Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

I receive a lot of e-mail that asks the same questions. Here are some that are asked the most. Before you e-mail me, check them out to see if one of them might be your question. If, after reading the questions, you don't have the answers or an explanation you understand, please do not hesitate to contact me about it.

-Kathy Bostrom, Florida State Pointskeeper-

1. New riders and parents write asking "HOW DO THE POINTS WORK?"

Points are awarded according to the finish of a rider in their moto and main. The points for each class and place are as follows:

Local Race Point Chart (Points for each of three Motos and Main)
	Rookie		Cruiser, Girls & Novice		Expert
Finish in Race	Moto Pts	Main Pts	Moto Pts	Main Pts	Moto Pts	Main Pts
1st	20	75	30	85	40	95
2nd	17	65	27	75	37	85
3rd	14	55	24	65	34	75
4th	11	45	21	55	31	65
5th	8	35	18	45	28	55
6th	5	25	15	35	25	45
7th		15		25		35
8th		5		15		25

Maximum Points Per Race (2008 State Series)
	Rookie	Novice/Girl/Cruiser	Expert
Single Point Race (Local Races)	135	175	215
Double Point Race (Qualifier Races)	270	350	430

At a race, there are up to 6 riders in a moto. If there are more than 6 riders in a class, the riders will be split into two or more motos.

All classes have a main. If there are more than 8 riders (maximum riders for a main) in the class, riders will be dropped through the qualifying rounds until there are 8 on the gate for the main.   If there are less than 8 riders in the class, all will transfer to the main, no riders will be dropped.

When classes are combined, points are awarded according to the highest proficiency in the moto. For example, when novices and experts are combined, the novices will receive expert points. The novices do not have to beat the experts to get expert points. They receive expert points because the expert(s) are in the moto. The same is true if rookies are combined with novices (or even experts in some cases), they will receive novice (or expert) points. Points earned in combined classes will only be counted up to the maximum points for your proficiency (see chart below). For example, when a novice races with experts and finishes with a 2-2-2-2, he earns 196 points (37+37+37+85=196). When added to his point total, only 175 (maximum points for the novice class) will be used.   If you move-up in proficiency during the season, the cap will be removed from your points and all the points earned while racing the higher proficiency will be counted towards your total.

The Olympic scoring system is used to determine which riders transfer to the mains. To use the Olympic scoring system, you add the finishes of the rider to get a transfer point total (1-1-1=3, 2-2-2=6, 2-1-2=5, etc). The riders with the lowest transfer points go on to the qualifying rounds determined by the number of riders in the class (quarters or semis).   The riders with the lowest transfer points from the qualifying rounds will transfer to the main.

At the state qualifiers, the finishes of the motos are posted on the moto boards. The first time a rider misses a moto, it is recorded as CR. This does not mean 'crash', it stands for Credit. This gives the rider last place + two points for transfer points only. They will receive no points for their race points because they did not race. Any subsequent missed moto will be recorded as DNS which means 'did not start'. They do not earn any transfer points or race points for that moto. You need to check the finishes that are posted to see if you agree with them. If you do not agree with the posted finish, you can go the scoring table at the finish line and inquire about your finish.   If you still do not agree with the finish awarded, you can file a video protest.   If you do not check the finishes at the race and file any protests before the race is over, the finish that was recorded cannot be changed later. The only time a finish can be changed is if, after researching the problem, any errors were found in recording the finish from the scoring sheets to the moto sheets.

2. HOW DO I KEEP TRACK OF MY (SON'S OR DAUGHTER'S) POINTS?

Every rider is responsible for keeping track of their own points. This should be done by keeping a race log. The log should contain the following information -
1) The date and track that you raced at
2) The moto number - if there was a semi, main, etc. and the number of these motos
3) Your finishes
You can also record, but it not necessary, your gates and the names and finishes of the other riders in the moto.

3. THE POINTS ON THE WEBSITE DO NOT MATCH WHAT I HAVE or I THOUGHT I HAD MORE POINTS THAN WHAT IS POSTED. AM I MISSING RACES? WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY POINTS?

The points that are posted on the FloridaBMX.com website are a tool for the riders to use to track their points. These are not finalized points. This is a posting of the race results that I have received up to the date of the posting. If the points you are keeping do not match what is posted, there are several things to check before e-mailing me about it.
1) Check the dates next to the track names that are listed on the points page
2) Are the dates that you raced at a track listed next to the name? If they aren't, then I haven't received the race results from that track and they aren't included in the current points that are posted.
3) Only include the points from your records that match the dates listed, the points should match.
4) If your points still do not match what is posted on the website, you can e-mail me. Be sure to include the dates and tracks you raced at and the finishes so I can research your problem. If you do not send this information, it will take me longer to research and I might not be able to resolve the problem.

