BMX racing is a type of bicycle racing which features BMX riders sharing a short single-lap circuit or point-to-point course, with multiple banked corners, jumps and rollers. The format of BMX was derived from motocross racing, and sanctioned internationally by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), facilitated by a number of continental, national and local sanctioning bodies.
History While informal bicycle racing existed to different extents, it was in Southern California that the sport of BMX started to become organized and resemble the modern sport. Original influencers included Ron Mackler, who was a park attendant in Santa Monica and set up races at Palms Park in West Los Angeles in 1969. Mackler, a teenager with motocross experience helped organize local boys who wanted to race. The first race took place on July 10, 1969. Four years later, in 1973, back-to-back seasons of ten weeks in duration were established with an entrance fee of $4.50. The track ran through the southeast areas of the park with variations in topography; the track remained relatively unchanged through 1980. The latter half of the 1980s marked an evolution in BMX history. The sport split into two major riding categories: racing and freestyle. While racing stayed competitive and fast-paced, freestyle BMX brought a whole new energy—focusing on tricks, flow, and creativity. Street spots, dirt jumps, and skateparks became arenas for expression. Riders like Mat Hoffman and Dave Mirra became global icons, pushing the limits of what BMX bikes could do. In 1995, BMX freestyle joined the X Games, taking the sport to a whole new level of visibility and legitimacy. As global exposure grew, so did participation. BMX found loyal communities across Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. Riders from every corner of the world began innovating and influencing the scene in new ways. In 2008, BMX racing made its Olympic debut in Beijing. A little over a decade later, freestyle BMX also entered the Olympic spotlight at the Tokyo 2020 Games—solidifying BMX as a respected global discipline. Modern BMX bikes are the product of decades of refinement Modern BMX components such as stems, pedals, and grips are now precision-engineered using CNC-machined billet aluminum, offering riders improved durability and performance.. Lightweight, durable, and purpose-built, they come in specialized forms depending on the discipline—racing, street, park, dirt, and flatland. Freestyle bikes emphasize maneuverability and strength, while race bikes focus on aerodynamics and speed. Geometry, materials, tires, and gearing have all evolved, but the goal remains the same: performance with personality. Today, BMX thrives not just in competitions but across social platforms, local scenes, and casual rides. The internet has played a huge role in BMX’s growth, allowing riders to share clips, exchange tips, and inspire others—no matter where they live.
Bikes sizes There are two BMX racing bikes sizes. The first is the 20-inch (ISO 406mm) wheel bicycle. The 20" wheel bikes are referred to as "Class" bikes, with an outer tire diameter up to 22.5". The second type is "Cruiser" bikes which are any bikes with an outer tire diameter larger than 22.5". The most common cruiser size uses a 24" (ISO 507mm) wheel.
Advantages While BMX racing is an individual sport, teams are often formed from racers in different classifications for camaraderie and for business exposure of a sponsoring organization or company. BMX racing rewards strength, quickness, and bike handling. Many successful BMX racers have gone on to leverage their skills in other forms of bicycle and motorcycle competitions.
Track features There are many types of BMX jumps, ranging from small rollers to massive step-up doubles. There are pro straights for professional racers which are doubles that range from about 6 m to 12 m, while "Class" straights have more flow and have many more range of jumps.
The Start Gate
The start gate marks the start of the track. Most BMX tracks have a gate. The starting hill will normally provide all the speed for the remainder of the race. Generally, the larger the hill, the faster, so pro hills are much larger than the amateur ones.
Tabletop
A tabletop is a jump where the track is level across between the take-off and landing points. They are especially useful for beginning BMX riders who are still learning how to jump since a too-short jump will land on the level tabletop rather than slamming into the uphill side of the landing hill.
Roller
A small hill, generally too low to be jumped off. Rollers are normally built in groups that are known as rhythm sections because they challenge the riders' ability to maintain speed over the bumps.
Double
A double is a pair of two hills close enough to each other that it is possible to jump between them.
Triple
A triple is a group of three hills close enough together. Common ways riders clear them are by manualing or jumping either the first or second gaps, or by double-manualing the two sequential gaps.
Step-up
A step-up is a double or a tabletop followed by a roller one where the landing point is at a higher elevation than the take-off point.
Step-down
A step-down is just like a step-up, except that the landing point is at a lower elevation than the take-off point.
Berms
Turns which are at an angle. Therefore, one can easily turn without having to brake.
Pro set
A set of jumps with only a takeoff lip and a landing ramp, that is, where a failure to take-off or to jump far enough will either result in being heavily slowed down, or more commonly, crashing.
Olympics BMX racing became a medal sport at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing under the UCI sanctioning body. BMX racing has appeared in the 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympics.
