Local Scene in New Mexico

Sorry to disappoint more but Sandia Mx is Moriarty Mx. There was previously a MX track at Sandia Speedway (west side abq) which is now just asphalt racing, as well as Moriarty Mx previously being called Sandia Mx is cause for some confusion. Hope you like offroad riding, it’s what’s good out here. There’s also Aztec Mx 3hrs north, public track only prepped for races but shapes up great on race weekend. Nearby La Plata Mx is a well prepped practice track. Instagram/Facebook is necessary to stay up to date with all these tracks, or try to stay up to date on whatever drama is unfolding with the numerous other tracks that aren’t running 

I lived in Albuquerque for 25 years, starting in the mid seventies. Back then motocross was thriving with Volcano Cliffs and The Big Dig. Lots of fast riders came out of that area… Johnson’s and Anderson, to name a few. Sad to hear that things there have changed.

There is a pretty active motorcycle trials club in NM.  Trials is alot harder than many people think.

https://nmta.weebly.com/

Lived there for years, the moto scene is meh, but there are dozens if not hundreds of joker sand tracks out in the desert with some incredible dirt when it rains. Satellite view on google maps helps find them on the north and northwest side of town. WEBE has an okay off road series that uses NM, SE Utah, and SW Colorado. 

I,ve been all ovr the state & only saw 1 track.  Went past the track next to i40 on race day. Maybe 100 riders.  Not so great of a state for Mx. tell the boss you want to transfer to Wi. The local scene is good & it’s cheap to ride. But it’s like winter yet. June the weather is decent tho. 

Webe Racing or RMEC

I got a Vital message from a guy last night and he said he is opening up a track in Deming. I had a lot of good times racing there back in the day. Been out of the state for a loooong time though. The last track I raced in ABQ was called Flyin' High. That was in the late 80s. TorC used to have a fun track in the middle of their roundy round dirt track.

I really miss the free riding desert tracks after rains. OP, you are going to love it.

     The early '70s too were a great time to be here, you could race almost every week with a little driving... Bearcat, Volcano Clifffs, Lee's Park, Kirtland, and later Mesa Park and the Big Dig in Albuquerque, in addition to Santa Fe, Taos, Gallup, El Paso, and best of all, the wonderful track up in the hills between T or C and Elephant Butte.  (I loved Volcano Cliffs too, but hated the Big Dig -- It swallowed my CZ 250 whole, and crapped out a sad sculpture of twisted, broken parts when the throttle stuck precisely where you didn't want that to happen.)  Top riders here then were Gene Durham, Steve Chavez, Mike Ahern...

There is also a public track in Santa fe off the bypass, which is rarely prepped but always open. There is also cycle park outside of Espanola, again never prepped but always open. Tons off single track and desert riding surround albuquerque. 

Albuquerque is a great area for riding. Racing isn’t at its peak anymore but it’s still decent.  The real nice thing about this area is you can ride moto, desert, or mountains within 30 minutes of town.    
Again the racing scene isn’t what it used to be but the people who are running Moriarty are doing a good job.  They have 3 tracks going. The main track, a vetish track to the west and an arenacross track. It’s worth going for your moto fix.   Other tracks will require a few hours of driving.   
Hit me up when you’re in town and I’ll show you some good riding spots out in the desert.   

I just hit up the first round of the WeBe hare scrambles series in Las Vegas, NM last weekend & had a blast. It was my first motorcycle race ever, but it felt like a very chill & laid back, but well organized event. Most of their races are northern  NM & southern CO. 

If you see a #373 yz or kx say hi!   I'm usually at the montessa or Moriarty mx.  Lots of different types of riding depending on what your looking for. 

Learn to love the Dez. From downtown or the university campus you ca be riding some decent desert within 15 mins. As said, 30 mins out gives you big desert, woods/roots/boulders, or moto. Racing moto week in and out won’t be feasible, but you can ride varied terrain any given day. NM is a poor state with a small population but a lot of good riders come out of here because there’s so much access to gnarly ride spots. 

There’s a riding area next to the airport in Albuquerque that has a couple very rough tracks great for training. In Rio Rancho there’s a riding area as well. 

I spent February roaming NM with a camper and dirt bikes. Had a blast. Everyone we met was helpful and genuine (even in some rough areas of ABQ)
 

Rode Montessa right in the city. It’s a free city park (as seen on Better Call Saul), hill climbs, turn tracks, fun little wash area with drops and natural features, sand doubletrack)

Haystack outside Roswell was like a mini Moab with Sandstone features and fun flowy trails. 
 

Camped and hiked the Gila wilderness was amazing with snow and waterfalls. Natural hot springs, ancient cliff dwellings. Really special place. 
 

Can’t wait to come back in the warmer months and explore the northern and higher elevation parts of NM. Enjoy the move! 
 

If anyone has job opportunities there PM me, I’m certified climbing arborist and handy with tools. 

Moriarty MX is Sandia MX.. same track they just use two different names

I did what you said and there were actually 2 of them marked by Google. 

It looks like they built a bunch of streets for subdivisions out there then forgot about it. What happened? 

They get made, ridden until they are so rough they aren't fun to ride anymore, and then we move on to make another track. Sometimes after the tracks rest for a few months or a year they are fun again as the sand gets blown back in and the square edges soften, sometimes not. If you see empty land that is fairly tucked away from public view you can probably make a track on it, not always, but usually. If you see couches and trash dumped out there you can almost certainly make a track on it. 

Being able to just build a track is very different from Texas, where everything is private land and fenced off. I'll never forget the time I rented a bike in Tahoe to trail ride then just found a track in the middle of nowhere. I actually asked a couple of guys if I needed to pay or sign a waiver. They looked at me like I was crazy.  

Perfect description! That's exactly what we were doing here 50 years ago, when there wasn't much development north of Montgomery Blvd.  Little and not-so-little tracks everywhere -- you get thrown off one, just keep riding, there'll be another one five minutes away...

When do you land in Albucrazy? Hit me up when you do, plenty of good stuff to ride. I'm a MX guy at heart, but have been racing a fair bit of Texas Enduros of late. 

What’s wild is you started to learn the handful of track builders in the area and their track style. You would discover a new track somewhere, rip it for a day or two, and know exactly who built it by how it would flow. Some would be fast, sweeping, and open; some would be tight, super technical, very hitchy and you know the exact friend of yours that laid it out. 

Orale 505!

OP, give this gentleman a shout when you get in town. Good dude that will show you the good stuff. 

Just wait til you see all the armed security(some of them look like they are ready to engage at any moment) in the majority of stores...it'll make you appreciate being out and riding away from it all.