PhilNBL BMX General Competition Rules

BMX GENERAL COMPETITION RULES

LICENCES, AFFILIATIONS AND GENERAL CONDUCT
1. A rider must be at least 5 years of age to compete in a BMX event. The minimum age of 5 refers to the real calendar age on the day of race commencement and deviates from the age determination as described in paragraph B.1. underneath.
2. All riders must observe these rules and follow all instructions given them by any commissaire or official at any time during the course of the event. Every rider must at all times observe such conduct as it reflects the ideals of good sportsmanship and avoid any conduct which may bring himself or the sport of BMX into disrepute. The use of obscene or foul language is forbidden. Riders using such language will be penalized in a manner to be determined by the chief race commissaire.
3. Any rider found to be competing while intoxicated will be disqualified for the event and may suffer further penalty at the discretion of the officials of the event.
CATEGORIES
1. Riders registered to compete in an event will be classified according to their age, gender, bicycle style and level. Two styles of bicycles are recognized: standard, with a rim size of the wheel shall be 20" nominal diameter The total diameter of the wheels, inflated tires included, shall not exceed 22 ½“ (57 cm). The total diameter of the wheels, inflated tires included, in the cruiser class shall measure at least 22 ½" (57 cm), and the total diameter of the wheels, inflated tires included, shall be no larger than 26" in diameter. The age class a rider is eligible to ride is determined by his age which shall be calculated by deducting the year of birth from the current year.
2. Categories Championship Level:
  1. Standard bicycles:
    
    Championship level
    Elite Men - 19 & over;
    Elite Women - 19 & over;
    Junior Men - 17 & 18;
    Junior Women - 17 & 18;
    (4 categories).
  2. CRUISER
    
    Championship level
    Elite Cruiser - 19 & over;
    Elite Women Cruiser - 19 & over;
    Junior Cruiser - 17 & 18;
    Junior Women Cruiser - 17 & 18;
    (4 categories).
3. Categories Challenge Level:
  1. Standard bicycles:
    
    Challenge level
    Boys - 5 & 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16;
    (11 categories).
    
    Girls - 5-7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16;
    (10 categories).
    
    Men - 17-24; 25-29; 30 & over;
    (3 categories).
    
    Women – 17 & Over
    (1 category)
  2. CRUISER
    
    Boys / Men 12 & under, 13 & 14, 15 & 16, 17-24, 25-29,
    30 - 34, 35 - 39, 40 - 44, 45 & over;
    (9 categories).
    
    Girls / Women 12 & under, 13 & 14, 15 & 16, 17-24, 25-29,
    30 - 34, 35 - 39, 40 - 44, 45 & over
    (9 categories).
  TOTAL: 43 categories
4. Categories Masters Level:
  
  Men: 30 and Over
  (1 category)
5. A rider aged 17 years or over may choose to compete at either elite or Challenge level, namely in the appropriate age and gender group in 20" and/or cruiser. This choice of competing level shall be made for a whole year, running from January 1 until December 31.
6. Combination Rules
  
  Five riders shall constitute a category.
  
  If less than five riders register for a category, they will be combined with an older category. However, cruiser categories with a maximum age of more than 34 shall be combined with the next younger category.
  
  In the case that any under-subscribed category cannot be combined according to this rules, this category shall not be run.
  
  If the adequate numbers of five riders are registered, the category will be run even if less riders show up.
  
  If five or more riders register for a category and are present on race day, the category will not be combined in those cases where injury or illness prevents the requisite number from actually engaging in competition.
  
  No competing category at championship level can be combined with a competing category at challenge level and vice versa.
  
  Except as provided by the combination rules, no rider is permitted to compete outside of his age or gender group.
  