Sanctioning bodies A sanctioning body is a private (in the United States and most Western Nations) governing body which controls a sport or specific discipline thereof. One or more sanctioning bodies may operate in a sport at any given time, often with subtle rule variations which appeal to regional tastes. They make and enforce the rules, and decide the qualifications and responsibilities of the participants, including the players, owners, and operators of facilities. In legal terms, they are an intermediary between the participants and higher governing bodies such as (in cycling) the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and National Governing Bodies such as USA BMX. Sanctioning bodies mete out discipline and punishments, as well as bestow awards and rankings of their participants.
In the Bicycle Motocross context, sanctioning bodies are chiefly responsible for providing insurance coverage and other "back office" services to local tracks. They also keep points on riders' performance throughout the year, and undertake the production of a national racing series (which is typically 18-22 weekends per year). Riders are permitted to race at the sanctioning body's affiliated tracks and national events via the purchase of an annual membership. As part of their administrative "service provider" role, BMX sanctioning bodies also determine the rules of competition, such as clothing requirements, age and gender divisions (or "classes"), as well as the rules and protocol for advancement in proficiency classes (Novice, Intermediate, Expert, Girl Expert, Cruiser, Girl Cruiser, Vet Pro, Men/Women Junior, and Men/Women Pro.)
BMX Racing has had many sanctioning bodies over its 40-year history as an organized sport, the first being Scot Breithaupt's Bicycle United Motocross Society (BUMS), created in the early 1970s (see below). Since then, there have been dozens of regional, national, and international sanctioning bodies, some of them associated with or owned by another. Most are defunct or have been merged into larger, more successful organizations, but a handful still exist in their original forms.
In the United States, USA BMX is the main sanctioning body which was formed in 2011 from the merger of the two largest organizations, the ABA and NBL.
Australia
Australian Bicycle Motocross Association (ABMXA) Two ABMXA sanctioning bodies that formed in the history of BMX in Australia:
The first one was formed in May 1975 by Bob Smith, an Australian businessman and two of his friends. He open the first BMX track in Australia on May 17, 1975, on the Gold Coast in Tallebudgera, Queensland adjacent to the Tally Valley Golf Club. He had admired BMX through the American magazines his son brought home.Bicycle Motocross News July 1975 Vol.2 No.6 pg.23
The second ABMXA was formed in April 1981 from three regional Australian BMX organizations: The Victoria BMX Association; (VBMXA), the Queensland BMX Association (QBMXA) and the New South Wales BMX Association (NSWBMXA). It was Australia's representative to the IBMXF in the 1980s.
Currently, the ABMXA is governed by Auscycling, creating mediated and consistent rules and regulations.
National Bicycle Association (NBA)
The National Bicycle Association was a third, separate Australian sanctioning body. It was formed in December 1981 and had branches in different countries around the world. By the summer of 1982 it had 20,000 members worldwide and 950 members in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales.BMX Torque August 1982 Vol.1 No.1 pg.30 Despite sharing a common name this association had nothing to do with the original United States–based National Bicycle Association that was formed in California in 1974 and ironically merged with the National Bicycle League and ceased operations as an independent body in December 1981, the same month and year the Australian namesake was formed.
Bicycle Motocross Australia (BMXA) BMX Australia (BMXA) was the fourth separate Australian sanctioning body for BMX racing in Australia.
AusCycling
AusCyling is the current sanctioning body for BMX racing in Australia.
Canada Cycling Canada Cyclism (CCC) BMX Canada
Currently - Cycling Canada https://www.cyclingcanada.ca/ is the Federal Sanctioning body for all Canadian cycling disciplines (including BMX) under the UCI. Some tracks and Provinces have chosen BMX Canada over the Provincial UCI representative. Here are the different choices that are available in Canada,
Alberta - ABA -Alberta BMX Association. https://www.albertabmx.com/
British Columbia - Cycling BC. https://cyclingbc.net/bmx/
Saskatchewan - http://www.saskcycling.ca/BMX.html
Quebec - http://www.fqsc.net/BMX
All Ontario tracks and some BC tracks are sanctioned by an American corporation - USA BMX (also known as ABA) under the assumed name BMX Canada - https://www.bmxcanada.org These tracks run rules separate from the UCI but offer similar race structure and age categorization. BMX Canada offers full support to their affiliated tracks, including point tracking, marketing materials, an in-house magazine and a coaching/retention program. Results from these races run under the USA BMX/BMX Canada name are used in the team selection process for Provincial and National teams.
France
Fédération Française de Bicrossing (FFB) La Fédération Française de Bicrossing, which in English translates to The French Federation of Bicrossing (FFB) was created on March 1, 1978, by Marcelle Seurat, a motorcycle importer and distributor. At first its primary purpose was to promote BMX and its products. On May 17, 1980, it held is first race in Beaune, France. This organization would cease to exist in early 1981 after only acquiring 100 members.
Association Française de Bicrossing (AFdB) L'Association Française de Bicrossing, which in English translates to the French Association of Bicrossing (FAB), was founded by Raymond Imbert, Rene Nicolas, Denis Mourier, Bernard Nicolas, Fabrice Pérez, Gerard Hinault and Pascal Giboulot on March 1, 1981.
Fédération Française de Cyclisme (FFC)