Official 2008
www.ababmx.com
Table of Contents
a. One Day
b. Temporary
c. Full (Annual)
d. Gold
a. District
b. Bonus points
c. State/Provincial Series
d. National Amateur
e. National Pro
b. Boys
a. A & AA Pro
b. Pro Cruiser
c. Girl Pro
d. Vet Pro
a. U.S. Series
b. Canadian Series
The American Bicycle Association was formed to provide organized racing and give national prominence to the sport of BMX. Under the ABA rules of sanction, riders may accumulate district points at any ABA sanctioned track in the U.S. Additionally, a national level points program will be offered for an increased interest of competition.
Each ABA BMX facility is a separate entity with the common goal of providing competitive yet safe and fun BMX racing. The staff of each track is committed to operating under ABA guidelines to insure those goals. It is, however, the riders and his/her parent’s responsibility to understand and follow these racing regulations.
With these ideals in mind, the only requirements needed to excel are skill and determination.
Every rider practicing or competing on any ABA sanctioned track must attain ABA membership prior to riding on the track. Memberships can be purchased at the track. There are four types of memberships available which are as follows:
a. One day free membership – This membership is intended ONLY for the new rider to have a chance to experience the sport prior to joining with one of the memberships below. This membership is valid for one (1) single point race or one (1) practice ONLY. It is not transferable or reusable.
b. Temporary – This membership is intended only for the new riders to the sport and is valid for thirty (30) days at any ABA sanctioned track. This membership allows riders to participate in practice and single points races ONLY, yet no ABA points will be awarded. If within the 30 day period the rider wishes to become a full (annual) member, he/she needs to show the proper temporary membership receipt and submit the conversion fee as noted on the full membership application.
c. Full (annual)—This membership is valid for one (1) full year at any ABA sanctioned event in the U.S. and Canada. Points will be awarded to all riders competing in any ABA sanctioned race with those points returning to each rider’s home district. Full membership riders will receive the official membership card and a subscription to the BMXer magazine. Additionally, each rider joining at a local track will receive a current rulebook, a BMX New Rider Manual and an official ABA number plate.
d. Gold Card (upgraded annual)—This membership has all of the characteristics of the Full membership and includes extra benefits for the additional fee involved. Benefits include: A “Gold Card member only” line at all ABA nationals events, first class delivery of the BMXer magazine, 2 “free” Open class entries at any ABA national (after racing in 10 ABA nationals), discount coupon for ABA Racewear (after racing 20 single point races), & a monthly race history report sent to their address.
All ABA members receive a secondary medical insurance benefit with a cash deductible.
No ABA membership under any circumstance is transferable or refundable.
All members must submit a birth certificate to the ABA within 30 days of membership purchase.
Important: Every rider MUST show proof of membership each and every time they sign up to race. This must be either a current ABA membership card or a renewal receipt. The ABA makes every attempt to issue a renewal notice to riders prior to their membership expiration. It is ultimately the rider and parent’s responsibility to keep memberships current. Any points earned on an expired membership will be forfeit, as there is no officially written grace period. Additionally, memberships must be current through the end of the ABA points season (December 15th) to earn year-end rankings and awards.
1. The points racing season will be from January 1 through December 15 of each year.
2. Points will be tabulated using the total accumulated point’s method; the rider with the most points will be the #1 rider in each respective category.
3. Every new full ABA member will receive points immediately as he/she competes. These riders shall run a temporary number on their number plate, which will be assigned to them by the track until an official number is received from the ABA by mail.
4. Members can compete for three types of points: District, State and National. (See section V for Points Tables.)
5. District points are received during the normal racing season at all ABA sanctioned events.
6. A rider may race in any other district with those points returning to his/her home district.
7. The location of predominant residence and/or where a rider attends school will determine that rider’s district.
8. Any rider that changes residence must notify ABA in writing within 30 days. Any rider misrepresenting his/her residence may be suspended.
9. No rider may transfer into a district and assume the #1 position in points. The transferring rider will be positioned in the #2 placement forfeiting as many points as necessary to show 1 point less than the current #1 rider.
10. The deadline for district transfers is August 1st of each season. After this date, riders will remain in their respective district even though a geographic move has been made.
