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- Motocross.com: Motocross and Supercross
Motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of off-road racing that utilizes motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). The name motocross is derived from two French words meaning "motorcycle" and "cross country".1
Fast Facts
- Governed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme2
- Began in 19241
- Originated in Europe1
- World Championship Series created in 19523
- Suzuki wins first championship for Japanese factory in 19704
- First U.S. event is held in Los Angeles Coliseum in 19725
- Races held off-road1
- Dirt bikes and ATVs are used1
- Can feature stunts (freestyle)1
- X Games event6
History
The first motocross event was held in Britain in 1924. At the time, the off-road race was known as the Scrambles. The sport soon evolved as riders made the tracks shorter and added obstacles. As the difficulty of the tracks increased, the technology of the motorcycles improved. Bikes became lighter and improvements were made to suspension components. Motocross vehicles are still being improved upon today.1
While motocross was a mainstay in Europe, the sport began to increase in popularity in America during the 1980s. Since then, the sport has grown to include new forms of competition, including the high-flying stunts of freestyle motocross.1