After watching round 3 of the NPS 4X at Chicksands a few weeks ago I got the impression my girlfriend fancied giving it a go. Now a couple of things struck me about the Women’s category in particular:

1)   It only had 4 people in it
2)   Suzanne Lacey was significantly quicker than the other riders

Now no criticism intended at all to the other riders! There was some tight racing between the other 3 (and they were out there actually racing while I was just spectating). A larger number of women racing would obviously be good for 4X in general but do you think this should come at the expense of the quality of riders (bear with me!)?

I’m significantly quicker on a bike than my girlfriend, and yet I don’t feel ready to race (soon though – maybe October at UK Bike Park) - but I think she could do okay due to the comparative strength of the different categories. So what would you rather (for both mens and womens categories): To see more riders, regardless of skill level; or more riders - but only if they were really quite quick? Do you think Novice should be just that – for novices – or just a feeder class where you do a couple of races then are on the pace in your proper category?

Would you be happy seeing people like my girlfriend race to up the numbers, even if they were 15 seconds slower down the course the average, or do you think it’d dilute the racing, and make it seem too grassroots? Obviously NPS 4X isn’t as established as NPS DH, so rather than requiring BC points to even qualify (like in DH) the 4X offers a Novice category – but who do you think this category is pitched at?

That's true - and more sponsors, better prizes, more coverage, more courses, greater recognition, more spectators... all good things.

What you say about competitive situations is also very true. It works in the same way as training with people who are better than you are.

She's coming to Chicksands and UK Bike Park with me soon so I'll get her doing the 4X tracks and build up her confidence (and before I know it she'll have stolen my Charge and be at the gate in her first moto)

Haha, my girlfriend's not gonna be schooling me, I guarantee that! We've been having races on a sort of pump track (that isn't really a pump track because you have to pedal a small uphill to complete the lap). She sets off on my back wheel and I have to lap her as quickly as possible.

That's cool about the girl emailing you. I was chatting to my buddy Keith (who won Veterans) and one of the girls came up to him and said "I didn't come last, I got 3rd that time!" with a big grin and ran through her whole run with him. The fun element did seem to be there for a lot of people which is really cool.

Ratio wise 4x has a lot of women, there were 6 women racing Caersws at the weekend and over 200 men Chicksands had 5 women and probably 100 men. You just notice it more because they were on the course at the same time.

More riders is better no matter how quick they are, couple years ago I was one of the slowest juniors but I kept racing and now I'm a not so slow senior winning motos (b'tard quarters ). The more you race the quicker you get and the quicker you get the more you enjoy it.


The nps 4x novice catagory always causes debate mainly because it's the only real series and you need a licence for the proper cats so it's not so novice. Biggest problem is that if a first timer gets his ass creamed they will probably not do it again.

Maybe instead of 12-16 and 17+ there could be novice and open, make a final in the novice and you move to open. No points, basic prizes.

but then you would have to ban them from wearing sponsors race gear on the track and on the podium for it to actually make a difference

Not sure about that sponsorship suggestion Seb.  I'm sponsored for DH but have never raced 4x before.  I'll hopefully be entering a few 4x races once I get back up to speed on the bike just to see what the craic is.

So naturally I'd stick my sponsor in the box, out of habit and routine.  Should I not be allowed to do this?  Seems a bit odd to me.  I agree with the sandbagging thing, but I'd try it out in Novice 17+ for a race or two before I either decide it's not for me, or move to senior.

Rootes

Well, if you think about it, your sponsor won't get masses of publicity from a Novice category anyway. People don't tend to think "I wonder what the Novices are using? I'll buy that!"

Secondly, if you give it a shot and decide it's not for you then chances are it didn't rock your world, and you didn't rock its world either, so again limited sponsorship value.

Thirdly, if your sponsored at DH I reckon you're pretty handy on a bike so should be able to make the jump to your proper category very quickly anyway - say one or two races in.

I know it's not an ideal situation for people like you - but it's just an idea of one more way to discourage sandbagging - as if your sponsors get their name at the top of the results sheet with minimal fuss, and the racers get a happy sponsor, a podium, and a prize, then there's not a lot to make them want to cough up £60 for a race license and have a much harder days racing.

But like I said, just an idea 

Well said that man!

I raced that day and was chuffed that I'd come home with 2nd place, even thouh I was significantly slower than Suzanne, all along I knew it was more of a friendly race between Helen and myself, then Bonny joined in too and we all had fun, Suzanne too even though we all knew the contest was hers to win.

I race DH and 4X, have only just started this season and am really enjoying it, I'm not 'setting the world on fire', I never intended to, but I'm not doing badly either and I'm having a really good time which at the end of the day is what it's all about!

I know I'm improving as I go along, mainly because I have riders like Suzanne, Charlie and Joey to aspire to and try to catch, though I know it must be difficult for them if there is no contest, there's not much reason to push themselves as Joey has already said (hence why she was racing in Senior men at that particular race).

As for your girlfriend wanting a go, great idea! More women competing can only be for the good of the sport!
On a more personal level, I'm all for more women racing! The ladies I've raced with over the last 6 months have become really good friends of mine, we have a laugh and a chat and yet still maintain a competitive air and push each other to do better. That's a prize I never expected to win from racing!