Official Rules
The San Diego County Sheriffs Department Motorcycle Training Unit has compiled a two day In-Service Police Motorcycle Rider Lesson Plan, which includes basic police motorcycle rider skills and a combined skills oriented event and competition.
The Focus of this training is to give the rider an opportunity to hone perishable skills learned while in a controlled environment. The second portion of the training is to provide the rider with an opportunity to participate in a “skills oriented” competition. This will allow the rider to evaluate his/her riding competency level under controlled yet stressful conditions.
Motorcycle training has inherent physical dangers. This training will be conducted with the highest regard for personal integrity and genuine concern for the riders’ welfare. Rider safety is of critical importance and every effort will be made to provide a safe and secure environment for training.
A. Rules Committee
1. A Rules committee will be established to settle all disputes that cannot be settled at the judge’s level. All decisions of the Rules committee are final.
2. The Rules Committee will be selected in the following manner:
a. At least five members from the qualified entrants will be chosen by the Competition Director to serve on the Committee.
b. The chairman of the Committee will be the Competition Director.
3. All questions submitted to the Committee shall be discussed and put to a vote at the direction of the chairman.
- The chairman will not have a vote in the dispute but may offer solutions to be considered.
- Majority vote rules.
B. Course General Rules
1. All riding participants must be members of a Law Enforcement Agency. Riders must be currently certified on the police motorcycle.
2. All riding participants must complete an application & waiver prior to riding in the event.
3. Motorcycles used by riders must be of the type (make/model) used during their normal course of police motorcycle duties.
4. All motorcycles must meet the requirements as to the function and safety recommendations by the manufacturer and/or the riders’ agency.
5. Safety inspections should be conducted on the morning of the event prior to riding on the course.
6. Riders are responsible for maintenance and repairs of their own equipment. Should the rider experience an unexpected problem he/she will be allowed an opportunity to make necessary repairs and continue participation. Riding order may be altered if necessary.
7. Motorcycle helmets with chinstraps secured, safety glasses and gloves shall be worn at all times while the motorcycle is in operation.
8. Riding participants must be in uniform and may wear the training/utility uniform, including duty leather, of their respective agency during competition. Appropriate sport shirts with agency logo may be worn on practice day, Thursday. Civilian clothes are not allowed.
9. When riders are training on the “combined skills course”, all other vehicles will not be driven through or across any active drill by either instructors or riders.
10. Any person(s) injured shall immediately report the incident to event staff.
11. All riders must follow the instructions of the competition director, event coordinator or staff member at all times.
C. Awards
1. Due to the different performance characteristics of manufacturers police motorcycles, competitors will be divided into multiple divisions as follows:
Division “A” Division “B” Division “C” Division “D” Division “E”
Kawasaki P-1000 BMW 1150 BMW 1200 Harley-Davidson (EG & RK) Honda Police Motorcycle
2. Event officials reserve the right to reorganize divisions based on number of motorcycles entered of each type/manufacturer.
3. Awards will be presented to the top three (1st 2nd 3rd) riders in both team and individual competition for each division. The number of awards may be increased by event officials based on number of entries of each type/manufacturer of motorcycle.
Events
Individual Rider/Two Person Team/Four Person Team
The goal of the competition is to complete the “Combined Skills” course as quickly as possible while committing as few errors as possible.
The course is the same for individual and two-person team. Four person teams ride on a separate course.
Riding order for individual rider is determined by random drawing.
Individual:
Riding time starts when the front wheel crosses the starting line. Riding time ends when the front wheel crosses the finish line.
Rider must come to a complete stop at the end of the course in the stop area.
Two Person Team:
Two officer teams must ride the course in a “follow the leader” formation. Lead and tail position is determined by the team. Both riders must ride the same class motorcycle. Riders may compete on only one team.
Both riders begin one behind each other at the starting point. Riding time starts when the front wheel of the lead rider crosses the starting line and ends when the front wheel of the tail rider crosses the finish line.
The tail rider must follow the lead rider the entire time while on the course.
Riders must come to a complete stop at the end of the course in the stop area.
Four Person Team:
A “team” may consist of four riders from different agencies. All riders on the team must ride the same class of motorcycle. Teams must NOT be a mix of different class motorcycles. Riders may cmpete on only one team.
Four officer teams ride a separate course in a “follow the leader” formation. All four riders begin one behind each other at the starting point.
