To race or not to race???? 5 yr old son

njkx

Member
Apr 13, 2004
209
1
So my 5 yo is on a CRF50. He has been riding it since last year when he was 4 and keeps asking me when he can race.

His riding ability is pretty good for his size/age but the are two major issues:

#1. The bike is a bit tall for him and when he has to stop on an uneven area or he gets hung up in a rut, he often falls.

#2. He cannot shift. Doesn't quite grasp the concept. When he rides on the track I put the bike in 1st or 2nd and let him go.

In hindsight I think he would have been better off with a PW50 or the like. So if he races he will have to be in the 50cc stock class 4-6 yo.

My concern is that he may get discouraged if he has trouble getting around the track and is unable to finish the race.

Am I over-thinking this? Should I just let him go out there and have fun? Or will he be in over his head?
 

rmc_olderthandirt

~SPONSOR~
Apr 18, 2006
1,533
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I suppose it depends on the nature of the race.

The races that I am familiar with for the "pee wees" he would be fine in. Parents and course workers line the course and if he had trouble anywhere on the course someone would jump in and get him going again. If the race he would be in is similar and your son wants to race I would say go for it! Just let him know that he is a winner no matter where he finishes.

Rod
 

Patman

Pantless Wonder
LIFETIME SPONSOR
Dec 26, 1999
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It might also motivate him to figure out the shifting thing if he see's other kids doing it and beating him. I know my kid will listen to a point but when he's getting beat at anything he figures out in a hurry how to catch up and pass.
 

robwbright

Member
Apr 8, 2005
2,283
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I'd go ahead and let him. Haven't seen a little one get seriously injured yet - and I expect that the thrill of th e start and the race would get him even more hooked on it.

(Disclaimer - I haven't started my 6y/o daughter racing yet - she's vertically challenged like I am and can't ride a bicycle or the Z50 without training wheels yet. She wants to, though).
 

oldguy

Always Broken
Dec 26, 1999
9,419
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This is not aimed at the original poster but just thought I would drag it up again since we have a whole new crop of racing kids out there

Contrary to what you will no doubt infer from the following lines, my
father is a great man—not a jerk. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam
and started a third tour before getting injured. Racing motocross is what I
wanted to do since my earliest what-I-wanna-be-when-I-grow-up thoughts. He
gave me that opportunity when I was 11 years old, and I will always be
grateful to him for it. My dad, like any good parent, wanted me to have the
opportunities he never had, to live the dreams he never go to, but sometimes
he got so wrapped up in his dreams for me that he forgot about my dreams.
Eventually I got the chance to race my first race in the 80cc Beginner
class at De Anza Cycle Park. I got dead last in both motos and I loved it!
There was just something about leaving the start gate with 15 other riders
that got my adrenaline going—so much so that I looped out right out of the
gate in the second moto in an attempt to get a better start. I loved those
days. I loved getting up in the morning too early to open my eyes to drive
to the track on the weekends. I loved riding motorcycles.
It was rather infrequent at first, but sometimes, especially at the bigger
races, if I didn’t do well, my dad would say some mean things to me. He
would say things like “You’re worthless” and “Why did we drive out here so
you could ride around the track like a wimp on a Sunday ride?” He started
to forget why we were doing it. It was supposed to be for fun and bonding,
but he actually, genuinely got his feelings hurt if I fell or rode poorly in
a race.
I came off the track at Perris Raceway during the Night Series after
finishing midpack. I knew I’d had a poor race, and I knew my dad knew it
too. I had pretty heavy arm pump, and I was expecting to hand over the bike
to him in the pits so he could put it on the stand, and I could get my gear
off. I knew he’d be upset. I parked the motorcycle next to the stand and
watched as my dad walked up—I could tell he was pissed. As I reached down
to turn the gas off, I heard a loud smack inside my helmet. I almost fell
off my bike. My dad had delivered an open handed blow across my head—helmet
on, of course—but he was that upset—so upset that he hit me.
Racing never really got the fun back for me. It’s had a negative
connotation in my mind since I was in my very early teens. All because,
ultimately, my dad wanted me to be Jeremy McGrath more than he cared about
having fun. I wasn’t around when Jeremy was coming up through the ranks,
but I could almost guarantee you that Jeremy’s father never screamed at him
for losing, or threatened him in any way. That’s part of why he is where he
is, at the top of our sport.
If you don’t think your child tried hard enough, or cares enough, he’s not
going to try any harder or care any more if you force him to. Actually, it’
ll probably have quite the opposite effect.
If you’re a mini parent, you can take it from me that what your kid wants
most is to have fun. Chances are that he or she won’t ever ride a factory
bike, and chances are even better that you’ll never get the money back out
of motocross racing that you put into it. The focus should be more on
whether or not your kid has a smile under that helmet, and less on whether
or not your kid beat so-and-so’s kid. It’s ridiculous to spend
college-tuition money on racing in the hopes that some day Junior will sign
a multimillion-dollar contract to race motorcycles.
Little 12-year-old Timmy isn’t racing for the 250cc Supercross
championship. He’s racing for fun.
 

whenfoxforks-ruled

Old MX Racer
~SPONSOR~
Oct 19, 2006
8,129
2
Merrillville,Indiana
If its set up, where its easy to help the kids out when they need it, go for it. Otherwise, he really should go to the track on practice day. And dads left like Dave's story, call the local family services and have them arrested. Or, duct tape the dad to a big bike with the throttle stuck, see how he does? There are a lot of these types at the races, some more arrogant. Be prepared. Your son does have the appropriate safety gear, health care that covers racing and practicing? Sometimes you may need separate policies. AMA sanctioned event coverage does not cover anything but organized racing. Last I checked! And sad to bring up, but it is still legal hopefully in your area? Vintage Bob
 

njkx

Member
Apr 13, 2004
209
1
thanks for replies. He's already been on the practice track several times and does well. However the races are on a different track that does not have open practice. Anyway I'm leaning towards letting him race after talking with a few other dads at the track. I am told the PeeWee races are fairly laid back and they allow parents on the track to help the kids.
 

Patman

Pantless Wonder
LIFETIME SPONSOR
Dec 26, 1999
19,774
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Your comment about "open" practice concerned me a little. I've heard several stories of kids that were on a track with full sized bikes ending very sadly. PLEASE whatever you do DO NOT let your child on the track when big bikes (or ATV's) are on it! You might hope that they are looking out for your kid but even if they were if the child falls on the back side of a jump there is nothing the other rider can do when they are in the air.
 

whenfoxforks-ruled

Old MX Racer
~SPONSOR~
Oct 19, 2006
8,129
2
Merrillville,Indiana
Peewee track, now you are going down the best\safest path. What Pat said, a hundred fold! Big and little bikes do not mix, at all. And its ALWAYS the little guy who gets hurt the worst. Best of fun, Vintage Bob
 

njkx

Member
Apr 13, 2004
209
1
Yep. There is a seperate practice track for mini's only. "Open" practice meaning you don't have to be racing or a member of the track to ride.
 
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