How to race 4X for the first time

Your 15 point, step by step guide to racing 4X for the first time.

1. Become a member of British Cycling. Go to British Cycling and select ‘Member’ or ‘Premium Member’:

https://membership.britishcycling.org.uk/#pricingblock

2. Add a race licence. After selecting your Membership and filling in your personal details, on the next page you will need to select ‘Full Race Licence’ to race Schwalbe British 4X Series – unless you are racing in the following categories, which DO NOT need a full race licence*:

• Rippers 7-9
• Rippers 10-12
• Rippers Female 7-9
• Rippers Female 10-12
• Fun 13-16
• Big Fun 17+

• The race category in which you fall is based upon the age you are, as of 31 December 2025.

3. Once you receive your membership confirmation on email, and importantly your Race Licence number, you can then enter a Schwalbe British 4X Series race. 

There will be 10 races in 2025. Choose your races here: 

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/?series_id=439

4. After you have entered, you will receive a confirmation email from British Cycling advising that your entry has been processed.

5. Click on www.british4x.com for the Tech Guide at the race you have entered. The guide contains all the information about the race weekend that you need to know including address, schedules and race information.

6. Ahead of the event, ensure you are familiar with the British Cycling handbook so that you are aware of the rules for 4X. Page 123, if you want to jump directly to 4X rules: 

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/media/press/British_Cycling_2025_Handbook_SINGLE.pdf

7. Ensure your bike is in good working order. Two brakes and bar ends are mandatory, but the bike should be in a fit state to race.

8. Arrive at the venue on the day of your race. Proceed to the registration tent (large red tent with Schwalbe British 4X Series logos on it). There, your details will be double checked, you will sign on and you will be given your number plate for the race. Remember. This is your number plate for the whole season. Please bring it with you to all future races.

9. Walk the track in the official track walk time to familiarise yourself with the track.

10. Compete a minimum of 2 runs down the race track during official practice. Commissaries will tick these off each run you do.

11. After practice, all your moto (heats) race numbers and gate positions will be on Sqorz – our online event software. You can scan the QR code in the registration tent to access Sqorz free of charge. This will tell you your moto number and gate position before the race. Then your finish result after each race. If you qualify through to the knockout stages it will again tell you your race numbers up to the final. After the event it will also immediately tell you your overall points and as the season progresses, your best 7 results over the 10 rounds. 

Unlike BMX, we do not use transponders. Instead we manually input results at the finish line. So you do not get lap times, but all other information will be the same as BMX.

12. Attend the riders meeting. Here the organiser and commissaries will chat about the rules and what is expected of you. Any additional information about the day will be detailed and you will have a chance to ask questions. This will be held 15 minutes prior to racing commencing.

13. Race in your first Schwalbe British 4X Series event!

14. Drive home absolutely stoked that you raced 4X for the first time, tell all your friends and enter the next rounds of the series!

15. Upload all your photos and films to social media tagging us in – @british4x and using the hashtags:

• british4x
• 4x
• 4timesthefun