I put together an alternative method of running Mountain Cross events that does not require a timing company. I am looking for input/suggestions to flesh this out a little more. I've also attached an example 32-man bracket so you can see how riders would advance and be assigned gates.
Please note, this transfer system is not about getting the best riders to the podium. The current timed system works best. The best race is not necessarily the mains, it may be anywhere. This system is about increasing practice time (removing the time trial qualifiers) and increasing the actual race time. Some will like it, others will hate it. It's just an alternative.
Working on a non-timed dual slalom transfer system that I will post eventually. This will most likely be a best-of-three transfer system. More on that later.
-Tom
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This transfer system is developed to run USA Cycling Mountain Cross (MX), aka 4 Cross (4X), races without the need for a timing company or timing system. This transfer system should not be used for any UCI sanctioned MX/4X races. This transfer system is adapted from BMX (ABA/NBL) rules and is used to successfully run national-level BMX events of 4,000 riders in less than 6 hours.
Overview:
The MX/4X transfer system proceeds as follows:
This transfer system involves all motos being run a predetermined number of times (2 or 3) to qualify riders to quarter-finals, semi-finals, or directly to the Big Final or Big and Small Finals.
The following examples of how the qualifying works are all based on a four rider gates.
Class of four (4) or fewer riders 1 moto
First Round Total Points
Second Round Total Points
Third Round Total Points
No main event. The third round can be run in the third round of qualifying motos or included with the main events (recommended). It is recommended to run the first two rounds during the qualification rounds and the third round is run during the Big Final.
Round of 5-8 riders 2 motos
First Round first place riders qualifies into Big Final from each moto (total 2)
Second Round first place riders qualifies into Big Final from each moto (total 2)
Remaining riders qualify into the Small Final (up to 4), if a Small Final is provided.
Round of 9 16 riders 4 motos
First Round first place riders qualify into Semi-Final from each moto (total 4)
Second Round first place riders qualify into Semi-Final from each moto (total 4)
Remaining riders are eliminated (up to 8). Points are assigned for 16th place for all riders not advancing.
Round of 17 32 riders 8 motos
First Round first place riders qualify into Quarters from each moto (total 8)
Second Round first place riders qualify into Quarters from each moto (total 8)
Remaining riders are eliminated (up to 16). Points are assigned for 32nd place for all riders not advancing.
Round of 33 64 riders 16 motos
First Round first place riders qualify into Eighths from each moto (total 16)
Second Round first place riders qualify into Eights from each moto (total 16)
Remaining riders are eliminated (up to 32). Points are assigned for 64th place for all riders not advancing.
Running the Race:
Once motos are posted, all qualifying rounds are run together, regardless of category size. Once all qualifiers are run, elimination rounds are run in order of Round of 32, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and then the Big Final or Big and Small Finals, as necessary for each categories.
Motos containing two riders (both automatic qualifiers) should be run at least once to determine the advancement bracket gate position.
It is recommended to run categories in the order of Cat 3 => Cat 2 => Cat 1 => Pro. Age groups in each category run from youngest to oldest. Women run before men in each category and age group.
After a rider qualifies to advance, they may NOT race another qualifying heat. It is designed to reward the winner (by transferring them to the next round) and give all the remaining racers an equal chance at winning the next moto (e.g., no Carl Edwards incidents)
Moto Assignment:
Motos are assigned randomly. It is important that riders are assigned evenly throughout the brackets. The easiest way is to assign the first rider into moto #1, the second into moto #2, etc., until all the motos have one rider, then repeat so all motos have two riders, etc.
Gate Assignment:
Gates are assigned to each rider throughout the race. These may not be changed even if another gate is empty. The assignment of gates is intentional and requires to riders to employ some strategy in racing.
Please note, this transfer system is not about getting the best riders to the podium. The current timed system works best. The best race is not necessarily the mains, it may be anywhere. This system is about increasing practice time (removing the time trial qualifiers) and increasing the actual race time. Some will like it, others will hate it. It's just an alternative.
Working on a non-timed dual slalom transfer system that I will post eventually. This will most likely be a best-of-three transfer system. More on that later.
-Tom
======
This transfer system is developed to run USA Cycling Mountain Cross (MX), aka 4 Cross (4X), races without the need for a timing company or timing system. This transfer system should not be used for any UCI sanctioned MX/4X races. This transfer system is adapted from BMX (ABA/NBL) rules and is used to successfully run national-level BMX events of 4,000 riders in less than 6 hours.
Overview:
The MX/4X transfer system proceeds as follows:
- Based on the categories and age groups motos are randomly filled.
- Riders are assigned their starting gates throughout the race.
- Each rider is provided two (2) opportunities to advance to a qualifying or final round. The exception is categories of four (4) or less riders who are run in a three-round total points race.
- After the qualifying round, all subsequent final rounds are single elimination.
- The promoter has the option of running a Small Final, if they so wish.
This transfer system involves all motos being run a predetermined number of times (2 or 3) to qualify riders to quarter-finals, semi-finals, or directly to the Big Final or Big and Small Finals.
The following examples of how the qualifying works are all based on a four rider gates.
Class of four (4) or fewer riders 1 moto
First Round Total Points
Second Round Total Points
Third Round Total Points
No main event. The third round can be run in the third round of qualifying motos or included with the main events (recommended). It is recommended to run the first two rounds during the qualification rounds and the third round is run during the Big Final.
Round of 5-8 riders 2 motos
First Round first place riders qualifies into Big Final from each moto (total 2)
Second Round first place riders qualifies into Big Final from each moto (total 2)
Remaining riders qualify into the Small Final (up to 4), if a Small Final is provided.
Round of 9 16 riders 4 motos
First Round first place riders qualify into Semi-Final from each moto (total 4)
Second Round first place riders qualify into Semi-Final from each moto (total 4)
Remaining riders are eliminated (up to 8). Points are assigned for 16th place for all riders not advancing.
Round of 17 32 riders 8 motos
First Round first place riders qualify into Quarters from each moto (total 8)
Second Round first place riders qualify into Quarters from each moto (total 8)
Remaining riders are eliminated (up to 16). Points are assigned for 32nd place for all riders not advancing.
Round of 33 64 riders 16 motos
First Round first place riders qualify into Eighths from each moto (total 16)
Second Round first place riders qualify into Eights from each moto (total 16)
Remaining riders are eliminated (up to 32). Points are assigned for 64th place for all riders not advancing.
Running the Race:
Once motos are posted, all qualifying rounds are run together, regardless of category size. Once all qualifiers are run, elimination rounds are run in order of Round of 32, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and then the Big Final or Big and Small Finals, as necessary for each categories.
Motos containing two riders (both automatic qualifiers) should be run at least once to determine the advancement bracket gate position.
It is recommended to run categories in the order of Cat 3 => Cat 2 => Cat 1 => Pro. Age groups in each category run from youngest to oldest. Women run before men in each category and age group.
After a rider qualifies to advance, they may NOT race another qualifying heat. It is designed to reward the winner (by transferring them to the next round) and give all the remaining racers an equal chance at winning the next moto (e.g., no Carl Edwards incidents)
Moto Assignment:
Motos are assigned randomly. It is important that riders are assigned evenly throughout the brackets. The easiest way is to assign the first rider into moto #1, the second into moto #2, etc., until all the motos have one rider, then repeat so all motos have two riders, etc.
Gate Assignment:
Gates are assigned to each rider throughout the race. These may not be changed even if another gate is empty. The assignment of gates is intentional and requires to riders to employ some strategy in racing.
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