Mountain Bike Association of Arizona (MBAA) 2016 Race Series Rules Welcome to the 2016 MBAA Race Series. The following rules have been adopted by the MBAA Board of Directors. These rules apply to all 2016 MBAA Race Series events. The Board reserves the right to make decisions concerning situations not specifically addressed in these rules, and to revise these rules should a situation warrant. Members shall be notified of any revision(s). It is the responsibility of each Race Series participant to know and abide by these rules. Questions regarding these rules should be addressed to Competition Director, Jon Shouse, at info@mbaa.net, or by phone at 520-449-4643. 1. GENERAL RULES 1.1 Rule Number One Ride safe. Ride often. Have fun. That s a rule. 1.2 Demeanor Poor sportsmanship or abuse of race officials or staff will result in ineligibility for a Series championship and possible suspension from future MBAA Race Series events. 1.3 Racer Name Racers must use exactly the same name in each race. 1.4 Eyewear Protective eyewear must be worn at the start of each race; riders not wearing eyewear will be disqualified on the start line. 1.5 Ear buds/phones No ear pieces may be worn on the course. 1.6 Number Plates Riders may not trim, write on, or otherwise alter the number plate in any way that eliminates the printing or makes it unreadable. Violations of this rule may result in race disqualification. 1.7 Start Line Call-Ups When possible, if multiple categories start at the same time, the top five (5) from each category will be called to the start line in order of standing within each category. When possible, at the first race of the season the top five pro/elite and experts from the previous year will be called to the start line first. 1.8 Officiating For individual races, the race official(s), not the MBAA Competition Director, will settle disputes over rules or results. The MBAA Competition Director will settle disputes involving overall Series rules or standings. 1.9 Results Protests Race results will be posted near the completion of each wave at each race. Following the posting of results there will be a protest period during which racers can dispute the accuracy of the results with the race official(s). It is the racer s responsibility to verify the accuracy of the posted results prior to the end of the protest period. Protests will be handled on site ONLY! If you leave and there is a discrepancy in the results you forfeit the right to protest at a later time. 1.10 Awards Cash and prize awards will NOT BE MAILED; you must be present on the podium at the awards ceremony to receive them. 1.11 MBAA Membership MBAA Race Series participants are encouraged (but not required) to be MBAA members. All proceeds from MBAA membership fees will go to trail projects throughout the state. Members receive entry to exclusive raffles, membership card, and MBAA sticker. 2. MBAA RACE SERIES CATEGORIES
MEN Pro/Elite Men Expert Men Open Junior Men 9-11 Marathon Men Open Expert Junior Men 15-18 Junior Men 12-14 Single Speed Men Open Expert Men 45+ Beginner Junior Men 15-18 Rock Crusher Men Open* Intermediate Junior Men 15-18 Beginner Men 19-29 Fat Bike Men Open** Intermediate Men 19-34 Beginner Men 30-39 Masters Men 60+ Intermediate Men 35-49 Beginner Men 40-49 First-Timer Men*** Intermediate Men 50+ Beginner Men 50+ WOMEN Pro/Elite Women Expert Women Open Junior Women 9-11 Marathon Women Open Expert Junior Women 15-18 Junior Women 12-14 Single Speed Women Open Expert Women 45+ Beginner Junior Women 15-18 Fat Bike Women Open** Intermediate Junior Women 15-18 Beginner Women 19-29 First-Timer Women*** Intermediate Women 19-34 Beginner Women 30-39 Intermediate Women 35-49 Beginner Women 40-49 Intermediate Women 50+ Beginner Women 50+ * Must weigh 200 pounds or more. ** Minimum tire width 3 inches. *** One-time use only; does not receive awards or points. 2.1 Racer Age A racer s age for purposes of category placement is the racer s age as of December 31, 2016. 2.2 Road to MTB Categories USAC Cat 1 and 2 road racers are encouraged to race in either the Elite or Expert category. 2.3 Category Changes Any changes to your category, team or anything else must be taken care of at registration. Timing will not be responsible to make changes on the start line. When you or your representative sign your registration form, you are confirming that everything is correct and you will be racing in the category you listed for on the start list. 2.4 Alternate Age Group Any racer may elect to ride in the next lower age group, but must remain in that age group for the duration of the race series. Racers must attach a written statement to the first race registration form informing timing/scoring of this decision. Exception: Juniors are not allowed to do this. 3. CATEGORY ADVANCEMENT 3.1 Beginner and Intermediate Men Beginner men must move to intermediate, and intermediate men must move to expert whenever they have finished in the top three (3) in the MBAA Race Series in the previous year. 3.2 Rock Crusher Men The Rock Crusher Series Champion from the previous year must move to either intermediate or expert for the current year. 3.3 Beginner and Intermediate Women Beginner women must move to intermediate and intermediate women must move to expert whenever they have finished in the top (2) in the MBAA Race Series in the previous year.
