How to get started:

Come along to a Cotswold meeting. Walk around the paddock, have a look at the machines, talk to riders and parents to get a feel for what goes on. Watch some races, see what happens before and during races. Find the club chairman and have a chat about starting racing.

If you want to start you need to get a bike suitable for your age, refer to the ‘Classes’ page. You don’t need to spend a fortune if you are just starting out, but buy the best you can afford. Bikes are quite often for sale at the meetings.

 

You need to buy the following:

• A new quality crash helmet that fits properly and has a gold ACU stamp.

• A race shirt and trousers

• Body armour and kidney belt

• Motocross boots

• Gloves

• A neck brace is recommended, various types available. Also, waterproofs are recommended if the weather is wet.

• Most motocross clubs use transponders for lap scoring. You can ride without one, but you may not feature in the results. 

 

A lot of these items can be bought very reasonably second hand from the meetings or look on Ebay. Kids grow out of boots and kit long before they are worn out, so bargains can be found. It is recommended you don’t buy a second hand crash helmet, you might not know if it’s been in an accident.

 

Read the Nora rule book, link on the ‘Rules’ page. Get familiar with the rules and flags, the flags can be found on the 'Rules' page.

 

Join the Cotswold club.

From 2023 Licences can be bought from the Nora website and our membership can be purchased online or from any meeting, Membership provides you with Entry to club championship, Priority booking to our Race and practice events and new for 2023 we are working with our motocross partners to supply exclusive discount to our members.

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Obtain the correct colour number backgrounds for your class and numbers and put these on your bike.

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You are now ready to race.

 

Look at the fixture list and choose a meeting. Tracks can vary in difficulty depending on your ability, so if unsure, ask call or text 07773 020989 for advice on the track.

From June 2016 the club now uses GoRaceMX for all bookings. 
 

The online booking requires full payment for meetings (introduced at 2017 AGM).  We no longer take FaceBook bookings.
 

If you don't book in online, and turn up on the day there will be an additional fee of £5 late entry and the risk of class being full and not being able to ride.
 

Race fees are non-refundable without a doctors note or 'exceptional' circumstance if you book out after Thursday before the meeting. You can book out before Thursday without penalty.

You will also incur an admin fee of £5 if you book out after the Thursday deadline as the club has to pay to use GoRaceMX.

 

In the event of the meeting being cancelled, your payment will be carried over to the next meeting or refund can be given.

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You will need to register on GoRaceMX which only takes a few minutes. All details are secure and only avaiable to the organising club. You do not need to give your address, just put a dash (-) in.

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Click on this link to go to GoRaceMX 

 

Scrutineering and signing on start at 7:30 am, and practice starts around 9.00 am so be ready.

 

Go to the lap scoring van and sign on and pay your entry fee, if you haven't paid in full on the GoRaceMX site. You will need to take your bike and crash helmet to the scruntineers to be checked. You will be issued with a sticker or key ring, which you have to show before you go on the track for practice.

 

If you are a new rider, you will need to have a rider assessment before you go on the track. Please ask when signing on. The rider will be taken to a remote part of the track before practice and must prove he/she can competently control the machine, start and stop and identify the flags.

 

NOTE: Riding in the pit area is not allowed. Breach of this rule will result in deduction of championship points, expulsion from the meeting or expulsion from the club.

 

New riders must wear a Hi-Viz jacket for the first few meetings just make other riders aware they are a novice.

 

The practice and race order is posted on a board near to the lap scoring van or entrance to the track. Note your practice and race order so that you know when your practice session will start.

Practice is a minimum two laps, so each class session can pass quickly, so be aware of when it’s your turn. If in doubt ask a rider/parent in your class.

 

Practice starts from in front of the start gate or as directed by the start official. Push your bike in the pits. Sometimes there is a roped off lane you can ride in.

 

If you are a beginner, let the faster riders go first and then follow them round. Look at where they go and lines they use. Practice is not a race so take your time to learn the track, you will get at least two laps. You will be shown a last lap flag and then the chequered finish flag. A marshal with a red flag will guide you off the track.

 

You are now ready for your first race. Note when your race starts and proceed to the start once the preceding race has started. If in doubt ask another rider/ or parent in your class when your race is due. Proceed to the assembly area. You will be given a random choice of start position for the first race from a bag, go to the number in the assembly area that you have picked. The riders are sent to the line starting with number 1 and in order up to number 40, so proceed to the start when it’s your turn and pick your position on the starting gate. Race 2 and 3 are determined by your finishing position, you will be told what position when you arrive at the assembly area.

 

The starter will wave a flag in a rotary motion to tell you to start your engines. He will then look along the start to ensure all riders are ready. If you have a problem, raise your hand. Watch the starter who will show a 15 second board and then a 5 second board. The start gate can drop at any point in the 5 second period.

 

Make sure you eat and drink during the day, you can become de-hydrated, especially if the weather is warm.

 

Ensure your race numbers are clean so lap scorers can see them, and check your bike over after practice and each race. Keep an eye on the preceding races so that you don't miss your race.

 

Most importantly, have fun.