North Texas Motorcycle Challenge

Patterns and Rules

Our competition brings together experienced riders on all types of motorcycles in a competitive environment to perform skill-based exercises. Our courses are designed by precision rider competition winners and motor officers. Competitors are judged not only by time, but also by the precision demonstrated navigating the courses. Competitors drive within a challenging path outlined by cones without knocking over or touching them. The course is designed strategically to push the limits of the motorcycle rider's capabilities.

Rules Committee

A Rules Committee will be established to settle all competition disputes. An event official will be assigned the Chairman of the Committee and will refer all disputes to the committee that cannot be settled at the Chairman’s level. All decisions of the Rules Committee are final.

The Rules Committee will be selected in the following manner:

At least five members from the field will be asked to participate as a Rules Committee Volunteer. Two more people will be asked to be alternates. When a dispute is in question, any member of the Rules Committee that is in the same department, chapter or team will not have a vote on that particular issue but instead will ask for one of the alternates to vote.

All questions shall be submitted to the Chairman. If the dispute cannot be handled to the complainant’s satisfaction, the Chairman shall assemble the rules committee for the issue to be heard. A vote will be at the discretion of the Chairman.

The committee members from the agency, chapter or team involved in the dispute may participate in any discussion, but will not have a vote

Majority vote rules.

General Rules

The goal of the Skilled Motorcycle Riders Association is to create a fun, safe, competitive event. This aligns with our objectives educate the public on the benefits of training and to promote opportunities for riders to receive skills training. All participants shall conduct themselves in a professional manner while showing good sportsmanship throughout the competition. Please be courteous. Allow other riders practice time and do not limit access to the patterns. Also when possible, please assist other riders in increasing their skill by returning the favor of setting up cones during practice when the patterns are not manned by event officials. Please be alert and attentive to the location of you and your motorcycle during the competition as to not block the other competitors or spectators. Park only in the designated “competitor parking”.

Competition shall be open to all people who qualify. Riders that do not have the ability to make an 22 ’ U-turn (Novice) without placing a foot on the ground will be asked to go to the practice area until such time they can successfully complete this maneuver. If they cannot do so within 2 hours, they will not be allowed to participate and will not receive a refund.

Riders must compete on a motorcycle of at least 1000 cc's that is equipped in the normal deployment configuration as delivered from the factory. This would include lights, saddlebags, saddlebag rails, and engine guards (AKA "crash bars"). No modification of the steering geometry will be permitted. Motorcycles equipped with rubber fork stops must have the stops in place at the bottom of the triple tree to make contact with the frame while turning. All motors will be inspected prior to each run.

Riders must compete wearing the appropriate riding gear. Full length pants, a helmet properly fastened, boots or other protective foot/ankle wear must be worn while riding on the course.

Prior to entering a course or challenge pattern, a rider or team will be allowed five minutes to repair or replace a motorcycle that is malfunctioning. Once a rider or team starts that pattern, excuses for breakdowns will not be allowed.

No Rider shall enter the parking lot without a safety briefing. Once a signed liability waiver is on file, a bracelet will be issued. The bracelet must be visible while on the lot along with the assigned “placement” numbers on the motorcycle.

All motorcycles must be street legal and properly insured by the rider or the rider’s agency. Proof of insurance may be required.
The total score for each individual will be an average of all the previous runs. The patterns will not change for competitors over three runs. Each competitor’s lowest scored run will be discarded and an average of the next two runs will be the rider’s total score.

The rider accepts all responsibility for their own actions while at the event.

All injuries no matter the significance shall be reported immediately to the Chairman or one of the other event coordinators. An incident form will be completed for all injuries.

Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in each division. The object of the competition is to complete the course, without receiving penalty points with the fastest time against the other competitors.

Timing

Unless noted otherwise, the time begins when:

The front axle crosses the plane of the start line or the path of the timer with both feet off the pavement. Failure to have both feet off the pavement during entry will disqualify the run.

Unless noted otherwise, the time ends when:

The rider's front axle crosses the path of the timer or the rear axle crosses the plane of the finish line if an automatic timer is not being used.

Slow Ride
This is a timed competition with riders attempting to demonstrate the slowest speed and balance of a motorcycle while riding through the entire pattern.
Time Begins when:

The front tire crosses the plane of the start line with both feet off the pavement. Failure to have both feet off the pavement during entry will disqualify the run.

Time Ends when:

The motorcycle’s rear tire crosses the plane of the finish line
The motorcycle crosses any boundary line, or touches an obstacle.
The rider puts a foot down
The rider drops the motorcycle.

Ties will be resolved with a run off between the tied riders for slowest time.

Team Competitions

2 Man Chase Challenge
A course will be set up to be run at $10 per run. This is a timed competition and any two competitors may run this course as a team. An award will be given to the best team based on time of all clean runs. This is open to all competitors, regardless of Division. (See Schedule)

Tethered Partner Ride
A course will be set up to be run at $10 per run. This is a timed competition with two riders tethered together. They must navigate the course clean without breaking the tether. The top riding pair who participates in this event with the fastest times will place. Ties: Ties will be resolved with a run off between the tied partner riders for fastest time. (See Schedule)

Last Man Standing (if time allows)

This is a timed event. Riders will select heads or tails or an equivalent for choosing the lead position.

An open area will be coned off with obstacles placed inside the area. Two motorcycles will enter the arena at the same time. The first rider is the leader and the second is the follower. The leader will follow any path of travel and the follower must travel the same path of travel. The goal is for either rider to force the other rider “in to a corner” where they cannot continue without going out of pattern, placing a foot on the ground or for any part of the motorcycle or the rider to make contact with a cone or obstacle.

If the leader makes it through the obstacle course without going out of pattern, placing a foot on the ground or for any part of the motorcycle or the rider to make contact with a cone or obstacle, at the end of time, they win.

The follower wins by preventing the leader from moving forward without going out of pattern, placing a foot on the ground or for any part of the motorcycle or the rider to make contact with a cone or obstacle, at the end of time

Judging

Head Judge – The head judge is responsible for gathering all the scores from the pattern judges and getting those to the scorer.

Pattern Judges – Pattern judges will physically display rider’s scores to the head judge at the end of each run. (See training materials provided)

If any rider disagrees with his/her score, then he/she must notify the Chairman immediately. If the Chairman is unable to settle the dispute, then the matter will be referred to the Rules Committee as outlined in Section I, Subsection B.