11. There will be an overall district standing published in the January-February issue of the BMXer magazine. The number that precedes each rider’s name will be that rider’s earned district number for the year.
12. In the event of a tie between two or more members in final district points, the following will be used to break the ties.
a. Most first place finishes
b. Most second place finishes
c. Most third place finishes
d. Most fourth place finishes
e. Most fifth place finishes
f. Earliest membership date
g. Lowest rider number of last season
13. Riders may use any earned ABA district, NAG, National, Redline Cup or ROC number at any ABA sanctioned event.
14. The number being used on each rider’s bike must appear on the moto sheet or that rider may not be scored and points may be withheld.
15. Any rider not having his/her eight-digit serial number on the moto sheets will not receive points for that race. There will be absolutely no exceptions to this rule. Tip: Check the moto sheets when posted and make sure the correct serial number is there.
16. A rider MUST participate in at least 1 moto of competition to receive points for that particular event.
17. ABA finish points are awarded to all riders in any main event or legally formed total points class at every ABA sanctioned race. (For races utilizing the Total Point system of scoring, all last place finishers in classes of 4 or more riders will receive rider points only).
18. For any qualifier or main, a rider will be scored and receive a finish placement respective to how he/she crosses the finish line provided that rules 37 & 38 of Section XIII are satisfied.
19. Any rider that has qualified to a main event will receive main event finish points respective to his/her actual finish position within that main event.
20. The following situations will result in a rider receiving no worse than a last place main event finish along with those respective points (Ex: 4 riders in the main—last place is 4th):
a. Not racing his/her main event for any reason.
b. Starting the main but not crossing the finish line for any reason.
c. Any type of disqualification within that main event.
21. A rider may miss any qualifying moto (excluding total point racing) at their discretion without penalty. However, all other ABA rules still apply.
22. Total point races shall be scored in the following manner: Finish positions shall be tallied for each of three motos awarding one point for first, two points for second and three points for third. (Only a rider that misses a moto or receives a flagrant disqualification [foul] from a moto will receive one point more than the total number of riders in the class.) The total of these three motos will determine order of finish with lowest points getting first place and so on. If a tie exists after the three motos, the best finish in the third moto between tied participants will determine the winner.
23. Riders may verify their qualifier or main event finishes during that day’s race with the scorekeeper at the finish line. This must be taken care of within 10 motos or mains.
1. Throughout the national series, including the Redline Cup finals and Race of Champions, the ABA may set up and utilize a video system to aid in the accuracy of scoring. This system is considered a backup for the official scoring crew of the day.
2. If any technical problem occurs with the video system during any given race(s) resulting in the loss of review capabilities, decisions on finishes will be made using the scoring sheets and these decisions will be final.
3. Riders have 10 motos to protest a finish for video review.
4. The official has the right to view any video at anytime for scoring purposes.
a. District Points
NOVICE
1st 25 points 5th 10 points
2nd 20 points 6th 7 points
3rd 15 points 7th 5 points
4th 12 points 8th 3 points
Plus one point for each rider in the your class.
INTERMEDIATE
1st 50 points 5th 20 points
2nd 40 points 6th 15 points
3rd 30 points 7th 10 points
4th 25 points 8th 5 points
Plus one point for each rider in your class.
EXPERT, GIRL & CRUISER
1st 100 points 5th 40 points
2nd 80 points 6th 30 points
3rd 60 points 7th 20 points
4th 50 points 8th 10 points
Plus one point for each rider in your class.
At all races, riders earn points for their finish in the main, plus one point for each rider in their class. For multi-point tabulating, take your overall points total and multiply it by the amount corresponding to the event (i.e. double, triple or quadruple). Riders not qualifying to the main event will still receive one point for each rider in his/her class for the day’s point tally.
b. Bonus District Points
At national events, riders who transfer from their moto to at least a semi will receive bonus district points. Riders will receive bonus points equaling one point for every rider in his/her eighth main, quarter main or semi main. These points will be tripled and added to all other district points earned at that event.
