FLORIDA GEORGIA SPORTS COMMITTEE (FGSC) RULES

Chapter 1 RIDERS AND ELIGIBILITY

A. General

1. No rider under the legal age of majority in the state in which the meet takes place may compete without the written consent (signature on liability releases and entry forms) of his/her parents or legal guardians present at the meet. An authorized adult acting on behalf of the parents or legal guardians must provide a notarized statement indicating they have been given the authority by the parent or legal guardian to be responsible for the minor during the meet. All releases and notarized statements must be forwarded to the FGSC with the referee report and/or injury report. The parents, legal guardians or authorized adult must remain present while the FGSC member he/she is responsible for is at the meet.
2. All race personnel, officials, riders, mechanics, anyone associated with riders and photographers must not consume or be under the influence of intoxicants or drugs that could affect their normal mental or physical ability. Besides affecting the safety of the meet, any such use is inconsistent with the concept of good sportsmanship and is harmful to the sport of motorcycling.
3. Riders and/or family and pit crew who direct foul and abusive language to an official of the sponsoring club, promoter, or district official are subject to disqualification for the entire meet.
4. Each rider is responsible for the actions of his family and pit crew. Any unnecessary trouble caused by these individuals puts that rider at risk of disqualification.
5. All riders and other race personnel must assess for themselves the track, facilities, existing conditions and other matters relating to safety. The FGSC cannot and does not undertake to supervise any competition. All riders and race personnel must rely on their own judgment and assume all risks of participating in competition in any manner.

B. Riders and Classification

1. Riders shall be classified by the FGSC districts on the basis of participation and achievement in the district level competition unless otherwise provided by FGSC rules. Rider classification shall be as follows:

a. A – the highest classification

b. B – the classification preceding A

c. C – the classification preceding B

d. D – beginner entry level classification

2. Participation in or advancement to a higher class in any FGSC or non FGSC activity by any rider will result in permanent advancement to that higher class.

3. If a rider believes he/she is not capable of competing as the higher class rider, he/she may appeal (once per district season) in writing to his/her recognized district. Each case will be considered individually at a regular meeting of the district or regional organization. When the FGSC is notified of the decision in writing, with a copy to the rider, the change in classification will become official. Appeals from riders without a recognized district organization will be considered by the FGSC staff.

a. Riders returned to a lower class are only those who officials consider completely non-competitive in the class

they are leaving and will not dominate the class they are returning to.

b. A rider may return to a lower class only once.

c. A rider returning to competition after several years must request to be reverted as explained above and can not

move back a class automatically or without FGSC or district permission.

d. Failure to comply will result in suspension or other disciplinary action.

4. Riders between the ages of 12 and 14 riding the “B” class shall not be forced into “A” class, regardless of how many “B” races or advancement points he/she has. Riders in this age group may advance based on their own ability/competence.

5. Advancement: For rider classification advancement in motocross the FGSC Advancement System must be used by all FGSC recognized districts. In unrecognized districts the FGSC Advancement System may be applied when inconsistencies or lack of an advancement system exists.

C. Competition Apparel

It is the sole responsibility of the rider to select a helmet and apparel which will provide appropriate protection. The FGSC does not endorse or certify any manufacturers or products. The rider must rely on his own judgment in the selection of any helmet and apparel for durability and safety.

1. A helmet must be worn during all competition. All helmets must be full coverage or full-face models. Helmets must be certified by the manufacturer and have a sticker affixed stating it meets or exceeds DOT Standard 2000, Snell M2000, M2005, or any of the FIM SFI approved certifications. The riders number may be placed on both sides of his helmet (using a contrasting color) to help scoring.

a. It is recommended that all competitors display the following information on the base of his/her helmet: name,

drug allergies and blood type. It is also advisable to carry this information on a small card inside the leathers

and add any pertinent information such as epilepsy, diabetes, current medications and past medical problems.

2. Shatterproof goggles or face shields must be worn at the beginning of events, including practice.
3. Boots must be worn in all meets. They must be at least eight inches high with either laces, buckles or zippers, or specially designed and constructed for leg and foot protection.
4. A steel skid shoe may be worn. It must have a curved front that extends at least two inches over the toe of the boot.

Chapter 2 MEETS

A. Race Rules

1. No one except riders officially entered may ride or practice on any portion of the course the day of the meet. If a course includes public roads, a rider may travel those roads necessary to reach the starting area.

2. The machine the rider brings to the starting line for his first heat or moto is considered the qualified machine for that days meet in that class.

3. If a rider’s physical stature is such that he/she can not reach the ground with both feet, blocks may be used but must be removed immediately after the start.

4. Practice or warm up is limited to the designated area identified by the organizer. Competitors riding or allowing their machines to be ridden, outside these boundaries will be excluded from the meet.

