Motocross Sport Or Not
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Motocross: Sport or Not
Even though some would consider motocross racing a hobby or a game rather then a sport because of their opinions, a person should understand that motocross racing is a sport in todays world because it contains all the elements of the definition of what a sport is and Motocross is a sport due to the fact that it requires an individual to be in top shape, both mentally and physically as defined by the word sport.
What exactly determines whether or not an activity is a sport? The term sport is defined by The Free Dictionary as: A physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively, an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively, or an active pastime; recreation.
In order for one to understand if Motocross is a sport or not it is important to first understand the meaning of what a sport is. The history of sports is varied in nature, but, no matter what book someone reads, the common denominator remains the same; competition. This type of competition involves both physical and mental endurance. Endurance includes training for a particular sport with the appropriate exercising of the
body and mind. Most exercise specialists believe a person cannot have one without the other. In order to have a physically fit mind one must have the body to go with it.
As history tells us, in the Roman days, the competitors had to be in superb shape in order to compete in the activities and sports of that time. What about Hercules and the characters of the Roman time period. Chariot races could be considered the beginning of auto racing or even motocross. The chariot rider had to be able to control his cart with physical strength along with having the ability to use his mind to make the correct decisions about when to pass another competitor. The chariot rider had to develop strong arms in order to control the reins of his horse drawn cart. How did he get them? Exercise of course! It may not have been the exercise that we know today, but, none the less, it began with repetitive motions of muscles used in everyday work. Remember they did not have our modern day machines to build those great coliseums.
The youth of today have often been told or led to believe that an activity is not a sport. I beg to differ. As a young man and brother I was convinced that cheerleading was not a sport. My sister would argue anyone on that subject, and so would I after watching them perform. They not only cheer, but take gymnastics to another level of complexity. Cheerleading is definitely a sport with or without competitions. Once I concluded that cheerleading could be considered a sport, I began to apply those same concepts to other physical activities that I enjoy. This application leads me to consider a physical activity that I enjoy and feel I am an expert on; Motocross racing. It is a sport in all the elements defined above.
There are sports and there are games. Both of them are competitive, either individually or in team settings. Winners are determined by reaching particular objectives or scores. Some can be judged personally by observers, who may or may not have a political agenda. The lines get distorted at times. Just watch any sport on television or listen to the radio announcer at a game. One always has an opinion of what is right and wrong. Each announcer seems to be the specialist who knows the rules of that particular sport. Ultimately the only opinion that counts is the referees. They determine the true outcome of the game or sport. As in recent months they can also throw the sport in favor of a particular person or team. Not always does the true winner prevail on the track, field, or court.
A sport is generally an activity that requires some larger form of physical strength. The key here is superior. A sport is one that has a definitive and measurable goal such as distance, height, weight or time. Motocross can defend all of the measurable goals as well as adding dirt eating to the sport. A rider must meet the distance, ride to the height of the hills, and race in a timely manner as to get to the finish line first. This gives the rider the victory of that checkered flag. No matter who is asked the question of what makes a sport a sport the answer is always a split. It seems to be that opinion and not based on the facts of what is required of a sport to be called a sport. Once again the argument can be made that games are things that require skill but not necessarily athleticism. Motocross requires both and then some, thus it is a sport!
I started riding dirt bikes as a pastime when I was in junior high. As I improved on my riding skills, I realized that I wanted to excel in this activity, and began to see it
more as a sport than a pastime. Yes, I said sport. Anyone that does not believe that Motocross racing is a sport is not living on the planet earth. Motocross involves the physical ability to hold your bike up while making turns and jumps at speeds that sometimes surpass a car on a city street and are sometimes higher than a two-story building. Motocross definitely requires someone in great physical condition to perform these feats. The bikes are not light like a bicycle but are extremely heavy and seem to get heavier the more you ride them. I feel that this requirement proves one of the definitions above; physical endurance.
Next, rules of competition are made for each track that a racer participates. Each track has guidelines that divide riders by the size of the bike, the age of the rider and even the level of riding that the riders are familiar with, such as, beginning, intermediate, advanced. Of course, the more one rides the better one gets, and the better one gets the more one wants to race with people on the same skill level.
What is Motocross racing? Motocross is a motorcycle racing sport on dirt tracks or artificial courses. Regardless of the surface of the track, the racing is held on an off-road course. The tracks often match up to the terrain with some created obstacles or jumps. A
more advanced race known as Supercross has a higher number of jumps and man-made obstacles. The competition in motocross is much like auto racing, in that the competitors must complete a set number of laps or ride for a specific amount of time. Motocross races can include a combination of laps, which give the racers a cumulative score for the event.
The rule for this type of racing is broken down by engine size and construction. There are races for All Terrain