2009 AMBCS Rules

Category Name Changes: USA Cycling announced the development and implementation of a new mountain bike category system that takes effect for the 2009 racing season. Now that 2009 licenses are on sale beginning Dec. 1, all mountain bike members are reminded of the new category system and that currently licensed Semi-Pros will have the option of receiving an automatic upgrade to Pro status for the 2009 season or registering as a Category 1 rider. The Semi Pro Category is being eliminated. If you are a Semi Pro Lic Holder, please go to the USA Cycling Website for the options that are available to you.

• Pro = Pro
• Expert = Cat 1
• Sport = Cat 2
• Beginner = Cat 3

USA Cycling insurance surcharge: The Insurance surcharge for 2009 is $3 per rider. Payable Directly to USAC.

AMBCS Race Fees:

• AMBCS Per rider fee for 2009 is $2.
• All AMBCS fees are to be paid within 21 days post event.
• Checks are to be made payable to “AMBCS” and mailed to:

AMBCS
111 Evonshire Dr
Arkadelphia AR. 71923

• Correctly formatted results must be submitted to the following individuals within the AMBCS by Noon on the Thursday directly follow the event. Failure to complete this will set a $50 fine in place and preclude the event from being part of the AMBCS the following year until the fine is cleared. The Contact email addresses are listed on the AMBCS website.
• Individual Points Tracker
• Team Points Tracker
• Series Administrator
• USA Cycling

Categories

The categories for the 2009 AMBCS are:

• Male Pro Riders are to compete within the Cat 1 19-29 Division
• Female Pro Riders are to compete within the Cat 1 19-39 Division
• Races must offer at minimum the prescribed AMBCS racing Categories. However the Promoter may combine classes and/or age groups for starting purposes.
• Each Class listed below will be ranked throughout the Calendar year for the AMBCS.

Courses

Courses vary according to the geography of the area, and the amount of single track available. These are guidelines as the combination of terrain and distance will determine the level of difficulty In general Pro/CAT 1races should last 2 - 2.5 hours;

• CAT 2 - 1.5 - 2 hours and
• CAT 3 - 1 to 1.5 hours.
• Cat 1 50+ Men and all CAT 1 Women will race the “CAT 2” distance listed above.
• Most race courses offer modified distances for 12 & U and 10 & U.

PROTESTS

All protests at the races should first be taken to the USAC Official for that race. Only the racer(s) involved may protest.
Formal Racer Protests will follow NORBA standard Rules.

The AMBCS will use the following scoring method:

Place Pro/Cat 1 Cat 2 Cat 3 1 60 50 40 2 54 44 34 3 49 39 28 4 45 35 25 5 42 32 22 6 40 30 20 7 39 39 19 8 38 38 18

And so on, one point separating each finish beyond 8th place.

• Hard Plates: AMBCS Hard Plate Cost will be $5.00 for all Pros/CAT 1/CAT2/CAT3 riders. Junior riders 14 under are complimentary.
• Hard Plates will be mandatory for all those that wish to participate in any race that is part of the 2009 AMBCS.
• For Pro/CAT 1/CAT2, the best 5 of 8 / 5 of 9 / 6 of 10 / 6 of 11 or 7 of 12 races will count to determine the overall standings. All racers must compete in a minimum of 4 events to be included in the overall standings.  Pay dirt points can count as of the races.
• For CAT 3, the best 4 of 8 / 4 of 9 / 5 of 10 / 5 of 11 or 6 of12 races will determine overall standings. All racers must compete in a minimum of 4 events to be included in the overall standings. Pay dirt points can count as of the races.
• Overall (Season End) AMBCS awards will be presented at the last race of the season.
• Points are tallied based on the riders' finish order at each individual event.
• Points are tabulated only on cross-country events (other events such as time trials and circuit races are not counted toward the series standings)
• If a tie exists for an overall class at the end of the series, the following rules will be used in the following order until the tie is broken: 1) Number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, ... until tie is broken in all races that are used for series points. 2) Head-to-Head results in all common races. 3) Head-to-Head result in the most recent/last race. This rule is applied by starting at the last race and going backward to find the first common race. Once found, that result will be used to break the tie.
• During the series a rider may upgrade, however points earned in one class cannot be transferred to another class.

USA Cycling - Mountain Bike Requirements

• All Pro / CAT 1 racers are required to hold a valid USA Cycling - Mountain Bike annual license.
• All CAT 2 & CAT 3 racers are required to hold either an Annual USA Cycling license or a one day.
• Those in the Junior 14 and under Categories are not required to purchase the USA Cycling –Mountain Bike annual or single day permit, but must have a signed wavier.
• Single day USA Cycling - Mountain Bike permits are $5.
• All racers are required to complete and sign a USA Cycling standard athlete’s release. Minors must have parent or guardian signature as well.

GENERAL

• All AMBCS races must have a significant amount of the race course within the state of Arkansas.
• All races on the AMBCS must comply with rules of the AMBCS or risk being disqualified from the AMBCS forthe following year.
• All races within the AMBCS must have trails that usable to the public throughout the year.
• All courses should have trail markings that would enable an individual to follow the course throughout the year.
• All races on the AMBCS must be USA Cycling sanctioned.
• USA Cycling rules apply if a subject is not covered in this document.
• All AMBCS races will be required to have a USAC Official present in an official capacity.
• All Races within the AMBCS are to be timed.
• The rider’s finish times are not required to be posted at race site, but must be submitted on the official results.
• All Races are required to use the USAC official results submission form.
• All AMBCS are to occur between April 1st and November 30 yearly.
• The AMBCS is to generally consist of 8 to 12 races annual.
• Unless a race has a specific Pro class, any racers holding a USAC Pro Card will race in the CAT 1 19-29 Div.
• The Entry fee for Time Trials, Short Track, Trails, Down Hill, 4 cross and other forms of Mountain bike competitions are at the promoter’s discretion.
• Class Start Order and times for each race should be posted and available at least 2 weeks prior to event, however, promoters can combine classes and/or age groups on race day for Start and Purse reasons.
• Each Race will provide complimentary entries to the following individuals
  1 entry for the Team Challenge Coordinator
  1 entry for the Points Tracker
  1 entry for the Web master
• Races must provide onsite medical support (ambulance, EMT, nurse…)
• Races are required to have a Sweep Rider or tracking system after the last rider on trail
• Races are required to have feed zone (water ) available on course when the prescribed course is equal to or longer than 15 miles.
• All courses are to be marked clearly for the Races. However, it is the Racers responsibility to know the course.
• All races are to provide access for the racers to water pre and post event
• Failure to abide by the requirements listed within this document may result in not being allowed to be part of the series in the following year.

Race Entry Fees:

• No Minimum Race entry fee will be instituted within the AMBCS.

Pro/CAT 1 CAT 2 / CAT 3 Single Speed and Clydesdale Junior - 14 and Under Maximum Entry fee  $40  $35  $20

Pro / Cat 1 Divisions specific items:

1. Cash awards will be required for all for Pro/C AT 1 classes, Min Pay back of 50% at 40% depth of field.
2. 2009 Pay Back charts for the AMBCS will be based on a $30.00 entry fee for the standardized payback program.

Cat 2 Divisions specific items:

1. Awards at least 3 deep per age group are required for all CAT 2 categories.

Cat 3 Divisions specific items:

1. Awards at least 3 deep per age group are required for all CAT 3 categories. 

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