Why did you Quit Racing Motocross

To much effort, cost etc...to race, get plenty of track time riding with my grown son on Practice days. At 58 i still get the thrill of riding, even jumping what I can, but racing, dont see the point.

Cost vs benefit. I can go to one of the same tracks on an off-weekend and get 1-1.5 hrs of actual time on the bike. It didn’t make sense to go to the same places on race day to get 20-40 minutes tops, for twice the money (2 classes) while I wait through 25+ motos of “85cc near-sighted 8-10yo left handed right eye dominant beginner” classes.

I will still hit the odd race here and there, just to get that feeling of lining up behind the gate, but it’s usually at a smaller race so crowds are less.

Long days, short motos, outdoor SX tracks, lack of speed in the tracks. I raced a few outdoor events and never looked back at moto. These days I mostly ride dual sport and ADV bikes.

My last MX race was in 94 at Lake Whitey TX. If I could ride tracks like that I might still race moto.

The outdoor Nationals and MXGPs are still my favorite spectator sport.

To let others experience the thrill of victory.

In 3,000 words, this

Too many injuries...and too many times of re-injuring myself by not taking time to heal properly.

Too many classes, too much time waiting to race. Switched to hare scrambles and never looked back, like others have said.

Not enough track time...to much waiting around...tracks to dangerous...all of those things eventually led to empty gates and it just isn't as fun racing 4 or 5 guys...That is what turned me off to moto....

Started racing off road in 2009 (enduro, hare and hound, hare scramble, GP's) and haven't looked back. For around $65 I can get at minimum 2 hours of seat time (usually 3+ hours) and go home. Rather than paying $45-$50/class X 3 to get a 24 laps (with 4 other guys on the line) and not sit around all day waiting for my moto's.

Give me a shorter race day schedule (WAY less classes), longer moto's, on a natural terrain track...and I'd gladly line up for a moto race again...there are days I really miss it...and as much as I've grown to love the unknown, and speeds, and variety of challenges of off road racing...there is NOTHING like a 40 bikes, revs up waiting for that gate to drop...I miss that.

I’m 29 and started back racing after a 7 year break with no bike. I’m having a blast and riding better than ever, I kinda regret quitting racing now.

Not enough seat time for too much money

For 30-40 bucks I can ride about 1-1.5 hours In a day or for 50-55 bucks I can ride for 25 minutes and Possibly get a wooden plaque at the end of the day If i finish in front of the 2-7 other riders on the track with me.

The math is pretty easy.

Yes, I hate getting jumped over by brave young riders.

It's not that bad pain wise. My big fear of racing anymore is the "What ifs" Like what if I knock one of those fake hips out of my pelvis or snap that femur again, how's it going to break with all those screws in there, will it shatter like a fluorescent light bulb ? Then what ? I'm good with camping and trail riding in the desert and dual sporting. I know i could fuck it up doing that too but it's seems safer than coming up short on something or charging into the first corner with 15 other guys. I had a good run. I raced one or two, sometimes 3 times a month for 30 years. (Aside from time off for hip replacements and knee surgeries) I'll be 63 by the time I'm on a bike again. Time to call it. I wanted to be one of those guys in the 80 class but oh well..... Don't always get what you want I'm just glad I'll still be riding, even if it's not racing. This kind of stuff will have to do Shit I'm old as fuck I'm good with it





I'll miss the hanging out and bs'ing more than the racing itself. I still plan on going to otmx races to hang out and bs with old friends. I have friends I've hung out with for 30 years. That was the cool thing about doing most of my racing with the over the hill gang and then later with the oldtimers club. It's the same core group of guys that show up year after year and they feel like family. That part I won't stop doing. Especially camping out at the track before a race. Even if it's just to help out and wave a flag, sweep gates or run the gate or what have you. I'll still be involved I just won't be lining up behind a gate. It sounds relaxing actually, I'll get to hang out and be part of it without the stress of racing lol

Friends quit riding/racing. Now I ride with some of their kids, nice they accept me but not the same

Tracks started doing practice days so I got my fix in 3 or 4 hours rather than a whole day shot for 2 10 minute motos.

Where’s the option where you grew up and parents stop paying for it?
At the end of the day, I would love to still be racing but, now not only do I have to worry about the cost of the up keep for the bike, also injures. It’s hard to make it these days with only one income. So these days I try to go to as many races as possible as a specter and enjoy that way.

I quit racing when I was 25. I was tired of chasing the dream and support dried up and life needed to happen. My parents also sold their track after 20 years and my best friend killed himself. It was a lot all at once so I just stopped one day cold turkey. I occasionally hopped on my dads bike but never more than 1-3 times a year until about two years ago I picked up a gently used FC450 fell in love again. I went and bought a new bike last year and I’ve been back at It ever since.

Now I’m, 38 and I’m planning on racing next year at some OTHG, Mammoth, and Vet Worlds. I also bought my daughters their first bikes last Christmas and next year my oldest daughter is going to start racing her 65.

