Why did you Quit Racing Motocross

Dirtbikeracer
Edited Date/Time 1/30/2022 12:35pm
I asked this question on Facebook and Got 250 responses
In one day,
(The question is obviously for those that did quit)
I was surprised by the number of responses, so I'll ask again here.
1. The Number 1 response by a landslide was Injuries!
2. Number 2 Cost
3. Tracks closing/ lack of nearby places to ride.
some others were all my friends quit, or nobody to ride with.
and several complaints about the amount of classes and track time, also lots have switched to off road.

Why did you quit racing motocross?

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crowe660
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crowe660 9/15/2021 10:36am
9/15/2021 10:36am
Sitting around all day for 2 10 min moto’s after doing away with split program
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Press516
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Press516 9/15/2021 10:37am
9/15/2021 10:37am
Yep... Both ACL's gone. When I tore them, there were no corrective surgeries available. So just rehab, and a forever loose knee. Recovery after the first wasn't bad in '79, I worked hard and had my best year in '81. After the second one in '82, the recovery was much worse and never got back to where I was and ended racing at the end of '83. In line for double knee replacements next year.
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predel323
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predel323 9/15/2021 10:38am
9/15/2021 10:38am
Too much waiting around- not enough riding time. Switched to off road and never looked back. Don’t regret it for a second.
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The Shop

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motomike137
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motomike137 9/15/2021 10:41am
9/15/2021 10:41am
Fear of injury, cost, age, my body can no longer cash the checks my brain tries to write while riding Wink
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crowe660
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crowe660 9/15/2021 10:43am
9/15/2021 10:43am
predel323 wrote:
Too much waiting around- not enough riding time. Switched to off road and never looked back. Don’t regret it for a second.
I did harescramble’s for a bunch of years, and they were perfect. My only issue was setting up my bike for woods. I looooove moto. Ideally you’d have a bike for both, but that was never an option for me. Ultimately, I chose local practice tracks were the best way to get my fix.

But, man, I loved harescrambles. They we’re brutal.
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ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 9/15/2021 10:53am
9/15/2021 10:53am Edited Date/Time 9/15/2021 10:54am
Not into getting big air . Too many man made obstacles today . I was only an occasional racer but I don't see lining up again unless it's a true grass track .
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Dirtbikeracer 9/15/2021 10:55am
9/15/2021 10:55am Edited Date/Time 9/15/2021 10:57am
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Not into getting big air . Too many man made obstacles today . I was only an occasional racer but I don't see lining up again...
Not into getting big air . Too many man made obstacles today . I was only an occasional racer but I don't see lining up again unless it's a true grass track .
I forgot that one but that was actually a popular response also, a lot of people Said they wish to have more natural terrain tracks.
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nd54
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nd54 9/15/2021 10:59am
9/15/2021 10:59am
To much time sitting around waiting for your moto's/super long day. Having to ride multiple classes to get some actually time on the track. Switched to practice days for the moto fix and mtn biking for the exercise and stress relief. Now my son is riding but I won't be pushing racing on him. I can do other hobbies with him that eat up less time of my already busy schedule.
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motofool
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motofool 9/15/2021 11:00am
9/15/2021 11:00am
I still ride (rarely) but this will be year 2 I haven't been behind a gate. Back injury from a crash at 14 that left me with compressed disks and nerve damage with numbness, now 27 and it makes the days after miserable. I also can't afford to get hurt with my job. I only ride a 450 and I hate always being near then end of the schedule. Riding the track when it's shit at the end of the day is never that fun. Multiple reasons but I will always have a bike and go out a few times a year.
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onewheelwheaties 9/15/2021 11:05am
9/15/2021 11:05am
Cost/College were why I stopped the first time; sitting around all day or dropping a lot of money to race two or three classes was why I stopped the second time. I miss MX racing but off-road is such a better value to me, plus I can still hit the practice track any time I need a fix.
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msp332
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msp332 9/15/2021 11:16am
9/15/2021 11:16am
Overall time, cost, effort, and trouble it takes just get to the line.
My life is not scheduled to be able to ride/race that often. And that makes it even harder to be competitive.
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Rickyisms
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Rickyisms 9/15/2021 11:17am
9/15/2021 11:17am
Time. I wanted to try and enjoy my high school years without worrying about racing. I had just had a pretty scary crash where I was knocked out and couldn't feel my legs for a little bit, scared the ever living shit out of 16 year old me.

3 months later I realized people in high school are dicks and my friends I grew up racing with were way more cool to kick it with. Graduated high school and never saw or heard from any of those people again, but me and my friends are camping and riding this weekend Smile
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Motox726!
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Motox726! 9/15/2021 11:19am
9/15/2021 11:19am
Actually battling with this right now. Few friends that i did ride and race with quit recently and i just haven't felt like riding. Probably the first time in my life that i haven't had the "itch", but im scared that once i sell my bikes - it will come back. Just getting started restoring a 1996 CR125 and thinking once its done and i get to ride it, my love may be re-sparked..... If not, i will sell the 450 and the 125 will be on the garage wall forever...... Also, being 40 - it takes way longer to heal and i don't have anything to prove anymore. Sending big booters used to be a rush and now i think twice.....
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colintrax
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colintrax 9/15/2021 11:35am
9/15/2021 11:35am
Odd timing lol just sold the dirt bike a week ago for an ADV bike. Too sick to moto so slow cruising on the street is the next best thing.
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TW85
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TW85 9/15/2021 11:37am
9/15/2021 11:37am
I haven't raced mx since 2019. Got sick of seeing my friends getting hurt and sometimes hurt bad. A guy in one of my races passed away and I think I raced once after that. That's the main reason. Just behind that is the jumps getting too big/peaked out and the amount of time invested getting to the races etc just to sit around for 4 10-15 minute motos.

