Motocross
From design to first ride: A guide to building a motocross track
With the right planning and attention to detail, your motocross track can take an empty piece of land and turn it into a motorsport wonderland.
If you love motocross, there’s a strong possibility you’ve spent some time daydreaming about building your own track. With ample space, time, and resources, this dream can become a reality.
High-quality construction is necessary to build a wild ride of turns, jumps, and drops. Read ahead for an overview of how to build a motocross track, from prepping for construction to upkeep once your track is finished.
Tyler Bereman at Red Bull Imagination 2020
© Jeff Jacobsen / Red Bull Content Pool
01
Planning your motocross track
Bringing your motocross track vision to life is an exciting experience. Before you get started, here’s what to put on your motocross track planning checklist.
Choosing the right location
Before you can break ground, you need to find the ground where you want to start motocross track construction. Some motocross enthusiasts have built tracks right in their yards, but it’s not as simple as finding space that can fit a track. If you’re considering building on land you already own or purchasing a plot for a motocross track, there are some questions you should ask first.
Namely: Will bulldozers and other construction vehicles be able to access the site? Can the location support regular motocross track maintenance? Does it have a reliable water source and good drainage? Are there any buried electrical or gas lines you need to avoid damaging? Most importantly, you need to make sure motocross tracks are allowed on the land you have in mind. Even if building a motocross track is legal, always be diligent about confirming what permits you need before construction starts.
Colby Raha at Red Bull Imagination 2020 in Fort Scott, Kansas
© Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool
Community involvement from the beginning is also key. Communicate your plans with local residents and consider your motocross track’s environmental impact. Also, make sure you’re complying with local regulations such as noise ordinances. The roar of a motocross engine may give you an adrenaline rush, but your neighbors might not be too thrilled.
Reason for building your motocross track
Is this track just for you and your buddies to have a practice space, or do you plan to hold motocross track events that are open to the public? Motocross tracks for personal or public use come with different zoning and insurance requirements. You may also be required to include motocross track medical facilities and additional safety considerations.
Budgeting for track construction and upkeep
Estimating all motocross track costs beforehand prevents unexpected expenses down the line. Motocross tracks can come with a price tag of up to $10,000 to build, and then there’s the ongoing cost to maintain it. Initial construction expenses include equipment and labor — and of course, literal tons of dirt. Once your track is up and running, you’ll also need access to motocross track equipment for grooming your track after regular wear and tear.
02
Designing your motocross track
Axell Hodges and Tyler Bereman at Red Bull Imagination 2022
© Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool
Now, you get to the fun task of creating your dream track. Here’s what to prioritize when generating your unique motocross track design.
Motocross track layout
Different classes of motocross require different track layouts. For instance, freestyle motocross tracks feature plenty of opportunities to show off on an obstacle. There’s also supercross, a motocross discipline that’s held in an indoor enclosure and ideal for construction on flat terrain.
Like any good architect, you’ll sketch the layout of your motocross course to start. While you’re planning each twist and turn, try to work with the land, especially if there are existing inclines you can incorporate. You may want to ride your bike around the existing topography to see what you’re working with before you start sketching.
Motocross track features
What obstacles do you want to include in your course? Where should your track start? Can you fit in enough rhythm sections for optimal jumping? There are many decisions to make when planning out your own custom track. You want to fit in enough features to make it exciting and ensure the course has good flow for the best ride possible.
Red Bull Imagination 2023 in Fort Scott, Kansas
© Kyle Lieberman / Red Bull Content Pool
Some features are fun extras, while others make a huge difference. Adding berms, for example, makes cornering much easier. Motocross track whoops and rollers will also give riders additional speed as they hop over bumps. When designing motocross track jumps, consider the level of difficulty — jump sections range from single to quad. Elevation features, such as over-unders and step-ups also play a huge role in overall track cohesion.
Important safety components
You need to guarantee the safety of your riders (and spectators if your track can accommodate an audience). Strong motocross track safety barriers, made from materials such as metal or heavy-duty plastic, are especially important. Motocross track fencing protects fans and ensures riders don’t have to worry about unauthorized people on the track.
In addition to protective features, your track should always include emergency facilities. Training staff in first aid is smart, and more developed onsite medical facilities mean anyone injured can receive attention right away.
03
Motocross track earthwork and construction
Tyler Bereman hits a jump at Red Bull Imagination 2023
© Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool
Once you’re ready to begin construction, these are the main things to cover.
- Clearing the site. It’s best to avoid land with tons of natural obstacles, but chances are you’ll need to do some landscaping on any potential track site. Equipment such as a tree and post puller will help you remove small vegetation.
- Grading and shaping the track. Once the land is clear, you’ll need to make sure it can withstand impacts from continuing onslaughts of motocross bikes. Motocross track grading, using vehicles such as bulldozers and tractor scrapers, builds your course’s jumps and berms. It also allows your terrain to bear weight.
- Water drainage considerations. Grading also plays a key role in motocross track drainage. As you raise or decrease levels of elevation throughout your course, you give water less opportunity to pool. Additionally, adding drainage pipes will prevent erosion problems down the road.
- Soil selection. You can use a variety of soil blends for your track, and certain types are better for certain track features. For instance, a blend that includes clay soil is ideal for motocross track berms and jumps.
04
Motocross track maintenance
Proper maintenance is necessary to keep your track safe and fun to ride. Even if you’ve done all your homework and ensured impeccable motocross track soil preparation, your track will need regular grading touch-ups. That means you’ll need to bring in heavy machinery for reshaping — maintain a path to the track for bulldozer use. It’s also important to keep an eye on drainage. If water is accumulating at low-lying spots, your drainage system may need an upgrade.
05
Motocross track safety and regulations
It can’t be stressed enough — safety is the most important part of building a motocross track. Post visible signage with all your track’s safety regulations so that everyone knows the rules. Audience members should know which areas are off-limits and what they’re allowed to bring. Riders should know when they’re allowed to ride and what safety gear they need to wear. For any official events, follow AMA (American Motorcycle Association) rules to the letter.
06
Make your motocross vision a reality
With the right planning and attention to detail, your motocross track can take an empty piece of land and turn it into a motorsport wonderland. Of course, building your own motocross track is certainly no easy endeavor. But when the dust finally settles on construction, nothing compares to having a track that’s all yours, exactly how you want it.