The rush of tearing through the open countryside on a quad bike is almost impossible to beat, but for some adrenaline addicts exploring off-road tracks and trails isn’t quite enough to satisfy their need for speed, which is why they turn to the heart-racing action of quad racing. But what exactly is quad racing?
Here’s everything you need to know about the fast and furious world of competitive quad bike racing..
The Riders
Quad racing is designed to give experienced riders the chance to show off their skills and unleash their competitive streak. It was originally created as an adult only event, but thanks to improved safety measures there are now a number of junior classifications too. Quad racing definitely isn’t for first time riders!
The History
Like most motor sports quad racing first gained popularity in the US, but it wasn’t long before it took off around the rest of the globe. Quad racing has even taken the UK by storm too.
The Tracks
No two quad racing tracks are the same, which is what makes this full-throttle motor sport so exciting and unpredictable. Typically tracks feature tight turns, exhilarating jumps, high speed straights and lots of mud! The track also depends on the format of the race, which we’ll come to next..
The Race Formats
Quad races can follow a number of different formats, which is usually dependant on where the race is taking place. Motorcross races take place on specially designed all terrain circuits, cross country races take place on challenging off-road courses, and hare scrambles take place in the desert. Some race formats aren’t dependant on the location though, and hill climbs, speedway, TT, flat track and drag races can take place almost anywhere.
The ATV’s used for quad racing are built with performance, rather than utility in mind. They are lightweight and high powered, with improved suspension and a low centre of gravity. Speed and handling is key for a racing quad.
Final Fact
Quad bike racing has become so popular that there is even a quad bike classification for the Dakar rally. The world’s most famous off-road endurance event has two quad biking classifications, which have been won by Yamaha since 2009.