Motocross Race Day Checklist: What to Pack for the Track

Nothing kills a race day faster than pulling up at the track, unloading the bike and realising your gloves are still on the laundry floor at home. We've all done it. So here's the motocross race day checklist we actually use, sorted by what goes in the ute the night before, what you need for the bike, what you need for you, and what's worth packing for the drive home.

Print it, screenshot it, stick it on the garage wall. Whatever works.

Why bother with a race day checklist?

Because race day is early. You're up before the sun, half awake, loading the bike in the dark, and that's exactly when stuff gets left behind. A checklist takes the thinking out of it. Pack the same way every time and you stop forgetting things, you stop borrowing gear off your mates, and you turn up to sign-on relaxed instead of stressed.

It also helps if you're taking the kids. Packing for two or three riders is a lot easier with a list everyone can tick off.

The night before

Do as much as you can the night before. Future you will thank you at 5am.

• Licence and membership: your rider licence or club membership details, plus anything your club or the event needs for sign-on. Check the event info ahead of time, because every club does it a bit differently.
• Entry sorted: if entries are online, make sure you're actually entered and know your class and race number.
• Fuel: fill your jerry cans, and if you run premix, mix it at home where you can measure properly.
• Bike loaded and strapped: tie-downs checked, ramp in, bike strapped down tight.
• Gear bag packed: run through the gear list below and put it all in one bag.
• Weather check: it changes how you pack. Hot day means more water and spare socks. Wet day means goggle tear-offs or roll-offs, rags and a change of clothes.

Riding gear checklist

Go head to toe and you won't miss anything.

• Helmet
• Goggles, plus a spare pair, tear-offs or a roll-off system
• Neck brace, if you wear one
• Chest protector or roost guard
• Jersey and pants (a spare jersey is handy on a hot day)
• Gloves, and a spare pair
• Knee braces or knee guards
• MX socks, and at least one spare pair
• Boots
• Kidney belt, elbow guards or anything else you normally ride in

Don't forget the socks

Socks are the thing everyone forgets, and the thing you notice most when you get them wrong. If you ride in knee braces, you need a proper knee brace sock that's long enough to finish above the top strap. A short or thin sock is how you end up with rubbing behind the knee and blisters in the boot by the second moto. If you're not sure what size to grab, our motocross sock size guide walks you through measuring your thigh and leg.

Pack a spare pair too. After a hot or muddy moto, putting fresh dry socks on before the next race makes a real difference to how your feet and legs feel. If you want a few pairs to rotate, the sock combo packs are the easy way to do it, or have a look through the full range of Goatbrand MX knee brace socks.

Bike and pit checklist

Tools and spares

• Basic tool kit: T-bars, sockets and spanners that fit your bike
• Spare levers (clutch and brake)
• Chain lube, and a spare master link
• Tyre pressure gauge and a pump
• Zip ties and duct tape (they fix more than they should)
• Spare air filter, already oiled, in a sealed bag
• Spare spark plug

Pit setup

• Bike stand
• Fuel, funnel and premix oil if needed
• Rags and a spray bottle of water for cleaning goggles and visor
• Pop-up shade or gazebo, with weights or pegs
• Camp chairs
• Rubbish bag, because you take your rubbish home

Rider checklist: food, water and first aid

This is the bit people skimp on, and it's the bit that decides how you ride in your last moto.

• Water: more than you think. Aussie summer race days get properly hot, and you'll want plenty for drinking and for cooling down.
• Electrolytes: whatever you normally use.
• Food: easy stuff you'll actually eat between motos. Sandwiches, fruit, muesli bars.
• Sunscreen, hat and sunnies: you spend more time in the pits than on the track.
• Basic first aid kit: band-aids, blister pads, strapping tape, antiseptic, and any medication you need.
• Esky with ice: for drinks and food, and a cold towel on a hot day.

Blister pads are worth a special mention. If you're prone to hot spots in your boots, our guide on how to stop blisters in motocross boots covers the causes and fixes.

Between motos

A quick routine between races keeps you and the bike fresh.

• Drink water and eat something small
• Get out of the sun and get your jersey off if you can
• Check the bike: chain, spokes, bolts, tyre pressure, fuel
• Clean your goggles and put on fresh tear-offs
• Swap into dry socks if yours are soaked
• Check your brace straps are still sitting right, and adjust if anything rubbed

If your braces have been rubbing, sort it before the next moto, not after. Our post on how to stop knee brace rubbing has the common fixes.

Packing for the drive home

• A change of clothes and a towel
• Thongs or slides, because your feet will be cooked after a day in boots
• A big tub or bag for muddy gear so it doesn't wreck the car
• Something to eat on the drive

When you get home, get your gear out of the bag straight away. Leaving wet socks and jerseys zipped up in a bag overnight is how they end up smelling like a dead animal. Wash them, hang them out to dry, and they'll last a lot longer.

The quick printable version

• Paperwork: licence, membership, entry, race number
• Gear: helmet, goggles, neck brace, chest protector, jersey, pants, gloves, knee braces, MX socks (plus spares), boots
• Bike: fuel, tools, spare levers, chain lube, tyre gauge, air filter, spark plug, stand
• Pit: shade, chairs, rags, water spray bottle, rubbish bag
• You: water, electrolytes, food, sunscreen, hat, first aid kit, esky
• Home: towel, change of clothes, slides, dirty gear tub

FAQ

How many pairs of MX socks should I take to a race?

At least two. One to ride in and one spare. On a hot or wet day, a fresh pair for each moto is even better.

What do I wear under my knee braces?

A long knee brace sock that finishes above the top strap of the brace. It stops the brace rubbing on bare skin and helps the brace stay where it should. Check out what pro motocross riders wear under their boots for more on this.

What's the most commonly forgotten thing on race day?

From what we hear around the pits, it's usually gloves, goggles or socks. Small stuff that lives somewhere other than the gear bag. Keep them in the bag and the problem goes away.

Do I need a licence to race motocross in Australia?

For most club and race events you'll need the right licence or membership. Requirements vary by event and state, so check with your club or the event organiser before race day.

Get your kit sorted

A good race day starts with a good pack. Run through the list, sort your gear the night before, and you'll turn up ready to ride instead of scrambling. If your sock drawer needs a refresh, grab a pair or two of Goatbrand MX knee brace socks before your next round. Nothing generic. See you at the track.