This cycling discipline developed in the late 1960’s in California. At that time Motocross – a sport that involves racing motor cycles on off-road circuits was popular.
Children and teenagers with the desire but not the means to participate in motocross started racing their bicycles over similar off road tracks. This was the birth of Bicycle Motocross or BMX as it is now known.
With its low cost, exciting action and spectacular visual appeal the popularity of the sport grew rapidly.
The sport was introduced to Singapore in about 1983 when races were held in Tuas with crowds in their hundreds turning up as participants and spectators.
Evolving from BMX racing a series of different variations collectively known as BMX freestyle has now evolved.
B M X racing
The current hub of BMX racing activities is the Tampines Bike Park which houses South East Asia’s only UCI-certified track.
The track is about 350 metres in length with a “Pro-Gate” starting gate followed by a short down ramp and a series of bumps, banked corners (berms) and flat sections. The berms are bitumen while the rest of the track is surfaced with “Soiltec” covered earth.
A maximum of 8 riders participate in a single race (moto). They launch themselves from the start gate and battle ferociously to see who crosses the finish line first. The better riders complete a moto in less than 40 seconds. Usually riders participate in several moto’s on a typical race day.
BMX racing is tactical and can be spectacular with skilled riders ‘flying’ over the bumps.
The berms allow riders to use aggressive or defensive strategies and participants need to think and modify their strategy whilst racing.
The sport encourages Young riders to focus their energy positively. Getting the correct start out of the gate and learning to clear obstacles challenges young minds. Accomplishing these skills enhances their self-esteem.
Races are usually organised such that riders within similar age groups or skill levels compete against each other. This makes BMX a family friendly sport with riders from 5 to 50 participating. Quite often you find Parent’s cheering on their children and vice versa.
Safety gear is mandatory before riders are allowed on track. This has made BMX racing one of the safest of Youth sports today.
B M X freestyle
Freestyle BMX riders participate in several well-established disciplines. In freestyle riding, there are no specific rules. Style/aesthetics, skills, and creativity are stressed. Freestyle BMX consists of performing figures and jumps. It can be carried out on the flat, on obstacles or on a ramp.
There are several sub-disciplines of freestyle:
BMX riding in a Skate park is often shared with skateboarders, inline skaters and others. The park is usually made of concrete and usually contains bowls and pools.
Vert is a freestyle BMX discipline performed in a U shaped ramp. A typical run involves going from one side to the other, airing above the coping each side. Many tricks consist of the rider grabbing a part of the bike or removing body parts off the bike.
The rider produces a series of figures entirely on a smooth flat surface. He frequently balances on one wheel.
This takes place on the street. Riders use walls and railings to perform their figures. The main objective is to get both the wheels ‘off the ground’. Grinding is a favourite activity of street riders.
Riders perform figures on mounds of earth. There are often several metres between the take off mound and the landing mound. These jumps can be extremely spectacular. Judging is based on the different figures the riders execute during the jumps.