  All categories will eventually transfer to a final, which shall determine the final result.
FLAGS - Flags of the colors listed below are used by track officials as a means of communicating with each other and to riders on the track. These flags have the following meanings:

GREEN FLAG: The course is unobstructed and racing can proceed.
YELLOW FLAG: The course is obstructed and racers should be held at the gate.
RED FLAG: Riders on the track should stop immediately and return to the starting gate to await further instruction.
PRACTICE AND RIDERS' MEETING
1. No rider will be permitted to ride on the track until his bicycle and safety equipment have been inspected by an appropriate official. No bicycle will be permitted on the track unless it bears an official mark indicating that it has passed inspection.
2. At least one official practice session must precede the racing at any event. Separate practice times shall be allocated to each age class or other designated group. Each group shall have as a minimum time allowance that period which will allow all its riders to complete at least four laps including practice gate starts.
3. After practice has concluded, the chief race commissaire may call a team managers' meeting. The purpose of this meeting shall be to inform team managers of any supplemental regulations that may be in force during the race and to give further instructions regarding the general conduct of the race.
RACE SCHEDULE, TRANSFERS AND SCORING
1. The schedule of races shall be established according to the procedures set forth in Appendix 4.
2. The competition schedule and race order shall be posted on the information board. Moto sheets posted on the information board must indicate:
  1. Each rider's name and plate number;
  2. The race number;
  3. The qualifying round to which riders will transfer;
  4. The starting positions for each moto.
3. Scoring
  1. For each moto in which he competes, a rider shall receive a point score equal to his finish position in the race, with the rider in first place earning one point and so on down to the eighth place rider, who will receive 8 points. The riders with the lowest total points earned in the motos transfer to the next stage of competition in accordance with the rules set forth in Appendix 4.
    
    In elimination rounds the top 4 finishing riders will transfer to the next stage of competition.
  2. A rider must compete in all motos in order to be eligible for the next stage of competition.
  3. A rider who does not start in a qualifying race will be recorded as “Did Not Start” (DNS) and will not be eligible to transfer to the next stage.
  4. A rider who starts but does not complete a moto will be recorded as “Did Not Finish (DNF) and will receive a score equal to the number of riders who started the moto. This rider will be eligible to transfer.
  5. If two or more riders in a class complete the motos with equal scores, then they will be ranked according to their respective finishes in the last moto. However, whenever a lap time scoring system is utilized, the rider with the best-recorded time in the previous moto will be determined the winner.
STAGING AND STARTING POSITIONS

The gate starting positions for motos shall be determined according to the rule set forth in Appendix 3 and shall be indicated on the moto sheets. The gate starting positions shall be determined by one of the following:
1. By seeding determined by lap time from the previous round or time trials (fastest rider have first choice on gate).
2. By random by the computer for all rounds of racing, where a PhilNBL authorized computer race program is utilized.
3. By drawing lots for all rounds of racing.
All riders must start in their designated gate positions. The penalty for starting from any other gate position is disqualification.

It is each rider's responsibility to be in the staging area and on the gate at the appropriate times.

THE START
1. A BMX race shall be started using one of the following procedures:
  1. Where an electronically controlled starting gate is used, the starter's call will be:
    1. «Attention» or «Set them up» (optional). The starter will hold Stage 1 of the call until satisfied that the start is safe to proceed and will only then activate the voice box starting system. The recorded commands of the voice box shall be as follows:
    2. «Riders ready»
    3. «Watch the lights» or «watch the gate» (optional).
      
      Only in Stage 1 can the start be held by the starter. The starter will recommence with stage 1 of the call.
2. The voice box starting system is a facility that replaces the starter's voice.
  1. Where an electronically controlled starting gate in combination with a voice box supported starting system is used, the recorded commands of the voice box shall be as follows:
    1. «Attention» or «Set them up» (optional). The starter will hold Stage 1 of the call until satisfied that the start is safe to proceed and will only then activate the voice box starting system. The recorded commands of the voice box shall be as follows:
    2. «Riders ready»
    3. «Watch the lights» or «watch the gate» (optional).
      
