About The Sport
Bicycle moto cross (BMX) has caught the spirit of a generation as BMX bikes swept across Europe and the USA. As part of the extreme sports hungry generation, BMX has exploded and from small beginnings become a huge sport.
In April 1981, the International BMX Federation was founded, and the first World Championships were held in 1982. BMX rapidly developed as a unique sporting entity, and after several years clearly had more in common with cycling than motorcycling codes. Thus, since January 1993 BMX has been fully integrated into the International Cycling Union (UCI).
On 29 June 2003, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to include BMX in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Based on Moto-Cross, BMX races have thrills and excitement aplenty as riders cut in and leap through the air as they race around a circuit of around 350 metres, including jumps, banked corners and other obstacles. Eight riders compete in each heat (qualifying rounds, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals), with the top four qualifying for the next round.