Will you be ready for the 2026 National Season?
As we inch closer to the first gate drop of the 2026 National season, USA BMX would like to both update and remind its members of several necessary adjustments to the USA BMX National Series. These updates are part of an ongoing effort to strengthen competition, enhance rider development, and ensure the National Series continues to evolve alongside the sport. With the new season approaching, now is the time for racers, families, and teams to familiarize themselves with what’s ahead as we look forward to another exciting year of racing.
National Scores Counted
For riders pursuing a NAG and National ranking, please note an important update: the National Age Group and National standings will now be calculated using a rider’s best eight (8) scores, reduced from ten. This adjustment is intended to keep more riders competitive in the chase for NAG and NAT plates heading into the Grand National.
Transponders:
Beginning with the 2026 season, USA BMX will expand the list of classes requiring transponders at National Series events. Cruiser, Girl Cruiser, and Expert Open classes will now be included in the mandatory transponder categories.
- Men Pro
- Women Pro
- Vet Pro
- ABA Futures
- Expert
- Girl Expert
- Cruiser
- Girl Cruiser
- Expert Open
Riders are responsible for using the designated check stations to confirm their transponder is functioning properly. If a transponder issue occurs, the rider will not be scored for that lap. Riders will not be paged to the trailer or finish line to address transponder problems. If you pass a check station and notice an issue, please report it immediately to USA BMX Registration. We recommend checking our.sqorz.com to verify that your transponder has successfully registered at a check station. Additionally, riders should visit motos.usabmx.com to confirm advancement to the next round of competition. For any timing-related questions, please email timing@usabmx.com.
Bonus Points:
Returning for 2026 – At all national races, riders who advance out of their motos can earn bonus district points from rider count in each advanced round they qualify to (e.g., quarters, semis, 1/8s, etc.), using the following points multiplier:
Nationals – Triple district points
Grand National – Quadruple district points
Example: An expert rider has 8 groups (48 total riders) in his class at a national. By transferring to the quarter-mains, which has 24 riders, they earns 24 bonus points. If they do not advance further, they receives 24 × 3 = 72 bonus points.
If they transfer to the semi-mains, with 16 riders, they will earn an additional 16 × 3 = 48 bonus points, bringing the bonus-point total to 120. If they qualify to the main event and finish 3rd, the district points are calculated as follows:
144 rider points (based on 48 riders × 3)
120 bonus points (Qtr / 24 x 3 and Semi /16 x 3)
180 finish points (3rd place 60 × 3)
A total of 404 district points would be earned.
Only the initial class rider points are automatically added to a rider’s district standings. Bonus points and main-event finish points are held in a Bonus Points file for each rider and are released once the following criteria are met.
For each single-point race a rider competes in, 10% of that year’s bonus points are added to their district standing. After a rider has competed in 10 single-point races, 100% of their bonus points— already earned and potentially earned later in the season—will be automatically added to their district points.
Rider Development:
As USA BMX continues to evolve the competitive landscape and strengthen its rider development pipeline, an important update is being introduced for the 2026 season and beyond. The Pro/Am class will be phased out at regular-season National events, with athletes encouraged to compete in the ABA Futures classes at USA BMX Pro Series events—creating a more intentional pathway to the Pro ranks.
The ABA Futures class offers a focused, high-performance environment that more closely mirrors professional BMX. By racing within the Pro Series framework, Futures athletes gain exposure to stronger competition, elevated track preparation, and the intensity of a true pro-level race day. This setting sharpens critical skills such as gate execution, racecraft, and performance under pressure, accelerating development beyond what the Pro/Am structure provides.
Bringing developing riders together in the ABA Futures classes also creates deeper fields and higher-quality racing, pushing athletes to elevate their performance each event. Competing alongside the sport’s top riders introduces the expectations of teams, sponsors, and fans, preparing racers both on and off the track. With this transition, USA BMX is reinforcing a clear progression: develop in Futures, refine skills against higher competition, and step into the Pro ranks fully prepared.
Lane Select Transfer
Events utilizing the Lane Selection Transfer system (“Transfer All”) will see adjustments to transfer protocols for classes with 4, 6, or 8 riders. Based on feedback from riders, parents, and volunteers, these classes will transfer fewer riders from the first round as follows:
4-rider classes: Transfer 1–3 to the main
6-rider classes: Transfer 2–4 to the main
8-rider classes: Transfer 3–5 to the main
All information from https://www.usabmx.com/news-and-media/General/2026-01-02/Be-Ready-for-the-2026-Season?id=2071
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