Example: An Expert rider has 12 groups or 90 riders in his class at a national. Upon transferring to his quarter mains of 36 total riders, he earns 36 bonus points. If he does not advance further he earns 36x3=108 bonus points. If he transfers to the semi mains of 15 riders, he earns an additional 15x3=45 bonus points to add to the 108 equaling 153 total bonus points. If the rider goes on to transfer to the main event and place 3rd, his points would be as follows: 153 bonus points + 270 rider points (90x3) + 180 finish points (60x3) = 603 total district points earned. However, only the initial class rider points will be automatically added to any rider’s district standing. All bonus points and main event finish points shall go automatically into a Bonus Points file for each rider and will be distributed when certain criteria have been met by that rider. As each rider competes at any single point race, 10% of that year’s bonus points will be added into the respective rider’s district standing file. When a rider has competed in 10 single point races, 100% of the year’s bonus points, already earned or to be earned, will be added automatically.
c. State/Provincial Points Table*
Expert Inter Novice
Girl
Cruiser
1st 20 19 18
2nd 19 18 17
3rd 18 17 16
4th 17 16 15
5th 16 15 14
6th 15 14 13
7th 14 13 12
8th 13 12 11
DNQ 10 10 10
*There will be no rider points added to this points table.
d. National amateur points
NOVICE
1st 60 points 5th 20 points
2nd 50 points 6th 10 points
3rd 40 points 7th 8 points
4th 30 points 8th 5 points
Plus all riders receive one point for each rider in your class.
INTERMEDIATE
1st 120 points 5th 40 points
2nd 100 points 6th 20 points
3rd 80 points 7th 15 points
4th 60 points 8th 10 points
Plus all riders receive one point for each rider in your class.
EXPERT, GIRL & CRUISER
1st 240 points 5th 80 points
2nd 200 points 6th 40 points
3rd 160 points 7th 30 points
4th 120 points 8th 20 points
Plus all riders receive one point for each rider in your class.
e. National Pro Points
A PRO
1st 120 points 5th 40 points
2nd 100 points 6th 20 points
3rd 80 points 7th 15 points
4th 60 points 8th 10 points
Semi 5 points
Quarter 3 points
Plus ALL RIDERS receive 1 point for each rider in the class.
AA PRO, PRO CRU, GIRL PRO & VET PRO
1st 240 points 5th 80 pts
2nd 200 points 6th 40 pts
3rd 160 points 7th 30 pts
4th 120 points 8th 20 pts
Semi 10 points
Quarter 6 points
Plus ALL RIDERS receive 1 point for each rider in the class.
Amateur Classifications
These are the current classes offered for amateurs by the ABA for competition purposes:
5 & under Novice
5 & under Inter
5 & under Expert
6 Novice
6 Inter
6 Expert
7 Novice
7 Inter
7 Expert
8 Novice
8 Inter
8 Expert
9 Novice
9 Inter
9 Expert
10 Novice
10 Inter
10 Expert
11 Novice
11 Inter
11 Expert
12 Novice
12 Inter
12 Expert
13 Novice
13 Inter
13 Expert
14 Novice
14 Inter
14 Expert
15 Novice
15 Inter
15 Expert
16 Novice
16 Inter
16 Expert
17-18 Novice
17-18 Inter
17-18 Expert
19-27 Novice
19-27 Inter
19-27 Expert
28 & Over Novice
28 & Over Inter
28 & Over Expert
5 & Under Girls
6 Girls
7 Girls
8 Girls
9 Girls
10 Girls
11 Girls
12 Girls
13 Girls
14 Girls
15 Girls
16 Girls
17 & Over Girls
9 & Under Cru
10 Cruiser
11 Cruiser
12 Cruiser
13 Cruiser
14 Cruiser
15 Cruiser
16 Cruiser
17-20 Cruiser
21-25 Cruiser
26-30 Cruiser
31-35 Cruiser
36-40 Cruiser
41-45 Cruiser
46-50 Cruiser
51 & Over Cruiser
10 & Under Girls Cru
11-13 Girl Cruiser
14-16 Girl Cruiser
17-20 Girl Cruiser
21-25 Girl Cruiser
26-30 Girl Cruiser
31-35 Girl Cruiser
36-40 Girl Cruiser
41 & Over Girl Cru
Nationals, State series, Redline Cup series & Race of Champions only:
28 - 35 Novice
28 - 35 Inter
28 - 35 Expert
17 – 27 Girls
36 & Over Novice
36 & Over Inter
36 & Over Expert
28 & Over Girls
56 & Over Cruiser
46 & Over Girl Cruiser
Proficiency Advancement
1. When a Novice Girl has received eight (8) wins, she will be required to move up to the Girls class. If a girl classified as Novice voluntarily competes in a Girls class at any ABA race before reaching eight (8) Novice wins, she will automatically be moved up to the Girls classification and can no longer compete as a Novice.
