Una-effin-dilla. It’s a race rich in tradition and legacy. Many of American motocross’s finest days were held in the rolling hills of New Berlin, New York. American wins of the Motocross of Nations and USGPs are fond memories that will live on in Unadilla infamy. Days of yesteryear are what created Unadilla and have cast an aura on the race that continues to current times.

The track itself has changed significantly over the years. Maybe not so much in the layout, but the soil certainly has seen its share of variation. Back in the 1970s, Unadilla was known for its loamy traction. The opening laps of the weekend would be waist-high grass, and that would slowly be ground down into big berms and soft bumps. As the years rolled on, all of that topsoil was carried out of the facility by dirty motorcycles and muddy riding gear. What was left by the late 1990s was a hard base of rocky New York terrain. The loamy Unadilla was a distant memory, replaced by brutal roost and slippery conditions. What was once the favorite track of many riders became one loathed by the majority of the field. Damon Bradshaw and Ricky Carmichael have both shared some harsh words for the deteriorating conditions in past years, but to be fair, things had gone downhill from Unadilla’s glory days.

Recently, though, the promoters have made a marked effort to improve the track conditions. Topsoil has been brought in to improve traction, and the notorious Unadilla rocks have been sifted through. The first year I noticed the change was in 2012, and had it not rained the night before, the track would have been the best I had ever seen it. Hopefully those efforts are sustained, as the natural terrain and flowing layout have the makings to once again be a world-class track.

Unadilla has its share of signature obstacles, much like many other tracks on the circuit. Gravity Cavity, the SkyShot, and Screw U are all staples of the Unadilla Valley Sports Center venue. Each has its own flair, but the steepness of Screw U can’t be overstated. It is easily the most radical grade of any climb or descent that the riders will face all season. The SkyShot gives riders a chance to really let loose, and press day is a free-for-all in that regard. With an incredibly long jump face and even longer landing, riders have ample room to see just how far they can push the envelope.