5. A rider must be ready when called to the starting area. If not ready, he is allowed two minutes after the starters call to make minor repairs. Afterward, if he still is not ready, he is excluded from the event. Once an alternate rider has been called to the starting line by the referee, he will not be removed unless disqualified for some infraction. No alternate rider will be placed in an event once it has been initially started by the starter. Additionally, alternate riders may not be placed in an event that must be restarted. Any rider may ask for two minutes to make repairs, but the additional time will not prevent the disqualification of another rider who has used the two-minute limit.

6. If a race was stopped because riders were down, the first rider down is placed in the restart, etc., with the last rider down behind the last rider who did not fall. If for any reason a rider does not complete the re-flagged lap, he too will be placed in the rear of the restart in a position respective of his stoppage. If the race is called complete the riders will be scored in the position in which they would have restarted.

7. A rider whose machine is disabled before reaching the finish line may, under his own physical power, push or carry his machine (in the direction of the track) across the finish line to receive the checkered flag. Provided he completes at least 50 percent of the number of laps as the winner, a rider who finishes in this manner will be considered as have completed the event.

8. If a rider stops for any reason during an event, he must restart without any outside assistance. However, if a rider falls, blocking the course and endangering other riders, he may receive help or have his machine pushed off the course. An attempt to help under any other situation will result in the riders disqualification.

9. A rider leaving the course must re-enter at the same point or at the first point where he can safely do so without interfering with other riders and without gaining an advantage. Failure to do so will result in the rider being penalized a minimum of one finishing position for that event.

10. A competitor who rides in a way that endangers officials, other riders or the public will be subject to immediate disqualification from the meet by the referee.

11.When entering or leaving the pits, a rider must use designated entrance and exit lanes. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

12. If heat races are used, a rider must start a heat to qualify for the final event.

13. The race is completed when the leader takes the checkered flag. Finishing position is determined by the number of laps completed and a rider need not take the checkered flag to finish.

B. Flags

1. GREEN – start of race.

2. WHITE – one lap to go until finish.

3. YELLOW – caution. When a yellow flag is displayed, competitors must ride cautiously until they have passed the incident that caused the flag. In motocross when a yellow flag is displayed there is no passing or jumping between the flag and the incident that caused the yellow flag. Failure to do so may result in the rider being docked from on finishing position all the way to disqualification from the event subject to the referee’s discretion.

4. BLACK – disqualification of a rider. That rider must report to the referee at once.

5. BLACK AND WHITE CHECKERED – end of race.

6. RED – stopping of a race for any emergency situation.

C. Scoring

1. Each rider is entitled to examine his score or scorecard with the head scorer or referee.

2. No official announcement of race winners may be made until all checks have been examined and the head scorer approves the cards. Official results are declared final if no rider requested a recheck within a half-hour after they are posted. The final results posted at the end of the 30-minute protest period may not be altered except by the FGSC or the appeal process.

3. It is the rider’s responsibility to ensure number legibility. If a rider appeals his score and the numbers are not properly displayed, a protest will be disallowed. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

4. Riders earn points in each moto according to their finishing positions. A rider must finish at least one moto to receive an overall finishing position.

5. Points awarded per moto are 1 point for first, 2 points for second, 3 points for third, etc. The rider accumulating the fewest points after both motos is the overall class winner. In case of a tie, the winner is the rider with the better finishing position in the final moto.

6. When the winner receives the checkered flag, the race is considered complete and all riders who take the checkered flag and have completed half the laps of the winner are scored according to their position and number of laps completed as of the final lap. A rider who completed fewer than one-half the number of laps of the winning rider, OR did not take the checkered flag receives point corresponding to the total number of riders entered in the class with a minimum of 20 points. A rider who did not start will receive a score equal to the total number of riders plus 30 points. No rider will be allowed to make up lost laps after the checkered flag.

7. At the sole discretion of the referee a class may be scored from one moto only.

D. Race Program

1. On the day of a meet, no one except riders officially entered may ride or practice on the race course. Riding on the course is prohibited except during events and scheduled practice sessions.

2. If there are more riders in a class than can be accommodated on the course, the following format is recommended.

a. Riders are divided into two or more groups, using each group as a first moto that qualifies them to the second moto.

b. Format can be adjusted t meet track needs.

3. A rider whose machine becomes disabled before he reaches the finish line may, without assistance, push or carry the motorcycle (in the direction of the track) across the finish line to receive the checkered flag. At the referee’s discretion, the rider may be instructed to leave the track at the nearest exit point, and will be considered to have completed the event, provided he has completed at least half the number of laps as the winner.

4. A rider leaving the course must re-enter at the same point or at the first point where he can safely without interfering with other riders and without gaining an advantage. A rider who fails to do so may be docked at least one finishing position for the moto at the discretion of the referee.

5. A rider entering or leaving the pits must ride in the designated entrance and exit lanes and failure to do so may result in disqualification.

6. An event stopped by the referee before 60% of the race is complete will be re-started from the beginning.

7. Except in a designated mechanics area, no adjustments, repairs or refueling may be done during a moto. A rider, however, may do such work anywhere on the course without assistance and using only parts or tools he may be carrying himself. Once an event has started, any change of motorcycles is forbidden. A rider will be disqualified from the moto for disregarding this rule.