Before a race, you know where your kids are. They're either out working on their bike, or they're in bed so they can get up for the race. The North Dakota Motorcycle Association organizes a slate of 12 races each summer. The younger kids start out in the 50cc class, the smallest bike, and graduate to higher classes as they move up to larger bikes and gain riding skills. They can enter in multiple classes, which might mean competing in as many as six races in a day.
Girls can compete in the races, but few do.
After becoming enormously popular in the 1970s, the sport took a big spill in the '80s before making a comeback in the past decade. The NDMA events have been averaging about 220 racers per event, he said. We liked it. Their parents buy the bikes and split the cost of parts 50-50 with their sons. Getting sponsorships from equipment manufacturers has helped provide some discounts here and there.