I ride trails 3-4 times a week now. I miss racing mx a little and will probably hop into a couple of races in the future but I can't see myself trying to hit every race of the season again. Miss the bench racing and bs'ing at the track quite a bit.
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FlaNard
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FlaNard 9/15/2021 12:42pm
9/15/2021 12:42pm Edited Date/Time 9/15/2021 12:43pm
Started a family and all of my friends moved to different parts of the country and sold their bikes. So it became less fun with that concern of hurting myself with a young family and riding by myself isn’t my favorite. Plus, unless I can ride multiple times a week it’s almost more frustrating than it’s worth. I’d either end up riding out of control because I tried to ride like I used to when I’d ride a lot or I’d get frustrated because I’d have to back it down to stay safe since I wasn’t as sharp. Ideally unless I’m riding at least three times a week I’ma hazard to myself. Laughing
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RCMXracing
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RCMXracing 9/15/2021 12:49pm
9/15/2021 12:49pm
Haven’t quit racing, but doing last full series now. Big commitment (when the series has a lot of rounds) and lots of sitting around with too many classes.
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Darrin Willis
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Darrin Willis 9/15/2021 12:59pm
9/15/2021 12:59pm
Quit in 88 at 19 . Girls. Drugs. Booze. Started again at 35. 53 now. Harescrambles and moto. Usually for moto I race 3 classes before intermission and go home. Sometimes 4 classes. Expensive but fun.
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Timo
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Timo 9/15/2021 1:02pm
9/15/2021 1:02pm
Hare Scrambles and Enduro's are much better bang for your buck than MX.
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Dude Abides
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Dude Abides 9/15/2021 1:08pm
9/15/2021 1:08pm
Smoking Hot Wife....chicks dig scars but they also enjoy a big fat.....wallet.
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suzukiread240
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suzukiread240 9/15/2021 1:12pm
9/15/2021 1:12pm
I hit my head a few to many times. I have quit riding big bikes all together. I do have a pit bike that I ride with my kids, but I want to present for them growing up. I was never told to quit riding but I got scared that my next concussion would keep me from being the Dad that I want to be.
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DrinkMoreWater 9/15/2021 1:16pm
9/15/2021 1:16pm
Dad wasn't really interested he kinda let me give up after a poor race I had when i first first on 80s.

He claims he was scared for me when I was riding...
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alphado
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alphado 9/15/2021 1:22pm
9/15/2021 1:22pm
Too old and beaten up, still try to ride a few times a year.
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Falcon
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Falcon 9/15/2021 1:38pm
9/15/2021 1:38pm
I quit for a few years when I went to college, then got back into it afterward. I got much faster when I was spending my own money and wanted to have something to show for my efforts. It kind of faded away when my kids were born but now they are older and riding, I started up again. I'll probably never fully quit.
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500 Mike
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500 Mike 9/15/2021 1:38pm
9/15/2021 1:38pm
I got too old and out of shape. It became too much of a PITA to load up, go ride and be sore as hell for the next 2-3 days. Stressful job, kids, etc. didn't help. I still follow the races every week and check in here multiple times per day so I keep up with the sport. If I lived somewhere where I could ride straight out of my garage onto some sweet trails, I'd probably still have a bike but that isn't in the cards for me at this stage of life.
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Zycki11
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Zycki11 9/15/2021 1:45pm
9/15/2021 1:45pm
Motox726! wrote:
Actually battling with this right now. Few friends that i did ride and race with quit recently and i just haven't felt like riding. Probably the...
Actually battling with this right now. Few friends that i did ride and race with quit recently and i just haven't felt like riding. Probably the first time in my life that i haven't had the "itch", but im scared that once i sell my bikes - it will come back. Just getting started restoring a 1996 CR125 and thinking once its done and i get to ride it, my love may be re-sparked..... If not, i will sell the 450 and the 125 will be on the garage wall forever...... Also, being 40 - it takes way longer to heal and i don't have anything to prove anymore. Sending big booters used to be a rush and now i think twice.....
I had that same issue. All of my moto buddies were fun to ride with. We had all skills from pro supercross down to the out of shape beer drinking, chain clacking friends. Most of us were +25A to +30A when it was said and done. Eventually one by one it slowed to just one or two of us at a time when we were 9 deep.

Then, I started going with just the lady. It became super fun again and relaxed. Took the pups, worked on the things I wanted to work on. Felt like I could focus more and started to enjoy riding more than ever.
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EnvyMedia 9/15/2021 1:49pm
9/15/2021 1:49pm
No time to train during the week so I can’t go on for a full moto (25+1) anymore
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