New Hotline: 623-388-2424

To get the most out of your racing day, it’s best to arrive earlier rather than later. This gets you a better pit space nearer to the starting line and a chance to walk the track before practice. Once practice is underway, the track and infield are off-limits to racers, crew and parents (except during the PeeWee races, when parents may follow their kids in the infield.) Practice varies from track to track and also how much time is available. The normal grouped practice schedule is usually (but not always) in this order: Quads, motorcycle Beginners, motorcycle Novices, motorcycle Pros/Intermediates, Vets, 80s, 60’s, PeeWees and a 2-lap late practice.) We sometimes vary from this routine, depending on the conditions and time available on a given day.The practice schedule is always posted and announced. Find out when your practice runs and be ready for it; if you miss your assigned session, you can only ride the 2-lap late practice (which is NOT open to Minis or Quads). If you race two size classes (80 & 125, or 125 & 250) you must either ride both bikes during your ability level practice or one bike in the late practice. DO NOT run in a practice that you are not assigned to; it may cost you either laps in your moto or disqualification from the day. Also, be VERY CAREFUL when riding your bike in the pits, even for a little ways going to or coming off the track. Pit riding is tolerated, but only if everyone is careful and rides slowly/first gear WITH a helmet on. You can be docked laps for speeding or riding without a helmet – besides, it is very dangerous!

Practice is just that: practice. It is NOT a race session. The smartest riders take the first lap slowly, making sure the track hasn’t changed since the last event and making sure they know where every obstacle is. The dummies & posers go out and go as fast as they can on the first lap, and frequently injure either themselves or their bikes while trying to “win practice.” Practice sessions are usually 8 minutes per session (or 4 laps), which allows plenty of time to take the first lap real easy and then work up to speed. Why throw away everything you invest in the day and risk injuring yourself by trying to win the first lap of practice? It’s a stupid thing to do, so don’t be pressured into it by the “fast guys” in your class (that should read “idiots”, actually!) One important thing to remember; when you are practicing OR racing, DON’T change your line when you hear some one come up behind you, especially on a jump. Stay in the line you’ve chosen and let them go around you. If you change your line, the other rider may run into or land on you – not a good thing, and it’s not his fault!

After practice, come in and clean off your bike, especially the number plates. Here in Arizona, the promoter MUST soak the track before practice if there is any hope of having the track stay dust-free all day, so practice is frequently a bit muddy. If you don’t clean off your number plates and they can’t be read by the scorers, you won’t be scored, period. It’s YOUR responsibility to have legible number plates with the correct numbers. NEVER have two different numbers on your bike at the same time. If you have the wrong number or an unreadable number, you won’t be scored. Also, ALL Quads must have a permanently-fastened rear number plate mounted on the REAR of the quad.

Clean off the extra mud, lube and adjust your chain, check the controls for proper operation and then (if necessary) change the suspension settings, jetting or gearing as necessary for that day at that track. Many, many riders run the same jetting and the same gearing at all the tracks, and wonder why they do just fine at one track and get smoked at another. If you have a question on setup, ask someone – almost everyone is happy to help you at the track, even your competition. If you’re bike isn’t handling right either, there are almost always suspension specialists at the tracks who will assist you with the settings. One thing that new racers should always remember: make sure the bike works correctly for you before you start making it faster! More power can actually slow you down if the suspension isn’t set up for your weight and ability, and can cause you to get hurt, too! Get the suspension set right before you do anything else!