2. A boy Novice rider will move to Intermediate upon a total of eight (8) class wins (of any type of race) or a total of 5 national, Redline Cup Final or Race of Champions wins during his Novice career.
3. An Intermediate rider will move to Expert upon a total of twenty-five (25) class wins (of any type of race) or a total of five (5) national, Redline Cup Final or Race of Champions wins during his Intermediate career.
4. Open and cruiser wins do not count for advancement.
5. It is the rider’s responsibility to move him/herself up when he/she reaches the allotted number of wins. Riding out of class will result in the forfeiture of points and possible suspension. Do not wait until you receive your new card, it will follow in a few weeks.
6. Sandbagging is prohibited. Any Novice or Intermediate rider having been judged to have intentionally avoided getting a win towards advancement will be disqualified and moved to last. Last place points will be issued but the applicable award (if any) will be forfeit. Additionally, a win towards advancement will be credited.
7. A track operator may request to the ABA that a rider be moved up in skill level based on that rider’s ability and/or actions.
8. The ABA reserves the right to modify any rider’s proficiency at its discretion.
9. A rider may advance to the next higher-skill level voluntarily without acquiring the total amount of wins by racing in a higher skill level. No ABA approval is required for this action; the right to reclassify is forfeit for one (1) full year.
10. Any rider competing with another association or organization must compete in the similar classification at any ABA sanctioned event. If a rider’s classification status changes in another association or organization, that rider’s ABA status must immediately be changed to be comparable.
11. Any rider having exited the sport for any period of time and reapplying for membership must re-enter the sport with the same number of wins that they had when he/she left. Exceptions are available per Section IX, rules 3 & 4.
12. Any current ABA Cruiser rider holding a NAG (#1-10), Redline Cup or ROC plate, upon entering into 20” competition with a new full 20” membership, will be classified as NO LESS than an Intermediate rider. This will not affect the classifications of current 20” license holders.
The following describes class requirements as well as explains the procedures
for combining classes when necessary.
A. Girls
1. Bicycles for competition must have no more than 20” wheel diameters. Bicycles with 12”, 16” & 18” wheel diameters are therefore allowable.
2. All new Girl members have the option to be classified as Novice Girls and will ride with all other boy and Girl Novice riders in their appropriate age classes and should sign up as Novice at ABA events. Novice Girls will follow the move-up procedures as outlined in Section VI, rule 1.
3. Any Novice Girl rider racing at a National event will be placed in the Novice class with Novice boys and other Novice girls of the same age.
4. Any Novice Girl that moves up to the Girl classification at a National will be considered a Girl and from that moment on will be required to race in the Girls class at all events..
5. Girl classes will be formed according to this format:
6. Start at 5 & under Girl and build upward.
7. 3 Girl riders are required to make a legal class at all non-national events.
8. At all national events, 4 Girl riders are required to make an individual age class.
9. Girl riders will be moved UP through the Girl spectrum looking to form legal classes within a three-year age barrier. This means that a Girl rider may be moved up 3 actual years of age above her own. (Example: a 9-year-old Girl can move as high as the 12-year-old class. 12 minus 9 = 3 years).
10. Any rider in the 5 & Under class will be determined a 5 year old regardless of actual age.
11. Any rider in the 17 & over class will be determined a 17 year old regardless of actual age.
12. If a Girl rider cannot move into a legal class, then she will be moved into the boy’s Intermediate class of her respective age. (Girls in the 17 & over class will move to the appropriate boy’s class corresponding with her ACTUAL age.)
