Sport or not, motorcross is important for kids nationwide

I’ve been a pretty consistent rider since a young age, especially on dirt bikes. There’s been an ongoing debate inside and outside the motorcross community on the question: could this even be considered a sport?

I will admit, it gives you a pretty strenuous arm and leg workout, but it is untraditional in comparison to a variety of other sport genres. Whether you are racing on a closed-circuit track or on an off-roading expedition, I would say it’s pretty demanding on your body as a whole to keep control of a machine such as a dirt bike.

The debate over this topic folds back and forth if we could really consider motorcross as a sport, mostly due to the insinuation that since you are riding on a motorized machine, you aren’t realistically doing any work.

I would argue that isn’t absolutely true, as I previously noted that it does take a considerable amount of bodily control to safely ride. Motorcross in itself is classified as dangerous and holds high statistics in youth deaths shared between kids and teens. 

In the 2026 Supercross season, the 450-class ranged for about 11 injuries on and off the racing track. This year, I was able to attend the Anaheim 1 race where Justin Barcia and Malcolm Stewart collided on the track, leaving Barcia with a fractured back and concussion and Stewart with a dislocated shoulder. 

Understanding the risks of riding is important due to the number of reported injuries and deaths, especially in young riders. 

With all the included dangers and bodily strain, I would personally classify motorcross as a sport. There is definitely a large majority that disagree with this take though, both from experienced riders or those who haven’t been on a motor bike a day in their life. 

Frequently, friends and family would take trips to Ocotillo Wells or Glamis to go on off-roading rides on uneven terrains and sand dunes. Many of the local community members would assert their strong opinions on the classification of dirt bike riding being a motorsport, heavy on the “sport” part. 

This is where I believe many people form their opinions based on the motorcross culture their community is exposed to. Considering many citizens in the Ocotillo Wells area have businesses and accommodating stops that are reformed on motorsports as a whole, they express a more distinctive opinion that it is a sport. 

In areas that are more suburban and concreted, many people enforce the idea that motorcross sports shouldn’t be seen as a sport, and this would usually be due to the personalized culture of a non-centered livelihood in relation to motorcross. 

Living in a rural community in California, motor sports was a very common past time between the youth in the area. Many would participate in the motor sport culture as a solo hobby or with bigger groups as a way to practice racing techniques and stunts.

Whether you classify motorcross as a sport or not, any rider would admit that it takes incredible upper and lower body strength to even control a bike and avoid accidents and dangerous maneuvers. 

This is the opinion of Marissa Watt, CSB first-year.