Grassroots motorcycle racing: how to get going

Forget your Moto GP and your World Superbikes, there’s much more fun to be had if two-wheel thrills are your thing

The world is tightening its belt. Threats of recession, inflation, spiralling bills and cost-of-living woes demand budgeting and thriftiness. If motorcycles are your passion, you don’t need to shell out huge amounts of money, particularly if you are happy to set your sights a lower down the scale. Racing expensive bikes with ridiculous performance will put a dent in your savings but there is a way to compete without spending a load of cash.

Grassroots motorcycle racing in the UK refers to competition at amateur or club level. It's a way for riders to participate in the sport without the high costs and pressures of professional racing.

There are fewer barriers to entry and, as a result, there is a wider range of riders from different backgrounds. What starts out as a hobby usually ends up in a rider becoming part of a community. And it’s not just about track racing: there are a variety of disciplines to choose from such as road racing, off-road racing (like motocross or cross-country), and more specialised forms like grasstrack or speedway.

There’s a gamut of ways to compete, but for the uninitiated here’s a handful of grassroots disciplines that are worth considering:

• Club Racing: Many motorcycle clubs offer racing events for their members, providing a more competitive environment than track days.
• Club Racing: Open Racing: These events are open to the public and cater to a range of rider skill levels and bike types.
• Trials: Trials involve navigating a course with various obstacles, testing the rider's skill and control.
• Cross-Country Racing: This includes events like motocross, enduro, and rally racing, which involve riding on off-road tracks and trails.
• Autograss: Autograss racing is a type of off-road racing that takes place on a purpose-built grass track, often with tight turns and challenging sections.
• Drag Racing: Simply put, drag racing involves accelerating down a straight track as quickly as possible.
• Time Attack: Time attack events focus on achieving the fastest lap time on a closed circuit, allowing for some modifications to the bike.
• Classic Racing: Many motorcycle clubs offer racing classes for classic motorcycles, allowing riders to compete with historical machines.

However, before you start searching eBay for bikes and gear, you’ll need to consider the costs for an entire season of competition. Even in the most budget-friendly classes, some initial investment will be required for bike preparation and licensing on top of the purchase price of your bike and your clothing/helmet etc. Then you’ll have to consider track costs and what your likely yearly spend will be because racing entry fees can vary.

You’ll probably need to join a club, and that’ll involve an annual fee, which might sound onerous, but it can provide a supportive community and access to track time.

There are ways to keep your costs down and, if you just want to jump in and see what the skinny is, then here’s a few options for riders on a skinny budget:

• Freetech Endurance: This class is known for its reasonable entry fees, long-lasting tyres, and fuel efficiency.
• BMZRC Racing Club's MZ Experience: This package offers a complete racing weekend, including entries, tyres, fuel, transponder, and a race-prepped bike, all for around £500.
• CMRC’s New & Novice Riders Championship offers the first four races for free, a great way to dip your toes into racing without initial cost.

So, there’s plenty to choose from but connecting with like-minded individuals at a local club is a great way to start because they will point out all the pitfalls you may have not considered. Then, establish what you are going to spend, remembering to factor in fuel costs to get to race events. After that, and most importantly of all, enjoy yourself.