Race Day Reference

Motocross Race Day Checklist:
47 Items Before the Gate Drops

Four checklists covering the night before, morning of, at the track, and between motos. Built for riders, parents, and team managers who refuse to let a missed item decide the race.

Night Before — The Bike Morning Of — Gear + Logistics At the Track — Pre-Race Between Motos

Total checklist items

Phases covered

Critical items flagged

Excuses accepted

Phase 1

Night Before — The Bike

Engine oil checked and changed if within 10% of service intervalCritical

Air filter cleaned, re-oiled, and reinstalledCritical

Chain tension set — 25–35mm slack at midpoint

Chain lubed after last wash

Tire pressure checked front and rear (OEM spec as baseline)

Coolant level at cold fill line

Brake pads inspected front and rearCritical

Brake fluid level checked

Throttle cable free, no binding through full steering lockCritical

Clutch cable adjusted, perch set to rider preference

Levers and handlebars tight and aligned

Radiator guards and plastic tight

Phase 2

Morning Of — Gear + Logistics

Helmet — no cracks, visor tight, liner cleanCritical

Goggles — lens clean, strap elastic good, tear-offs loaded

Neck brace / chest protector fitted

Boots — buckles working, sole not separatingCritical

Pants, jersey, gloves — all present

Knee braces if worn — hinges clean and moving freely

Registration or transponder if required for the venueCritical

Gate pick (if applicable) understood

AMA or local race license / medical cardCritical

Emergency contact info accessible in gear bag

Water + food loaded — at minimum 2L water per rider

Cash for gate, pit fee, and emergency parts

Phase 3

At the Track — Pre-Race

Sag checked in gear on race bikeCritical

Clicker settings confirmed against setup log for this trackCritical

Gearing confirmed for the track layout

Start position walk — gate condition, surface, ruts

Track walk completed — note key sections, lines, braking points

Practice moto scheduled and class start time confirmed

Warm-up protocol completed — at least 10 minutes easy riding

Tire pressure re-checked after warm-up (heat changes pressure)

Fuel topped off — check float bowl doesn't need draining if parkedCritical

Goggles on correctly, strap outside helmet

Gate pick executed and position noted

Phase 4

Between Motos

Coolant level after first motoCritical

Check for oil or coolant leaks on subframe and under engineCritical

Tire pressure re-check if conditions changed

Chain tension re-check

Any parts loose from the race — check lever bolts, axle boltsCritical

Goggle lens replaced or cleaned

Rider hydration — water between every motoCritical

Log the moto — notes while memory is fresh

Discuss setup with rider for any changes

Address any mechanical items before next gate callCritical

Fuel check if multi-moto event

Mentally reset — one moto at a time

The Five Mistakes That Decide Races Before the Gate Drops

Wrong sag for the track

Sag is the first thing to check and the last thing most people do. A bike set up for sand running at a hardpack track handles like a truck.

Running on a dirty air filter

You can feel a dirty filter. The bike loses crisp bottom end and feels sluggish. It's also destroying your piston. Check it the night before — not at the track.

No track walk

Walking the track before motos isn't optional. You identify your braking points, your lines through the rhythm section, and where the ruts are forming. Not walking costs lap time and increases crash risk.

Skipping hydration between motos

Two motos 45 minutes apart in the heat. Riders who don't drink between motos start Moto 2 already dehydrated. Reaction time, decision making, and grip strength all decline.

Not logging the session after

The best information you have about your setup is your memory right after the moto. It takes 3 minutes to log clicker notes, conditions, and what you felt. Most riders don't. Then they wonder why they can't replicate a good day.

Log the session. Every time.

Item 47 on this list is "log the moto while the memory is fresh." Every setup, every condition, every result — logged and searchable in MD Intel AI. When you're back at this track next month, you have the exact setup that worked last time, not a guess.

Start Logging — $49/mo Rookie — $9/mo

Motocross Race Day Checklist:47 Items Before the Gate Drops