The nationwide appeal of all classes and types of racing has grown steadily over the last several years, but motocross racing appears to be a special case.
The last several years have been marked by explosive fan base growth, especially in the youth demographic. On Monday, central New Yorkers can get a sense of what the fuss is about when the state fair hosts a motocross show.
The Advance Auto Parts Freestyle Motocross Spectacular will be held at the Wegman's grandstand at 1:30 p.m. Monday. The show features high-profile riders such as Derek Burlew, Chris Denison, Garry Robertson, Cody Elkins, Brian Foster, Matt Knesek, Benoit Milot and Dan Pastor.
Locally, Frozen Ocean motorsports complex hosts weekly competitions while the national scene invades upstate New York twice a summer, at Unadilla and Broome-Tioga. The Broome-Tioga motocross event held Aug. 22 drew more than 20,000 fans, a record that will most likely be broken next year.
Motocross racing consists of two basic classes defined by engine size, 125cc or 250cc. The cycles themselves are designed purely for the off-road course conditions, with plenty of shock travel involved for the rear wheel.
The race courses are often permanent outdoor sites, but temporary indoor courses are regularly built within stadiums or domes. Regardless of where they are located, all motocross tracks twist and wind, featuring jumps, hills and valleys, that demands a rider be in top physical condition.
The races themselves, called "motos," are either a timed competition, 30 minutes in length, or a predetermined number of laps around a course.
"Your whole body needs to be in good shape, you move around so much on the bike," local motocross rider Robert Byrne of Auburn said. "Your arms get a workout and your cardiovascular system is important. You finish these races drained."
All races begin with a standing start, with all the riders lined up alongside each other behind a gate. When the gate drops, riders gun the bike and head for the first turn, hoping to beat everyone else there. In motocross lexicon, this is known as the "hole shot," and getting a good hole shot is imperative if you want to compete for the win.
"It's the most dangerous part of the race," Byrne said. "You need a good reaction time and you have to get the bike to grip. Everyone is headed full speed for the first corner and a lot of guys won't lift, so if someone goes down guys can get hurt."
Byrne also sees the explosive growth of the sport.
"The X-games have had a lot to do with it," Byrne said. "The television coverage gets the sport out to a new bunch of fans."
ESPN 2 also regularly broadcasts motocross events. The sport has already found their next superstar, Ricky Carmichael, who has dominated the competition this year, winning every event he has entered.
Another sure sign of the sport's popularity is the prevalence of motocross gear within pop culture. Hats or shirts with the Fox insignia are being worn everywhere, not just at racing events. Celebrities show up at public functions with jerseys on, as motocross enters the mainstream.
If the fair's program hooks you, Frozen Ocean's motocross season continues through October with several races left on the calendar.
The Advance Auto Parts Freestyle Motocross Spectacular will be held at the Wegman's grandstand at 1:30 p.m. Monday. The show features high-profile riders such as Derek Burlew, Chris Denison, Garry Robertson, Cody Elkins, Brian Foster, Matt Knesek, Benoit Milot and Dan Pastor.
Locally, Frozen Ocean motorsports complex hosts weekly competitions while the national scene invades upstate New York twice a summer, at Unadilla and Broome-Tioga. The Broome-Tioga motocross event held Aug. 22 drew more than 20,000 fans, a record that will most likely be broken next year.
Motocross racing consists of two basic classes defined by engine size, 125cc or 250cc. The cycles themselves are designed purely for the off-road course conditions, with plenty of shock travel involved for the rear wheel.
The race courses are often permanent outdoor sites, but temporary indoor courses are regularly built within stadiums or domes. Regardless of where they are located, all motocross tracks twist and wind, featuring jumps, hills and valleys, that demands a rider be in top physical condition.
The races themselves, called "motos," are either a timed competition, 30 minutes in length, or a predetermined number of laps around a course.
"Your whole body needs to be in good shape, you move around so much on the bike," local motocross rider Robert Byrne of Auburn said. "Your arms get a workout and your cardiovascular system is important. You finish these races drained."
All races begin with a standing start, with all the riders lined up alongside each other behind a gate. When the gate drops, riders gun the bike and head for the first turn, hoping to beat everyone else there. In motocross lexicon, this is known as the "hole shot," and getting a good hole shot is imperative if you want to compete for the win.
"It's the most dangerous part of the race," Byrne said. "You need a good reaction time and you have to get the bike to grip. Everyone is headed full speed for the first corner and a lot of guys won't lift, so if someone goes down guys can get hurt."
Byrne also sees the explosive growth of the sport.
"The X-games have had a lot to do with it," Byrne said. "The television coverage gets the sport out to a new bunch of fans."
ESPN 2 also regularly broadcasts motocross events. The sport has already found their next superstar, Ricky Carmichael, who has dominated the competition this year, winning every event he has entered.
Another sure sign of the sport's popularity is the prevalence of motocross gear within pop culture. Hats or shirts with the Fox insignia are being worn everywhere, not just at racing events. Celebrities show up at public functions with jerseys on, as motocross enters the mainstream.
If the fair's program hooks you, Frozen Ocean's motocross season continues through October with several races left on the calendar.
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