Off-Road Motorcycle Racing
The first thing to do is join a MNZ affiliated motorcycle club.
The Gore and Districts Motorcycle Club springs to mind. A membership application can be downloaded by clicking on this link GDMCC Membership Form or if you would rather, you could contact Frances Scammell on 208 6503 or email her at [email protected] and she will sort you out with a club membership.
Apply for a MNZ competition licence
Before you can compete in any MNZ sanctioned motorcycle race you must obtain a MNZ (Motorcycling New Zealand) competition licence. You will need a MNZ licence application form which can be downloaded from the MNZ website at www.mnz.co.nz
Once you have filled in the form you will need to send it in to the MNZ office in Huntly.
You will need to include with the completed form: your Club Membership card
a copy of your birth certificate (new applicant under 16yrs)
the correct fee
Allow 2 weeks for MNZ to process your application. If you have not received your licence back from MNZ within a couple of days before the day of the event, email MNZ and ask for a letter of conformation from them, acknowledging that you have applied for a licence. MNZ will email you that letter and if you present that at riders sign-in you will be permitted to ride.
One Day Licences
Another option is to get a one day licence on the day of the event.
You will still have to have a club membership card or be expected to join the organising club on the day.
One problem with this is that day licences are not compulsory for organising clubs to provide at events, and many events state in the entry form that day licences will not be provided. This is because of the extra time and effort that is wasted filling out the necessary paperwork involved.
It can also end up costing you a lot for one event. You could end up paying for a club membership ($20 - $40), a competition day licence ($15 - $50, up to the clubs discretion) and the entry fee for the event. ($20 - ???) See what I mean?
Nevertheless, if you do use day licences for a couple of events (you can buy a maximum of 4 licences per year), you should keep your copy of the licence, as a maximum of two licences bought in the previous 6 months of the same racing season, (June 30 - June 30) can be discounted from the price of a full MNZ race licence.
My advice to you is get a proper MNZ race licence. You fill in the necessary forms, send it away and you are set for the rest of the year. You are not tying up people�s time at sign-in when they could most do without the extra hassle. About one month before your licence is due to expire (June 30th) MNZ will send you a temporary licence you can use at any event while your proper licence is being processed.
Your Responsibilities as a Rider
Racing motorcycles is great fun but it comes with some responsibilities that I will briefly run through.
Your Bike
These days Machine Scrutineering is largely a thing of the past, although meeting officials still have the right to withdraw any bike from competition during the day if it found to be faulty in any way. It is generally up to the competitor to make sure his (or her) bike is up to scratch.
In general, the bike you buy off the showroom floor is ready to race and needs almost nothing done to it to be up to MNZ scrutineering standards. The only things I can think of is that the end of the handlebar should be plugged and your racing number fitted to the number plates.
The main areas to keep up to standard are brakes, wheel assembles, suspension and exhaust. Your hand and foot controls are important items to maintain and make sure move and return freely. Your hand levers must have the balls on the end of them.
If you are racing a bike fitted with a side stand, it must be removed for Moto-X events.
Numbers
Your bike should display the number issued to you by MNZ. This is the safest number to use as it is your number and in the event that someone else turns up to an event with the same number on his bike it will be up to him to change.
PLEASE�Before you go to the local computer graphics shop and order some numbers and backgrounds in a design that will make your bike �look cool�. First and foremost the number on your bike should be designed so it is easily read by the lapscorers! A quick flick through any �Motocross Action� magazine will show many examples of how your numbers should look.
Plain, Bold numbers on contrasting matt backgrounds are best. Fancy, slopping, narrow numbers on shiny backgrounds are unacceptable.
Helmets
All riders must have a MNZ approved helmet and good motorcycle boots. I don�t know of any helmets sold in motorcycle shops that aren�t of an approved standard, but if you�re planning to save a few bucks by buying a second hand or a cheap helmet, it would definitely pay to check. Approved helmet standards are listed in the back of the MNZ rule book.
A good helmet may be the best investment you make in life.
Chest Protectors
Chest Protection are now compulsory for Moto-X.
Right, you've turned up for your first Moto-X, click here for a few tips to help you get through the day in one piece. to PAGE 2
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