Supercross Track
Photo: transworld

SuperCross

The official AMA Supercross series started just two years after the Motocross in 1974 and the major difference between the two would be the tracks. Supercross tracks were significantly smaller and were usually held in football or baseball stadiums which allowed more spectators for the events. The tracks would vary depending on the space available but were all man made. There technically had been a couple stadium motocross events that took place starting in 1972 that had been organized by Mike Goodwin that took place at the LA Colosseum. It was called the “super bowl of motocross” and it sparked the interest of the AMA and that would lead to the start of the official AMA Supercross series. It also consisted of two classes in the beginning, 500cc and 250cc two stroke engine sizes. But because the tracks were so much shorter the 500cc Class only stuck around for a couple years before it was replaced with the 125cc. It was just far to powerful to be used on such a small track. The season would start in January and go though May with around 17 events for the 250cc class. Two stroke bikes had dominated the Supercross circuit just like they had on the motocross since the beginning, but in the late 90’s as these fancy new four strokes started popping up they started to take over the Supercross series, now that is all you will see at most races. Popularity for the Supercross series steadily increased because as a spectator at a supercross event you can see all the action taking place right in front of you, where as on most motocross tracks spectators sit and watch as the racers go by each lap where they are spread over a much larger area. because of this more Supercross events started to become televised and the 21st century brought a tidal wave of popularity to the point that AMA Motocross is the second most watched motorsport in the United States behind NASCAR.

Photo: mxlarge

Oakland Supercross Track
Photo: Supercross

Lucas Oil Stadium Supercross
Photo: google+