13. If the oldest Girl rider(s) of the day cannot form a class, that oldest rider(s) may then move down no more than 3 age groups looking to form a legal class. (Keep in mind that the three-year age barrier cannot be compromised.) There can be occasion where when the oldest Girl rider moves down, another rider of different age may follow that move down to the next legal class. (Example 1: Three 15 Girls (a legal class), one 16 Girl and one 17 Girl (oldest rider of the day). The 16 Girl moves up looking for a legal 3-rider class but finds only the one older rider. She would then attach to the 17 & over class to become a 17 Girl and one of the oldest riders of the day for the sake of the move up system. Both riders would then move down to 15 Girls and form a class of five riders.)(Example 2: two 13 Girls, one 14 Girl, one 15 Girl and one 17 Girl. The two 13 Girls would combine with the 14 Girl to form a class. The 15 Girl would move to the 17 Girl but no class is formed without a third rider. The 15 Girl would attach to the 17 Girl and both would move down a maximum of 3 ages looking for a class. It would appear that a combination at the 14 Girls class is legal but as there are 13 year old riders in that class, the 3 year age barrier is violated (17 – 13 = 4). Now, the 2 oldest Girls would move back to their respective classes (15 Girl & 17 Girl) and would move into the boys Inter class of their respective age. The 15 Girl cannot move back on her own merit, as she was not the oldest rider registered that day.)
14. When a class is formed, that class should be labeled by the title of the group in which it was formed. (Ex. When the 13 Girl class moved up to the 14 Girls, the class should be labeled as 14 Girls as that is where the class formed.)
15. Girl points will be tabulated separately and Girl racers will receive points corresponding with the Expert & Girl points table. If a Girl moves into an Intermediate boy class, the Girl rider will receive Girl points while the Inters will receive Inter points.
16. Novice Girls will receive points corresponding to the Novice points table and these points will show in the Girls points of that rider’s respective district.
17. All Girls and Novice Girls may race open classes at any local or national race.
18. All Girls and Novice Girls must race in their correct age class. Riding out of class will result in a forfeiture of points and possible suspension.
B. Boys (Novice, Intermediate, Expert)
2. Classes will be formed according to these specifics:
· At all non-national events, 3 riders are required to form a legal class in any situation.
· At all national events, 4 riders of a single age and/or skill level are required to form a legal class.
· At both national and non-national events, 3 riders of any combined ages (one 6 Novice & two 7 Inters) makes a legal class provided the move up system has been satisfied.
3. When necessary, classes will be combined according to the following process:
· The move-up procedure will always begin at the class of the youngest age and lowest skill level available. This rule applies even as the move-ups are underway. Once a class is formed, the process picks up the next available class (youngest age and lowest proficiency) and moves ahead from there.
· In an effort to facilitate Novice class formation, the Novice groups will have the ability to check ahead as many as 2 age groups above their own for the required number of riders before moving up into the Intermediate and Expert classes. Ex: One 6 Novice will check into the 7 Novice class looking for at least 2 other riders to combine with. If that minimum is not met, then the 6 Novice would check one more age group (the 8 Novice class) looking for the total of 3 riders. Important note: If there was a 7 Novice rider available, both the 6 & 7 Novice riders would move together, checking the 8 Novice class for at least a 3rd rider. If at this point no legal 3-rider class can be formed, the 6 Novice rider will move back to his respective age group.
· A Novice’s following move will be to the next skill level of the same age. (Ex. The 6 Novice rider will move to the 6 Inter group searching for a legal class of 3 riders.) If no legal class is formed, that rider will remain with this Inter group for move up purposes.
· An Intermediate class (in this case with the Novice rider attached) will check the next age group of the same classification. (Ex. The 6 Inter group checks the 7 Inter group looking to make a legal class of 3 riders.) If no legal class is formed, the Inter group will return to its home group (6 Inter).
· An Intermediate class’ subsequent move is to the Expert group of the same age, looking to form a legal class of 3 riders. (Ex. The 6 Inter group will move to the 6 Expert group.) If no legal class is formed, the Inter group will remain with the Expert group for move up purposes.
· An Expert class will check the next older age group of the same classification looking to form a legal class of 3 riders. (Ex. The 6 Ex group will move to the 7 Ex group.) If no legal class is formed, the Expert group will return to its home age group (6 Ex).
· At this point, the Expert group’s next move will be to the Intermediate group of the next age level and remain there for move up purposes. However, any Novice rider attached will move down to the Novice class with the corresponding age of that Inter class: (Ex. The 6 Ex group will move to the 7 Inter group, however the 6 Novice rider will move into and become a 7 Novice.)
