One hundred years in the making, an epic Motocross of Nations in England marks the ultimate birthday celebration for the sport.
WORDS: JASON WEIGANDT
PHOTOS: RAY ARCHER
Motocross started in England. In a way. More than twenty years ago (August 2002, Volume 5, number 8) Racer X’s original managing editor Bryan Stealey went to the site of the first-known motocross race, the Southern Scott Scramble at Camberley Heath. Held March 29, 1924, it was the first off-road motorcycle race ever run under the simple format of “whoever gets to the finish first wins.” Before that, popular events included trials with sections observed by judges, and road races (often called TTs back then), but the Southern Scott Scramble had no roads, no judges, and no timekeeping. They just raced.
Mind you this was called a scramble, as it was the French who eventually coined the term motocross, a combination of motorcycle and cross-country. But the racing started in England in 1924. England also just happened to be hosting a very big motocross race in 2024, at Matterley Basin, just 34 miles from where it all started a century ago at Camberley Heath.
We are deeply rooted in Moto—We’ve been here all our lives. Back in 1998 when we turned an underground newspaper into a shiny color magazine, it immediately changed the game with its unprecedented depth of coverage, sense of humor, and access to the sport’s biggest names. Today, our readers know they can go to Racer X Online for all the news, race results, and event coverage they need, and then enjoy even more detail and perspective in the pages of Racer X Illustrated. The mag offers a chance to learn something new on every page and stay connected with the people and personalities that shape our sport—the competitors out on the racetrack, as well as the ones behind the scenes—through our exclusive deep-dive stories and columns.
Our trademark has always been insider knowledge from the experts who are at the races and around the sport. We have long prided ourselves on our unparalleled race reporting and detailed storytelling. We go deep with the riders and teams to provide comprehensive coverage you won’t find anywhere else—all with first-class photography and design. It’s a full education in motocross past, present, and future.
Davey Coombs
Editor-in-chief & Founder
Racer X Illustrated
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