from 4 years old till about 11 and moved away from riding areas. Also got into stick and ball sports throughout school. Got hurt playing football and decided to go to the Southwick national one year and was hooked again. Saved my money and got a bike raced and started racing again. Ended up doing most of the amateur national and racing all over the country. Got to the point with college and work where I ether had money and no time or time and no money so I ended up selling everything. This past summer a friend had an extra bike and asked me to go to the track with them. Ended up winning my first race back after 10 years of not riding. Then it was well you are in the points lead you need to race the rest of the season. So now I am hooked again.

Getting old, injuries, too much risk for my career and career too needed for retirement. Miss it though. I think I am also shit scared to jump modern jumps

2 young kids, one with her own hobbies dancing and gymnastics which take up time, and the other is only 1 so a lot of time spent with those. Hoping our youngest daughter has an interest in bikes as I’m on my own with that one in our house. Probably rode 6 times last year, not got the time to dedicate to racing at the moment, self employed as well so can’t take any unecessary risks due to not being paid if I’m off with an injury. I guess it’s a pretty normal story for people in their mid 30s! No plans to get rid of the bike though as on the occasions I actually get to the track it reminds me how much I still love it and wonder why I don’t get out more!

My opinion for jax fl, around 2007-2010 the races were an event, good turnout good sponsors and the kids were a good age. Then....Promoters got into tiffs, tracks separated into different series. Kids getting too serious, started highschool varisty sports and just could not compete with the training camp kids from mtf at gatorback. Goldcup etc
..college came next, jobs etc....best part son and i still ride when we can and hit mtbing when time permits, our 2nd year to whistler coming this jun.

Mx racing was great, is great for kids from 5 - 17, after that real life starts. Maybe my dream is LL in the plus 60 class, but figure all the ol pros will still be rippin

Never just not as often . Raced alot of other stuff and other hobbies. I ride as much as ever.

Broke my ribs Saturday, got a cold Saturday night and being self employed, went to work Monday.

Wasn't the first time I walked into the office with broken bones and no time off, but it was the last.

Went road racing instead.

To the guys who are talking about racing for a $3 trophy or a series jacket, is that really why you raced? I've never understood that view, to me it was always about challenging myself and seeing how well I could perform. Whether it was for first or fifteenth it was all about the battle.

I’m not as good as my right hand thinks I am can’t afford another injury!

Fused t1-t6...? miss it but thankful i lived and walked away.

Way too expensive and tracks dissapearing at alarming rate..

Too much hastle for 3x20min races. Now race hare & hound + compete in a few trials over winter when the ground is frozen. Still have MX bikes but just practice days now for me.

Both ACL's and an MCL... All before they had any idea how to fix them. Now? Double knee replacement needed in the next 2-3 years. Never had a $$ issue, bikes were coming from MFG's and shops. Had a helmet deal with Simpson. Pretty much just had to pay to get to races. Back then, it wasn't that tough... Could race every weekend at multiple tracks within 150 miles.

I didn’t quit i retired. Sounds better that way.
Reason i retired is I couldn’t work out what 2t oil to use or weather to use pump gas or race gas or a mixture. Another reason is i never got comfortable with tyre selection i tried all sorts of recommendations.
In the end i had no room for my bike as my “race” shop was just a storage facility.

Mine had more to do with life responsibilities, my career does not allow me to work when injured, now that I have kids and other people who depend on me to be working it was a no brainer and for the better. I still enjoy riding I miss MX a lot, I don’t get to ride as often as I would like to but my bike still puts a smile on my face!

Sponsors cut back on bikes. Paid for my own for a while but lost interest.

Sponsors cut back on bikes. Paid for my own for a while but lost interest.

Concussion prone these days. 5A Texas football and motocross was the double whammy on the old skull.

I can not help but push myself, it is in my blood, and in due time will wad my shit (always when I am tired, end of the day -- not knowing when to call it).

I still ride but quit racing for a number of reasons:
-More dangerous
-To much time commitment
-Way more expensive
-Committed to riding even when weather is rubbish and you don’t really want to
-Never really enjoyed the pressure of racing
-I ride better and have more fun while practicing
-The race tracks on our local racing scene are not as good as the practice tracks - the jumps are lame

I am amazed at how many say injuries are the reason they quit. I have been pretty lucky in that category. but for the many guys I have rode with, only a few I rode with ever quit cause of the injuries..

That's not generally the reason...