I regret taking so much time and really wish I didn’t but it did give me a lot of time to realize I missed it and now I’m so pumped to be racing dudes my age and prepping the gate for my daughter. I bought me a peloton and am hunting a race rig for next year. Lots of fun family weekends ahead!

It’s never too late to get back into it!

Several reasons, somewhat in this order:
1. The ratio of overall time invested in it vs the amount of time spent actually riding.
2. I found another hobby (cycling) and once that became my primary, mx was getting in the way of it, as I usually go all in on stuff.
2b. I quit MX at in 2015 at 34. I probably got as fast as i was ever going to be, and at the age in this sport you're only getting slower or perhaps maintain the same level if you work hard. I was at the bottom of the curve in cycling and i saw the potential for improvement way into my 50's. I'm 40 now and I get better every year (granted, not without a ton of work)
3. Injuries, i got a couple of decent ones and did not want to push my luck
3a. The cost and aggravation of injuries. Let's be honest most MXers have that young dumb and full of cum mentality and we can make ourselves forget about how dangerous it is and put the fear in the back of our head when we ride. I was no different, but dealing with the aftermath of injuries whether it's bills or chronic pain is just very stressful.
4. The racing got pretty lame. I loved racing, i would race a shit ton, sometimes 3-4 times a weekend, sometimes twice in the same day at tracks 100 miles apart, weekend after weekend. But when you show up and it's just you or maybe 2-3 other guys, meh what's the point? Too many classes, too short races, too few racers. I didn't mind the waiting all day, we did it back in the early 2000 when turnouts were prime and i was fine with that. But when you give me 4 laps and cut the tracks down to 1:30 laptimes... Come on.

Honestly, if there was more opportunities to ride off road where I live i may still be riding. It would take me way back to the days when i started, but we don't have much of that here.

Time and age!

I’ve been riding mx since my late teens and I’m 25 now. I’ve done 3 races so far within the last year, and it will probably be awhile before I race again. I have a lot going on right now so I can’t risk getting hurt.

But also, the amount of time and money required isn’t worth it right now. To get ample seat time, I’m gonna have to race Open C and 25+. There’s typically only 3-4 people on the 25+ class so that’s no fun to me racing wise, especially because 2 of them are ex A riders.

I find myself up against people who have lots of money and time, and are able to ride/practice all week long while I’m working my day job, and it’s frustrating sometimes because if I had a bunch of money and didn’t have to work all week, I would be that fast too. Sometimes it’s annoying because I feel it’s just a rich mans sport at times these days.

I’d rather spend $25 at the local practice and become a better rider and completely wear myself out. Plus less risk of injury.

Will I race again? Of course, nothing like lining up on that gate, but right now is it worth it for a piece of plastic? Nah.

Driving 3hrs one way for 60 minutes of riding over 5 hours.
50 beg 50 open 65 open 80 open,big bike beg, big bike nov, vet nov
/int, int/pro= 5 laps

I quit when I became self employed. Can’t work if your hurt.

Bingo. I rode/raced while self employed for 12 years, until I had my big one. Not being able to work for six months and then at a limited capacity for the next year or so really put a financial hurting on me. That rearranged my priorities, no more MX for me. Street, woods and MTB going forward.

Had a massive crash, think chadapult lite, in my second last race. It messed me up in my last race. But the other part was moving across the country for work. When i got home, I built another race quad just in time for the series to die.

I finally got back on the gate this year, 6 years between races, 9 years between dirtbike races. Second in my qualifier, 3rd in the final after a first turn pileup. Not bad for a mudder on a 125 against 450s. Nice thing about racing dirtbikes instead of quads is its a lot easier on the body.

From this (injuries suck. Especially when running a business)


To this, and that shit is crazy expensive. All you who says mx is expensive.. shut up 🤣



To this, that's where im at now, enjoying the powerboat life 4 months a year, the other 6? Saving up for fuel😁

I quit to go to university, but I'd also had a couple of big injuries. That was August 1987 and I was racing "Expert" in Canada. I knew at age 18 I would never make money from racing, and the injuries would only continue to get worse. During university I started racing MTBs in the early heydays. After finishing undergrad I started riding some moto again but had a couple of crashes that could have been a lot worse and just decided to step away and focus on bicycles. No regrets, still remain a huge fan of MX and SX.

EDIT: Should have added that I started in 1977, so I had 11 seasons of racing. It was a fun time, life was so damn easy back then, I had 4 decent places to ride within 20 minutes of my house. My parents were really into it as my older brothers had raced and I was the afterthought child, so they had an unexpected opportunity to be in the sport at an easier time for them time-wise. When I think about life for me now, I'd need to drive for at least an hour to ride anything resembling a real track. We don't have kids, but I can't imagine as a parent turning a practice day into 2 hours plus of driving.

1. Cost The price of the new 450s and the parts to maintain them is prohibitive, exhaust systems alone a ridiculously priced
2. The chance of being injured is there as well but not the overall factor
3. I live in Southern California so there’s quite a few tracks at my disposal if I decide to re-enter Racing

Wasting an entire weekend to ride the bike for 45 minutes.

I still love it but I just don't have the desire to spend the time it takes to race on the weekends.