It’s all about fun and thrills, big jumps and wipeouts!

It all started as a sport after World War ll , with races run on horse race tracks or ovals of dirt. the tracks gradually got bigger with banks and jumps being added.

By the 1980′s it had become a sport with riders in huge stadiums in front of audiences and champions being crowned.

In the 1990′s the sport developed into freestyle motocross with riders performing more and more daring, usually dangerous tricks and flips.

So it is one of the most fun, exciting and exhilarating sports a child or youth, either male or female can have a go at while growing up but it can also be very dangerous without the correct gear.

Of all the gear you can buy and the list can be endless, the most important is a good safety helmet which gives essential protection to the neck and head when riding a motorcycle or dirt bike and can save you from serious harm or damage in the case of that inevitable spill.

Having the right fit is equally important for your child because if it is too big or loose it won’t protect those budding brains inside them, it will slip around on the head, both impairing all round vision and even worse come off if he/she crashes, which, let’s face it, especially for boys, where is the fun in taking part if they don’t take risks and show off to their mates (under say 12) and to the young girls standing on the side lines who they really want to impress as they get older!!

It must have a snug fit, being too small is equally bad as who wants their kid strangled by a too tight chin strap when he’s supposed to be having fun!

It should have a tight rather than loose fit when it is bought as the lining is designed to mold to the head shape and so will loosen up quite a bit with use. It will then become comfortable and keep your child as safe as possible.

The helmet must sit squarely on the head and not tilt back like a school cap no matter how cool he thinks it looks, it should fit comfortably around the face, with the cheek pads just touching the cheeks with no pinching and have no gaps on the brow which could jerk down and possibly cause a broken or damaged nose.
The chin strap should be secure but not tight, enough room to run a finger under when fastened but not choke your child and damage the voice box, he needs to yell after all!

Once he is  ready to go with his new snugly fitting and cool looking helmet your child is best to take lessons from an experienced rider. Most bike shops have information on where is the best place to go, which dirt bike track will be best and what lessons if needed are available.

A few Motocross Facts and Records
* The longest jump ever landed on a dirt bike is 278 feet by Trigger Gumm.
* In 2002, Caleb Wyatt became the first motocross rider to land a backflip.
* Brian Deegan has won ten medals in motocross at the X Games – more than any other rider.
* Freestyle motocross is now part of the Winter X Games, with riders performing tricks off snow jumps