I often meet moms and dads on the threshold of involving their children in motocross. Usually, I cringe to think of all the things they’ll soon have to learn on the fly. Being a motocross parent is hard, and newcomers often see only the glossy surface of motocross: thrilling races, exotic bikes, the camaraderie among riders. What they don’t see are the long nights spent in the garage, the endless drives along desolate routes, and the tension and absurd protests that plague nearly every major amateur race.

I have been closely involved with the intricacies of motocross parenthood from the beginning. After 20 years of going to the races together, my dad and I have done it all: traveled to big races, reveled in the glory of victories, and struggled in defeat. It is from that experience that I've drafted a list of things that every motocross parent should know. The list is more philosophical than technical, but be assured that you'll soon venture into the technical if you take all that follows to heart.

The first thing a motocross parent should know is that apathy does not pay. Motocross is not Little League, and parents should be prepared to do more than shout "good eye" from the bleachers. They should commit themselves to learning bike set-up, riding technique and race preparation along with their child. It is unreasonable to expect a young boy or girl to learn about a sport as complex as motocross on their own. They need an involved mom or dad to look to for guidance, but when that parent has no more knowledge than the child, the child might as well be looking for motocross guidance from the family cat.

So it is important that parents take the time to learn how the sport works. The more mom learns about set-up and technique, the better her child’s chances of racing safely and successfully. The first turn of a 125cc Beginner race is no place for an under-prepared adolescent, yet many parents approach their son’s race motorcycle no differently than the new bicycle that he got for Christmas: coach him until he can stay upright and let him figure out the rest. At best, this a recipe for poor results. (And while results should always come second to having fun, few children continue racing if they experience no improvement.) At worst, it is a recipe for injury.

The second thing that parents should know is that the odds that their child will make a living from racing a motorcycle are very, very slim. Professional motocross is no place for the average man or woman to make a career. It takes a healthy dose of talent, determination, persistence and luck to make it...to the Intermediate class. Don’t even ask what it takes to land in a factory semi.

That means that motocross parents should look to racing as an opportunity for their children to have fun and grow--and that’s all. “But what if my child really has what it takes?” you ask. Trust me: if your child is destined to be a star, it will be apparent. If he destroys the competition locally, let him race regionally. If he wins regionally, take him to the nationals. If he does it again at the nationals, then--and only then--should you very tentatively begin to consider a career in motocross.

The next thing that parents should know is that there is no faster way to kill the joy in motocross than by shouting yourself hoarse as your son struggles to make a pass in his 65cc Junior moto. While it is fine for parent and child to share a competitive spirit, children who are cursed with a win-or-I’ll-disown-you mom or dad rarely stick with the sport. If the parent chooses constructive criticism and positive reinforcement over derision and shouting, the odds are good that racing will remain fun for everyone.

When I was a mere pee-wee, I raced against a boy whose dad was, to put it mildly, a violent psychopath. The boy was talented, winning some amateur titles early in his career, but his dad’s frightening outbursts and ceaseless pressure had gotten to him by time he reached the 85cc class. He continued to race for a few years after that, but he was more noted for his partying and womanizing. I doubt he still races today. He rebelled, and perhaps rightly so. I doubt that I would still be racing if I had had a father who was ready to meet me with a slap in the helmet each time I failed to meet his expectations.

The last thing a parent should know is that although motocross racing is stressful, expensive and dangerous, there are few other ways that parents can be so closely involved with their children’s lives. When both child and parent come to love motocross, that love can bond them in a unique and significant way. Parents who take the time and effort to do motocross the right way are often rewarded with a common interest that they can share with their children for the rest of their lives.

The pursuit of a goal--even if that goal is to not finish last in the 50cc Beginner class--allows parents to work with their kids toward a mutual fulfillment. And if that process isn’t a metaphor for good parenting in general, I don’t know what is.

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