4. I'VE CHECKED ALL OF THE DATES AND MADE SURE THAT ALL OF MY RACES WERE INCLUDED IN THE POINTS AND IT STILL DOESN'T MATCH. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?

There is a maximum number of points that can be earned in each class. Maximum points for each class are as follows:

Rookie	local race - 135, qualifier - 270, season - 1890
Novice/Girl/Cruiser	local race - 175, qualifier - 350, season - 2450
Expert	local race - 215, qualifier - 430, season - 3010

The maximum points are earned by finishing 1-1-1 in your motos and 1 in your main. If you are in a combined class (rookie with novice or novice with expert) it is possible to earn more than the maximum points for your class. Only points up to the max for your class will be used. If you move-up in proficiency during the season, the cap will be removed from your points and all the points earned while racing the higher proficiency will be counted towards your total.

5. I HAVE A LOT OF RACES IN AND I'M STILL NOT CAPPED. WHY AREN'T MY POINTS CAPPED OUT FOR THE SEASON?

In addition to having a maximum point cap for each race, only a rider's best 8 local races and their best 3 qualifiers are used for the season points. Once a rider has more than these 11 races, their points will only go up when they improve on the lowest race score being used. The lowest race point value will be replaced when a rider gets a higher valued race and the gain of the difference between the two races will be added. Only the difference is added because the value of the lower race is already represented in the point total. For example, a novice rider's lowest local race being used for his points is one worth 156 for a 2-2-2-2 finish. He has a race where he finishes 1-1-1-1 for 175 points. His points will increase by 19 points (not 175), the difference between 175 and 156. 156 points were already in his points total.

6. I RACED A DOUBLE POINTS RACE AT MY LOCAL TRACK or I RACED A DOUBLE POINTS NATIONAL PRE-RACE. DOES THIS RACE COUNT DOUBLE POINTS FOR THE STATE SEASON?

An advertised double point races at your local track or a national pre-race are double points for your LEAP points and for regional points only. The only races for the state season that are worth double points are the designated State Qualifiers. All other races are worth single points only. This includes any National Races that are raced in Florida during the State Season. Any races outside of Florida - Nationals, Regionals or locals - do not count towards the Florida State Season.

7. I CHECKED THE UPDATED POINTS ON THE WEBSITE AND MY POINTS DID NOT CHANGE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE RACED SINCE THE LAST UPDATE. WHY DIDN'T THEY CHANGE?

There are a few reason why your points may not have changed.
1) If you use AOL (possibly other servers also), you need to use the refresh button on the toolbar before viewing the updated points. We have found that AOL doesn't automatically give you the new point standing pages unless you refresh the site first. Even though it says that the site has been updated on the points page, AOL goes back to the last points page you viewed, not the newest one posted.
2) The latest races you did may not have been worth more points than the lowest of your best 8 locals and 3 qualifiers being used for your points. If this is the case, your points will not change until you have a race that is worth more than the lowest one being used. (see question #5 for explanation)

8. I'M LISTED IN THE WRONG AGE IN THE POINTS, CAN YOU CORRECT IT? or I LOOKED IN MY AGE AND CLASS ON THE WEBSITE AND I CAN'T FIND MY NAME, WHY AREN'T MY POINTS LISTED?

Riders are listed under the age and class that they will be at the State Championship Race. If you have a birthday on or before the championship race, you will be listed in the next older age class. This is done so you can see who you will be riding and competing against at the championship race. You can check out how you are doing against the other riders in the points standings even though you do not race with them now.

9. HOW DO I KNOW IF I EARNED A MOVE-UP?

1) To earn a move-up, a rider must race and beat at least 2 other riders of their age (or older) and their proficiency (or higher).
2) All classes have a main, you will earn a move-up with a main win.
3) In a combined novice/expert class, it is possible for a novice to earn a move-up without winning the main. For example, say there is a combined class with 2 experts and 3 novices and the 2 experts finish 1st and 2nd. The first novice to cross the finish line after the 2 experts will earn a move-up even though he physically finished 3rd. This is because experts are not eligible for move-ups and the novice raced and beat two other novices.

10. HOW MANY MOVE-UPS DO I NEED TO GO TO THE NEXT PROFICIENCY?

For rookies, 15 move-ups are needed to go to the novice class. For novices, 20 move-ups are needed to turn expert. Rookie and novice move-ups accumulate until they earn the number needed to move-up. You can do a self move-up at any time, but it is recommended that you earn the move-ups.

11. HOW MANY MOVE-UPS DO I HAVE?

I can only give this information to the rider (or parent). The records that I have are only for the races held in Florida. This includes the National races that are run in the state. Please remember, that novice move-ups earned at a National race is worth 2 move-ups. I am not notified of any move-ups earned outside Florida. If you race out of the state and think that you may have earned move-ups, you need to contact the NBL office to confirm your total. Their phone # is 1-800-886-BMX1(2691) or 1-614-777-1625.