Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing that originated in the early 20th century. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions, such as the Auto-Cycle Clubs’ first quarterly trial in 1909 and the Scottish Six Days Trial that began in 1912
The first-ever officially recorded motocross race, known then as ‘scrambles’ or ‘hare scrambles’, took place in Camberley, Surrey, England in 1924 on a marked-out route that wound its way across hilly farmland and open fields. The sport gained popularity after World War II, and the first motocross race held on an artificial track inside a stadium took place in Paris in 1948
During the 1940s and 1950s, motocross experienced a post-war revival. With access to bikes, steam to let off, and time on their hands, many ex-soldiers thought the best thing to do with the bikes would be to race them. The sport gained popularity, and the first motocross race held on an artificial track inside a stadium took place in Paris in 1948
Motocross racing evolved from motorcycle trial competitions in the UK. The sport grew in popularity and became known internationally as “motocross racing”. In 1962, a 250 cc world championship was established and new rules were adopted dividing the races into two 45-minute legs that were referred to as motos
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers led a boom period in motocross technology. The typical air-cooled two-strokes with twin-shock rear suspension and telescopic front forks gave way to water-cooled engines and single-shock absorber rear suspension and “upside-down” (or inverted) front forks
The future of motocross is set to bring about significant advancements and transformations, propelling the sport to unprecedented heights. With its sights set on global expansion, motocross is set to captivate new audiences and draw in fresh talent from diverse corners of the world. The sport will embrace new technologies, platforms, and competition formats, showcasing the fearless spirit and innovation that define the sport
The 100th anniversary of motocross was celebrated at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 23, 2023. The event combined the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 31-event series. The championship was part of the historic venue’s “Coliseum Forever” celebration, honoring the centennial anniversary of the Coliseum