3.4 Beginner Junior Men and Women 15-18 Junior men and women of racing age 15-18 who win a Series championship in the previous year must move up to the next older age group for the current year. Juniors under racing age 15 are not required to advance. 3.5 One-Racer Category If a Race Series category included only 1 racer for the entire series in the previous year, then that racer will have the choice of advancing or not in the current year. 3.6 Petition for Exception If you have justifiable reasons for remaining in your current category, you may petition the MBAA board. Petitions must be received by the MBAA Board of Directors at least one week prior to the first race. If your petition is approved, it is within the discretion of the Board as to whether you will be eligible to compete for championship points. 3.7 Disqualification It is each racer s responsibility to register in the correct category. Racers who complete a race in a category from which they should have advanced according to the above rules will be considered in violation of these rules and will be disqualified from that race. 4. INDIVIDUAL SCORING AND SERIES CHAMPIONS 4.1 Points Racers earn points based on their finishing position in each race as indicated in the table below. Racers in the First-Timer Men and Women categories do not earn points. Place Points Place Points Place Points 1 25 6 12 11 5 2 22 7 10 12 4 3 19 8 8 13 3 4 16 9 7 14 2 5 14 10 6 15 1 4.2 In-Season Category Advancement Racers may choose to advance to the next higher category after the first race, but they must commit to a category by the third race of the season and remain in that category for the duration of the season. For racers opting to advance, all points from their first race and half of the points from their second race will carry over from beginner to intermediate and intermediate to expert no other race category points are transferable. Racers may earn points in only one category at a time. 4.3 Category Champions The racer in each category with the highest point total of their best four (4) races will be the 2016 MBAA Race Series Champion in that category, providing they have completed the required minimum number of races in that category as well as the required minimum number of volunteer hours (see below for these requirements). MBAA Race Series Champion jerseys will be awarded to category champions as soon as possible after the end of the season. 4.4 Tie Resolution In the event of a tie in the season Series standings among any of the top three positions, the tie(s) will be resolved by comparing points awarded in reverse chronological order. 4.5 Event Cancellation In the event that one or more of the scheduled races are cancelled due to course closure or any other reason, the number races used to determine Series champions may be adjusted at the discretion of the Competition Director. 4.6 Minimum Race Requirement To be eligible for a Series championship in a given category, a racer must complete a minimum of three (3) races in that category. In the event that no racer in a category completes at least three races, the Competition Director has the discretion, after all other jerseys have been awarded, to offer a Series Champion jersey to the racer who received the most points in that category.
4.7 Minimum Volunteer Hour Requirement To be eligible to win a Series championship, a racer MUST have completed a minimum of five (5) volunteer hours, including, but not limited to: trail maintenance, venue set up/take down, event facilitation. All volunteer hours will count toward both the individual championship title as well as the team championship title. 5. TEAMS 5.1 Team Composition Teams may be comprised of any combination of racers from any of the MBAA Race Series categories. 5.2 Team Captains Each team must have a captain with a valid email address. Team captains must attend the team meeting scheduled for the day of the second Series race. Any transactions involving registration, roster modification, trail maintenance documentation, other concerns, or matters of importance should be conducted between the team captain and the MBAA Membership Director. Information for contacting the MBAA Membership Director will be posted on the MBAA web site. 5.3 Team Rosters Team captains are responsible for submitting the names of racers on their team prior to the second race. Names included on team rosters must be the same name the racer uses for their individual race registration. Racers can be a member of only one team. Once a rider is submitted for a team, they cannot change to another team. A rider cannot be dropped from a team roster once they are added. 5.4 Roster Additions Rosters must be set prior to the second race. If a racer is added to a team after the first race, but before the second race, the points that racer earned from the first race will count toward team points. 5.5 Team Categories Teams with between 2 and 8 racers, inclusive, will compete in the Little Ring category. Teams with 9 or more racers will compete in the Big Ring category. 5.6 Team Registration The 2016 Race Series registration fee for Little Ring teams is $100, and for Big Ring teams it is $150. Team captains must register their team online using the MBAA web site. 5.7 Team Points For each race, points earned by the top five (5) finishers on each team will accrue to the total team points. 5.8 Team Champions The Little Ring and Big Ring team with the highest accumulated team points (as defined above) in their respective team category at season end will be the 2016 MBAA Race Series Team Champion in that team category, providing the team has completed the required minimum number of volunteer hours. MBAA Race Series Team Champion trophies will be awarded during the awards ceremony following the last race of the Series. 5.9 Minimum Volunteer Hour Requirement To be eligible to win a Series championship, Little Ring teams MUST complete a minimum of 25 volunteer hours, and Big Ring teams MUST complete a minimum of 50 volunteer hours. Volunteer hours include, but are not limited to: trail maintenance, venue set up/take down, event facilitation. 6. VOLUNTEER HOURS 6.1 Definition A volunteer hour is defined as one person providing one hour of service. Volunteer activities include, but are not limited to: trail maintenance, venue set up/take down, event facilitation.
6.2 Documentation of Hours All volunteer hours must be documented and verifiable. Trail maintenance hours must be signed by an authorized trail maintenance organizer and submitted to the MBAA Trails Director. Volunteer hours at events must be documented by an authorized event volunteer coordinator on site. 6.3 Timely Completion All volunteer hours must be completed seven (7) days prior to the last race of the Series (subject to change based on volunteer needs at the finals). 6.4 Volunteer Service Provider Volunteer hours may be completed by someone other than the racer to whom the hours accumulate (family members, teammates etc.). Volunteers must note at the time of recording to whom the hours are being dedicated. 6.5 Confirmation of Hours Racers are responsible for verifying the accurate recording of their name, team affiliation, and hours on the official MBAA volunteer roster at each event. DISCLAIMER: These rules are intended to provide governance of MBAA Race Series events. Participants in events governed by these rules are deemed by participation to have voluntarily complied with these rules. The MBAA and the event promoter make no express or implied guarantee against damage loss, harm, injury or death to participants, spectators, or others as a result of publication of or compliance with these rules.