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SEBASTIAN BOGDANIK FOTOREPORTAŻ
Events 2023 October 1, 2023

Jumps above the Beskids: Motocross in Osielec, MX65, MX85 and Amateur

Southern Poland Zone Motocross Championship, round 2, Przykiec track in Osielec, 1 October 2023: MX65, MX85 and amateur races.

Words and photos: Sebastian Bogdanik

A jump in the MX85 class against the Beskid forests.
A jump in the MX85 class against the Beskid forests.

On 1 October 2023 the Przykiec track in Osielec, in the Jordanów district of southern Poland, hosted round 2 of the Southern Poland Zone Motocross Championship. The host club, MTR Osielec, organised the event, and 64 riders lined up across nine classes. I was there around midday, as the MX65, MX85 and amateur classes went out one after another for their first races.

Three classes at a glance

Motocross groups riders by engine size and age. The current rules of the Polish Motor Union (PZM) describe these three classes as follows:

  • MX65: two-stroke bikes from 50 to 65 cc, with wheels of up to 12–14 inches, for children aged 8 to 12. A helper may assist the youngest riders at the starting gate, but must leave the start area before the race begins.
  • MX85: two-strokes up to 85 cc or four-strokes up to 150 cc, for riders aged 11 to 15. These are almost full-size bikes, and the speeds are impressive.
  • Amateur: a class without a racing licence, for adults. A theory test, insurance and an entry are enough, although licensed classes have priority on the track.

MX65: the youngest

The youngest went first, just after noon. Five riders on small two-strokes raced the same track as the adults, with the same jumps, climbs and ruts. From a distance the bikes look like toys, but there is nothing playful about being airborne.

MX65: the youngest riders in the air.
MX65: the youngest riders in the air.
Three MX65 riders battling for position.
Three MX65 riders battling for position.
Speed shows in the blurred background.
Speed shows in the blurred background.
A jump over the track, with the Beskid ranges behind.
A jump over the track, with the Beskid ranges behind.
A 65 cc bike is small, but the thrill is real.
A 65 cc bike is small, but the thrill is real.
A small figure in a big landscape.
A small figure in a big landscape.

The second race decided the winner: the top two riders both finished on 94 points, and the better result in the last race settled it.

MX85: faster and higher

At 12:32 the MX85 class took to the track. Bigger bikes mean longer jumps: from the jump on the ridge, riders flew above the spruce tops with ridge after ridge of the Beskid Mountains behind them. A bluish haze of two-stroke smoke hung by the track. The round in this class went to a rider from a Człuchów club, who won both races, with a Slovak rider and a member of the host club, MTR Osielec, also on the podium.

MX85: flying over the greenery.
MX85: flying over the greenery.
Landing just past the lip of the jump.
Landing just past the lip of the jump.
A marshal with a flag keeps watch by the jump.
A marshal with a flag keeps watch by the jump.
A jump by a sponsor’s banner.
Close-up: a tight turn on the climb.
A jump by a sponsor’s banner, and a close-up from the climb.
Below the jump, a car park full of fans’ and teams’ vehicles.
Below the jump, a car park full of fans’ and teams’ vehicles.
The same jump, a different mountain ridge behind.
The same jump, a different mountain ridge behind.

Amateur: a full track and a full crowd

Just after 1 pm the biggest class of the day set off: twelve amateur riders. Fans crowded along the fences at the turns and below the jump with the banner. The first race went to rider number 293, who stayed on top for the whole event.

Amateur class: fans lining the track along the fences.
Amateur class: fans lining the track along the fences.
A rider right in front of the crowd.
A rider right in front of the crowd.
Three riders through a turn.
Three riders through a turn.
A jump against the clouds.
Another jump, another rider.
Two jumps against the clouds.
A jump below a banner, with a crowd behind the fence.
A duel on the climb. In front, the eventual winner of the amateur class.
A jump below the banner, and a duel on the climb.
Flying against the sky and trees.
Flying against the sky and trees.
Descending through the woods, handlebars into the turn.
The final metres of the first race.
A descent through the woods, and the final metres of the first race.

Hosts on the podium

It was a good day for MTR Osielec: the club’s riders took 11 podium places across the classes, including four wins. My photos cover only the first races of three classes, from 12:08 to 13:20, but that was enough to see how much excitement fits into a single round of a regional championship.

Podium after both races

MX65 (5 riders): 1. KM Stryków, 2. CAMK Człuchów, 3. ŚTM Moto-Max
MX85 (6 riders): 1. CAMK Człuchów, 2. a rider from Slovakia, 3. MTR Osielec
Amateur (12 riders): Paweł Stroński, Mateusz Augustyn (KMX Racing), Maciej Luber

Full results: wyniki.motoresults.pl.

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