RULE CHANGES
As we gear up for The Greatest Race On Earth in less than two weeks, we wanted to highlight some of the major rule changes for 2024. Of course, we always recommend scanning the rulebook to look for any changes (highlighted in gray) that might not be covered in this overview.
State/Provincial Championship Series
Perhaps one of the biggest changes for 2024 is a revamp of the State/Provincial Championship Series, where we will now COUNT the scores of a riders best 8 single point races (within that rider's state/province) using the State/Provincial Points Table. That means that each single point race is worth 20 points for an Expert win. Also, at State/Provincial Championship Races, those are now worth double points from the State/Provincial Points Table meaning an Expert win is worth 40 points. Finally, the State/Provincial Championship Final will be worth triple points from the State/Provincial Points Table meaning an Expert win is worth 60 points at the Final.
Certainly, this change will dramatically affect points earned for the series and therefore affect how riders qualify for the Race Of Champions (ROC) as well as that is determined by a riders ranking in the series.
NAG & National Scores Counted
With every stop on the USA BMX National Series offering 3 possible scores on the weekend, as well as the BMX Canada National Series, it was time to revisit the number of scores to count as well as the minimum number of scores to secure a NAG or NAT ranking. For 2024, a rider will need a minimum of 8 national scores (not counting the Grands) to earn a NAG or NAT ranking and a riders best 10 scores will be counted towards the riders point total.
NAG & National Bonus Points
Another major change for 2024 is how bonus points for NAG & NAT points are calculated. Currently, riders can earn 10 points for each single point race they participate in from January 1st to October 1st of the racing season. New for 2024, those points will be based on a riders FINISH at those single point races using the following NAG Bonus Points Table (which is the same for Novice, Intermediate, Expert and Cruiser/Girl Cruiser):
1st 10 points
2nd 9 points
3rd 8 points
4th 7 points
5th 6 points
6th 5 points
7th 4 points
8th 3 points
DNQ 1 point
If you are gunning for a NAG plate, dont make the mistake in 2024 of showing up to roll out of the gate and expect to get your 80 points for doing that 8 times, as you will be 72 points short of where you would have been under the current rules.
Class Changes
The Cruiser ranks will be the only division to see some class changes for 2024, as we look to combine some classes and introduce a new one. It has been several years of struggling to make classes in the 21-25 and 26-30 Cruiser age groups, as they simply dont have the same rider count as other Cruiser classes around their age group. As a result, we will combine them into a single class of 21-30 Cruiser, which then mimics the Girl Cruiser class for that age demographic.
New for 2024 will be the 66 & Over Cruiser class for the men. The 61 & Over Cruiser class has continued to grow in size, as some of our Hall Of Fame Inductees (like Harry Leary & Turnell Henry), have aged into that class in recent years. This has left some of the veterans of the 61 & Over Cruiser class, who helped get that class introduced, on the outside looking in.
One of the best things about our sport is that literally generations of BMXers can compete as a family. We hope to keep these BMX pioneers around a bit longer with the new 66 & Over Cruiser class.