· Now, the process begins again with the youngest age and lowest proficiency (the 7 Novice class).
· Once a class has been formed, the legally formed class should be labeled with the title of the group in which it was formed—even if there is no rider of that particular class involved.
· The 28 & Over Novice rider(s) will have the ability to check one (1) Novice age group below their own looking to form a legal class of 3 riders. Ex: One 28 & Over Novice will check the 19-27 Novice class looking for a class to combine with. If the rider is unable to form a legal class, the rider will move back to his respective age and the next move will be to the Inter group of the same age.
· If 28 & Over Inter does not form a legal class, the rider will check the 19-27 Inter group looking for a legal class of 3 or more riders. If no legal class is available, the rider’s subsequent move is to the 28 & Over Expert looking to for a legal class of 3 or more. If no legal class is available, the Inter group will remain with the Expert group for class building purposes.
· If 28 & Over Expert does not form a legal class, the rider will check the 19-27 Expert group looking for a legal class of 3 or more riders. If no legal class is available, the rider will move to the Intermediate group of their age (28 & Over) and continue in reverse order, looking for a legal class.
· If the event is a National, State/Provincial Series, Redline Cup Series or the Race of Champions, 36 & Over is the oldest 20" group of the day and will follow the same pattern as 28 & over in order to create a legal class.
5. All riders must ride in their correct classes, no arbitrary class changing is allowed. Example: no Intermediate may move up to a class above his own to avoid getting a first or turning Expert. No Expert may move up to the next Intermediate class for easier competition. Riding out of class will result in a forfeiture of points and possible suspension.
6. Any rider combined with rider(s) of a higher skill level will receive the corresponding points from the higher skill level. This applies to any type of points being awarded (District, State/Provincial, National). Example: If a 12 Novice rider is ultimately moved up to the 12 Expert class, that 12 Novice rider will receive Expert points. If a 13 Expert is moved into a 14 Inter class, that becomes an Intermediate class receiving Expert points.
7. Any Girl rider that combines into a boy Inter class will not affect the Inter points structure. (i.e.: The Girl rider will compete for regular Girl points while the Intermediates will continue to compete for Intermediate points.)
1. Bicycles for competition must have no less than a 24” wheel diameter. Bicycles with a 26” wheel diameter or larger are therefore allowable.
2. All cruiser riders must have an ABA cruiser membership to compete.
3. Girl Cruiser classes will be formed according to this format:
· No less than 3 riders are required to form a legal class in any situation.
· Start at 10 & under and build up, however the move up process stops at the 26-30 group. (Classes 31 and above are considered to be “protected” from younger riders moving up with exception.)
· At this point, go to the oldest class and begin moving riders DOWN until legal classes are formed (classes that form in the protected spectrum are additionally protected from younger riders within the remaining protected classes from moving up). Continue combining classes down, all the way to 10 & under if necessary.
· The exception to the “protection” rule is as follows: Any younger Girl Cruiser rider(s) without any legally formed “non-protected” class to combine with will move into the next available “protected” Girl Cruiser class. (Only under this “exception” circumstance will younger riders move up into the older, protected classes.)
· The only time a Girl Cruiser rider will ever move into a boy Cruiser class is when there is not enough Girl Cruiser riders to form at least 1 legal class within the entire Girl Cruiser spectrum, to include protected classes. In this situation, the Girl Cruiser rider(s) will be moved to the boy Cruiser class of corresponding age.
4. Always label the legally formed class by the title of the group in which it was formed.
5. Girl Cruisers will receive points corresponding to the Cruiser points table.
6. Girl Cruiser points will be separate from all other points.
7. All Girl Cruiser riders must compete in their correct age class. Racing out of class will result in forfeiture of points and possible suspension.
D. Cruiser
1. Bicycles for competition must have no less than a 24” wheel diameter. Bicycles with a 26” wheel diameter or larger are therefore allowable.
2. All cruiser riders must have an ABA cruiser membership to compete.
3. Boys Cruiser classes will be formed according to this format.
· 3 riders in the same age group form a legal class at all non-national events
· At all nationals events, 4 riders of a single age and/or skill level are required to form a legal class. Multi-age classes will require only 3 riders to form a class.