      Only in Stage 1 can the start be held by the starter. The starter will recommence with stage 1 of the call.
  2. The basic requirements for a voice box starting system shall be as follows:
    1. The recorded commands must be clear and audible to all competitors on the gate.
    2. The voice box starting system must be entirely integrated with the lights and the gate controls.
    3. The cut off point for manual control of the voice box starting system shall be at the conclusion of the "Riders ready" command.
    4. The auto command of «Watch the lights» or «Watch the gate» (optional) sets the system into irretrievable motion and cannot be stopped.
    5. At the moment of the word «lights» or «gate» (optional), the voice box starting system shall auto engage the running of the light system and subsequently the gate drop procedure.
3. When a gate start is used, each rider's front wheel must be placed against the gate, be grounded and remain stationary during the starter's call.
4. A rider will be penalized for leaving his lane whereby causing interference with the progress of another rider during the first 10 meters of the race. A penalty for this infringement shall be imposed by the chief race commissaire, following the guidelines as described in Section IX, paragraph A.
CONDUCT ON THE TRACK
1. Riders who have registered for a competition are the only riders allowed to ride or practice on any part of the track on the days of the competition.
2. The chief race commissaire is the final authority at any competition and has the right to impose a penalty on any competitor, parent, spectator or team manager in the interests of safety or for violation of these rules, following the guidelines as described in Section IX, paragraph A.
3. If a race is stopped by officials before its conclusion, the riders in the race must return to the starting line immediately and await instructions.
4. A restart will be signaled by the blowing of a horn or other audible device. A re-run of a moto, qualifying round or final will take place only if, in the opinion of the chief race commissaire, the running of the race has been adversely affected by interference on the part of a spectator, animal or other outside agency.
5. If a rider falls or is forced to stop due to a bicycle malfunction during a race, his first responsibility shall be to remove himself and his bicycle from the course in order to give the least obstruction to other riders. If a rider cannot or does not get up after a fall, he may be moved only by first aid attendants or with the permission of a licensed physician.
6. Any rider who leaves the course during a race must, regardless of the circumstances, re-enter the course at the nearest safe point. He shall not interfere with the progress of any other rider or cut the course in order to gain an advantage. Any rider who cuts the course and gains an advantage will be penalized for this infringement by the chief race commissaire, following the guidelines as described in Section IX, paragraph A.
7. A rider shall not cause any part of his person or bicycle to come into contact with another rider's person or bicycle during a race with the intention of impeding that rider's progress so as to overtake him or cause him to be overtaken by another rider. A penalty for this infringement shall be imposed by the chief race commissaire, following the guidelines as described in Section IX, paragraph A.
8. The lead rider shall have the right to choose his line on the track and through the corners. When on the final straight, however, the lead rider shall not deliberately obstruct another rider from passing. A penalty for this infringement shall be imposed by the chief race commissaire, following the guidelines as described in Section IX, paragraph A.
9. Team riding or helping other competitors to gain a higher finishing position is prohibited. A penalty for this infringement shall be imposed by the chief race commissaire, following the guidelines as described in Section IX, paragraph A.
10. Team managers, parents, and others in the company of a rider shall not interfere with a race on behalf of a team or a rider. A penalty for this infringement shall be imposed by the chief race commissaire, following the guidelines as described in Section IX, paragraph A.
11. After crossing the finish line in a race, each rider shall proceed to the area where the finish poles assigned to the race are located and stand beside the pole whose number corresponds with his finish position. Each rider shall remain in that location until he is dismissed by a race official. This rule does not apply when finish line video camera equipment is in use at the finish line.
THE FINISH
1. A rider shall have finished at the moment when the tire of the front wheel touches the vertical plane rising from the starting edge of the finish line.
2. When a lap time scoring system is utilized and a rider does not finish a race (DNF), the Chief race commissaire must immediately confirm the rider’s finish result to the Lap Time Scoring Operator in order for the timing operator to manually shut down the timing of that race and for that rider to be scored.
3. When a lap time scoring system is utilized, it is mandatory that riders refrain from riding back towards the finish line area once they have completed their race and/or crossing the finish line from the other direction in order to prevent any interference with the timing system.