DIRT

Motocross is one of the most popular types of racing sports. Besides in competition, dirt bikes are used in every day riding situations and outdoor recreation. Dirt bikes have been around since the late 19th century, and continue to evolve with technological advances.

History

• The predecessor to dirt bikes was invented in 1885 by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Germany, and was basically a motorized bicycle, according toUSC.edu. Since then, dirt bikes have developed new frame designs, better gripping tires, and more powerful engines.

Beginning of Competition

• The first motocross competitions were held in Britain in the 1930′s, according to Freestyle-motocross.net. Bikes in these competitions were beginning to diverge in design from common street bikes and motorcycles, since they required a sturdier chassis for frequent wipe outs.

Motocross

• The first official dirt bike competition, called the 500cc displacement formula European Championship, was held in 1952. It eventually became a world championship in 1957. This began widespread interest in what came to be known as motocross. It also helped establish it as a viable sport, leading to competitions around the world and the birth of the motocross sport.

Types of Dirt Bikes

• Dirt-bike.us states that there are five types of dirt bikes. Trail-riders are made for casual riding over rough terrain. Motocross bikes are made for competition racing and tricks on closed tracks. Dual-purpose bikes function on both rough terrain and on streets. Enduro bikes are made for long endurance-testing races. Finally, desert bikes are modified for especially sandy and dry conditions.

Dirt Bikes in Media

• In the late 20th century, dirt bike racing and stunt competitions became widely publicized, especially on U.S. television, according tomotorcyclemuseum.org. While stadium motocross was invented in Europe, it hit its stride in America, and has become a big business since.