· Start at 9 & under and build up, however the move up process stops at the 26-30 class. (Classes 31 and above are considered to be “protected” from younger riders moving up—with exception.)
· At this point, go to the 51 & over class and begin moving riders DOWN until classes are formed (classes that form in the protected spectrum are additionally protected from younger riders within the remaining protected classes from moving up). Continue moving riders down, creating classes as they form, all the way to 9 & under if necessary.
· The exception to the “protection” rule is as follows: Any younger Cruiser rider(s) without any legally formed “non-protected” class to combine with will move into the next available “protected” Cruiser class. (Only under this “exception” circumstance will younger riders move up into the older, protected classes.)
4. Always label the legally formed class by the title of the group in which it was formed.
5. Cruiser riders will receive points corresponding to the Cruiser points table.
6. Cruiser points will be separate from all other points.
7. All Cruiser riders must compete in their correct age class. Riding out of class will result in forfeiture of points and possible suspension.
8. Pro Cruisers will never be moved into an amateur class.
1. Open categories (opens) offer riders an additional opportunity to compete at any ABA sanctioned event. Opens are generally of mixed age groupings and open to riders of any age and skill level respectively.
2. A “Mixed Open” designation means that only Novice, Intermediate and Girl riders will be allowed.
3. When a Mixed Open is offered, an Open class will also be available which will be available to only Expert riders.
4. Opens may be run at the local track operator’s discretion using promotional value and fairness as guidelines.
5. There will be no points awarded for opens.
6. To sign up for and race a 20” bike in open, a rider must first be registered to compete in his/her regular 20” points class.
7. The ABA recommends the following age groupings for opens: 6 & under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17 & over.
8. If a pro class does not form, a Pro-Am open class may be created. This class includes both amateur and pro riders. It is recommended that any amateur be Expert rated and be at least 15 years of age to compete.
9. Riders 15 and older may compete in an open class with cash as the award of the day so long as that rider also competes in their primary class(class or cruiser).
The ABA recognizes pro classes and pro riders, and was the originator of large pro purses. Pro racing is exciting and can be profitable; however, it is not for everyone as it is a very large step requiring dedication to succeed. Also, upon becoming a pro BMX rider, you could be disqualifying yourself from some or all amateur sports, according to state and/or federal laws.
A. A and AA Pro
1. A rider must hold a valid Pro membership to compete in any Pro class at any ABA sanctioned race. At no time will any ABA sanctioned track run a Pro class unless all riders are current Pro members.
2. All riders must provide a valid ABA Pro membership card before entering that class.
3. All ABA Pro members must be at least 15 years of age. Proof of age is required with any Pro membership application.
4. To apply for an ABA Pro membership, a rider must have held the status of Expert.
5. No ABA Pro may ever again race in an amateur class with the exception of a pro-am open. Any Pro doing so will have his Pro membership immediately revoked.
6. Any Pro membership application can be turned down or revoked by the ABA Competition Committee. ABA Pro membership is a privilege and a responsibility. Pro riders, you are the example for all future BMXers. You are in the spotlight and they are watching you. Good sportsmanship, fair play, clean riding, and good conduct are very important. You must act accordingly.
7. Any rider that competes in another sanction as a Pro or an equivalent class is required to race in the Pro classes with the ABA.
8. Pros will be graded into A and AA proficiencies.
9. ABA Pros compete for cash prizes at all ABA district and national events.
10. All bicycles in A and AA Pro will have no more than 20” diameter wheels.
11. The Pro season begins January 1 of each year and concludes after the Grand Nationals.
12. A new Pro member will be classified as A Pro. Any A Pro earning $3000 (in class only) at national races in one season will be automatically moved to the AA Pro class.
13. At all national events, there must be at least 4 riders in the Pro class to compete for prize money.
14. No less than 100% of the pro entry fee must be paid back as prize money. If 100% of the entry fees equals more than any guaranteed pro purse, the 100% must still be paid out. Example: A track operator guarantees a $500 purse and collects $600 in Pro entry fees. He must pay out the entire $600 as that is 100% of the fees.
15. Pro members may request for reclassification as per Section IX, rule 8 or rule 9.
16. National Pro competition is run under the total points system—the following rules apply:
a.