Motocross is often labeled an extreme sport. But like snowboarding, riding dirt bikes on manicured real estate is also a friends-and-family activity that continues to grow in popularity.
Twenty years ago, finding challenging places to ride dirt bikes along the Front Range wasn’t easy. It sometimes involved riding illegally at an abandoned construction site or in a residential open space — behind the “no motorized vehicles” sign.
But safe, supervised and relatively inexpensive motocross parks are as easy to find nowadays as the ski areas to the west. And for every black diamond for advanced riders, there is a bunny slope for beginners and youngsters.
Lakewood’s Thunder Valley is the place to go on the west side of Denver, and to the north, there are IMI Motorsports Complex in Dacono and Valley Dirt Riders in Berthoud. Watkins Motocross near Denver International Airport and Pawnee Cycle Club in Sterling serve many riders in the eastern part of the state.
Colorado Springs is home to Aztec Family Raceway.
“Much of our business is family-driven,” Aztec owner Byron Wolf said. “That’s why in 1995 when I bought this place, I renamed it Aztec Family Raceway. I have to believe 40 to 50 percent of our riders are dads and sons, husbands and wives, and other combinations like that.”
Each of the aforementioned complexes offers at least one advanced course and one beginner track. Most venues don’t allow experienced riders on the “peewee” course, and vice versa.
Some tracks are open year-round during daylight hours, but others opened just last weekend.
Costs to ride vary. Most tracks charge an annual membership fee of around $20 and daily riding prices are between $5 (children) and $15 (adults). Watkins Motocross offers a $30 family membership fee that includes two adults and any of their children younger than 18.
The sport’s largest expense is the motorcycle. An adequate new 50cc or 70cc youth bike will set you back $2,500 or more, but a used one can be had for around $500.
Most tracks do not rent bikes.
“If you want to get involved in this, you need to make the investment,” Wolf said. “We want people invested enough to take it serious, and that leads to the safety aspect. I’d be scared to death to rent a bike to someone who didn’t know what they’re doing. They need to be invested.”
Mandatory equipment includes helmet, chest and eye protection. Full padding — including boots, gloves and elbow and knee pads — is recommended.
“There’s a real mixed bag of people riding around our place, but we’ve been in business since 1995 and we’ve never had a problem,” Wolf said. “It’s all about holding your line. You don’t want to approach a jump at one side and land on the other side. Riders are passionate about their sport, and they figure it out quickly.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Time to rev ’em up
These Front Range motocross facilities offer recreational dirt-bike tracks for all ages and skill levels:
Aztec Family Raceway
Colorado Springs
719-683-3301
IMI Motorsports Complex
Dacono
303-833-4949
Pawnee Cycle Club
Sterling
970-521-0574
Thunder Valley Motocross
Lakewood
303-697-1003
Valley Dirt Riders
Berthoud
303-477-6979
Watkins Motocross
303-341-6309
