Top Extreme Motorsports Part 2: Freestyle Motocross Madness, Ice Racing and Drifting

For anyone who enjoys the occasional adrenaline rush, extreme motorsports are sure to grab your attention. Because of the speed, risk, and flashy machines, motorsports appeal to a large audience in a powerful way, and you will not want to miss out on the action. Although standard motorsports are exciting, extreme motorsports push the limits, taking them to new heights.

Only professionals should participate in extreme motorsports, because they understand how to manage the speed and intensity of the task at hand. No matter who you are or what your tastes might be, watching these events will leave you wanting more. We have already covered a number of extreme motorsports earlier, but have decided to bring you a few more extreme motorsports that will definitely not disappoint.

Drifting: From Street to Sport

No list of extreme motorsports would be complete without drifting, and it takes a lot of skill and talent to perform. When a professional driver enters a drift, he intentionally oversteers as he goes around a curve, and the action causes him to lose traction on each of the tires. The trick, though, is to do so without losing control of the vehicle at any point during the stunt, and one wrong move can result in disaster.

At a typical drifting event, all drivers are required to register and to park in a designated area before getting started. Because of the risks involved, professional competitions mandate that all drivers wear long pants, a shirt that covers their shoulders and a safety helmet.

In some cases, drivers are permitted to have a single passenger in the vehicle during the competition. For the security of the crowd, spectators must remain behind a safety barrier at all times. Although it started off as a street racing event, drifting has become much more mainstream in recent years.

Freestyle Motocross: Speed, Bikes, and No Roads

Rather than speed, freestyle motocross focuses on the skills of the riders as they perform various stunts on their dirt bikes. These bikes must withstand a lot of pressure during the performances, and require a strong suspension system to avoid getting damaged. Each rider must wear the proper safety gear, such as a jumpsuit and a helmet.

During the competition, several judges will score each rider on a number of factors, and the person who has the most points will be the winner. The judges will look at skill, trick frequency, and the crowd’s reaction when they are making a decision.

Motocross started in Surrey in 1942 as an off-road event, but it did not take long for motocross to gain popularity. To enhance the thrill, event hosts slowly added obstacles to the track until motocross became what it is today.

Figure-Eight Racing: Let the Fun Begin

As far as extreme motorsports are concerned, figure-eight racing is arguably one of the most intense races, and many fans consider it as one of the most entertaining events to watch. As the name implies, racers drive in a figure eight pattern, and they cross paths while traveling at dangerous speeds. Drivers need to have a lot of skill, focus, and coordination to avoid colliding with each other.

This event requires no special modifications on the cars, but drivers remove the windows and install a cage for an added layer of protection.

Figure-eight racing started in 1945, but the original event included an overpass so that the drivers did not need to intersect. When the sport gained popularity, the bridge was removed, making it much more thrilling to witness.

Ice Racing: Taking it to a Whole New Level

Those who want to combine their love for extreme motor sports with the snow and ice of winter will enjoy every second of watching an ice race. For this extreme motorsport, cars, dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles race on frozen lakes and ponds. However, some ice races take place in indoor arenas, such as hockey fields. Vehicles that take part in the competition use spiked tires for added traction, and drivers need to wear standard safety equipment.

During the contest, inspectors and event coordinators will strictly enforce safety regulations, and drivers can face disqualification for violations. The disqualified driver will be unable to compete for the rest of the day, and inspectors may perform random safety checks on any vehicle to ensure compliance.

Snowmobile Skipping: Who Needs Snow?

When summer arrives, most people put their snowmobiles away until next winter. However, some extreme enthusiasts have found another option that enables them to enjoy their craft all year. Snowmobile skipping is the art of skimming a snowmobile over a pond or lake, and the practice is illegal in some states. It is important to remember that snowmobiles are not designed to float and that drivers will quickly sink if they are unable to maintain enough speed to remain at the surface of the water.

During a formal event, officials require participants to wear life jackets and to have buoys attached to their snowmobiles.

In 1977, the first snowmobile skipping event took place in Wisconsin, and the challenge was for riders to skim 300 feet from an island to the shore. Even though most people failed to complete the task, one rider was able to skim for 500 feet before coming to a stop. This extreme motorsport has become a tradition, and it takes place in the same location during the third week of July.

Final Thoughts

If speed, competition, and adrenaline is what you have been searching for, then these extreme motor sports will appeal to you. If cold weather and snow are at the forefront of your mind, ice racing could be your new favorite sport. Some people like to watch skill and danger collide in a breathtaking way, and they are sure to love the action of figure-eight racing.

All of these extreme motor sports are a joy to watch, but don’t attempt to participate unless you have the training, skill, and equipment to do so safely. All of the drivers know exactly what they are doing, and emergency crews will always be standing by during official competitions. However, in the end, it is the element of danger that grabs our attention and wins our hearts.

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