Riding time starts when the front wheel of the lead rider crosses the starting line and ends when the front wheel of the tail rider crosses the finish line.
After each exercise (cone pattern) is completed, the lead rider will fall back, becoming the tail rider. The second rider will now become the lead rider prior to entering the next exercise. This will continue through each exercise so that riders rotate leading into the exercises. Failure to rotate properly will result in a 10 second penalty.
Riders must come to a complete stop at the end of the course in the stop area.
Each team will be allowed to practice on day one. Day two is strictly limited to scoring competition.
Each team will be given one opportunity to compete on day two with one free run. Riders may purchase additional runs for a donation of $5 per run.
Awards will be presented to the top riders in both individual and teams events in each division.
The same errors and penalties apply in the team and individual competition.
“Chief’s Challenge”
The goal of the “Chief’s Challenge” (intersection) competition is to attempt to get the lead/tail rider to commit a riding error while riding in a follow-the-leader formation on a prescribed cone pattern.
Riding order is determined by random drawing. Lead and tail position is determined by coin toss prior to the beginning of each ride.
Both riders begin one behind each other at the starting point. Riding time starts when the front wheel of the lead rider crosses the starting line. The tail rider must follow the lead rider the entire time while on the course.
The lead rider sets the route for both to follow. The lead rider may ride as fast or as slow as he/she wants.
Riding time is limited to two (2) minutes.
The ride ends when a rider commits an error or two minutes has elapsed. A rider is declared the loser:
- If he/she commits an error;
- If he/she is the lead rider and fails to cause the tail rider to commit an error.
- If he/she is the tail rider and fails to follow the same path as the lead rider.
The winner of each match advances in the bracket and through the process of “single elimination” a winner is determined. The winner then competes against the “Chief of Police” for final determination of the winner of this event.
Slow Ride
The goal of the slow ride competition is to complete the designated cone pattern as slowly as possible without committing any errors.
The slow ride will be held in an area separate from the competition course.
Riding time starts when the front wheel crosses the starting line and ends when the rear wheel crosses the finish line.
Each rider will be given an opportunity to participate with one free run. Riders may purchase additional runs for a donation of $5 per run.
Awards will be presented to the top finisher in each division.
Partner Ride
Two riders make a team. They may be from different agencies, but can only compete on one team and must ride the same make/manufacturer of motorcycle for their division.
The goal of the partner ride competition is to complete the course as quickly as possible without committing any errors.
The slow ride will be held in an area separate from the competition course.
Riders must negotiate an obstacle course while the motorcycles are tied together with a breakaway cord. The ride is over and no score is awarded if:
The cord pulls apart while riding on the course.
Any riding error is committed while riding on the course.
Each team will be given an opportunity to participate with one free run. Riders may purchase additional runs for a donation of $5 per run.
Awards will be presented to the top team in each division.
Explanation of Errors
Cone – if any portion of the motorcycle or rider touches a cone, delineator or other traffic control device that is used to define a riding pattern. This penalty is assessed for each cone contacted. The cone does not have to be knocked out of place.
Cone Down – if any portion of the motorcycle or rider knocks over or moves out of place, a cone, delineator or other traffic control device that is used to define a riding pattern. This penalty is assessed for each cone moved.
Foot – if the rider takes a foot off the foot peg/board and puts it down on the riding surface at any time while negotiating the course. This penalty is assessed each time the foot contacts the riding surface. Foot errors do not include while parking/parked, or after crossing a finish line.
Boundary – if at any time while negotiating a cone pattern the rider goes out of bounds of the set cone pattern, (ie. missed gate, off-line). Rider must re-enter the cone pattern immediately and complete the cone pattern.
M/C Down – if the rider and/or motorcycle falls over while negotiating the course. Rider may upright the motorcycle and continue from the point where the fall occurred.
Off Course – if the rider fails to follow the correct sequence of cone patterns and/or fails to follow the intended path of travel to the next cone pattern to be negotiated. Rider must correctly re-enter the course from where exited.
Penalties
Penalties are defined as the time (in seconds) added to the riding time for each error counted:
Cone – 3 Cone Down – 5 Foot – 10
Boundary – 10 M/C Down – 30 Off Course - 30
Note: If at any time a problem arises beyond the control of the rider(s) and/or a staff member/official declares the course unsafe, the ride may be stopped and no errors will be counted. The rider(s) will be allowed to start their ride over from the starting point.