Rules and Regulations | Mountain Bike

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Mountain Bike Race Guidelines
Updated for 2010
The following Guidelines and Rules are to be adhered to by all event promoters and competitors in the Northeastern Ohio Power Series aka NEO Power Series and Vulture's Knob. The intent of these rules are to provide consistency from race to race within the series and support a safe, enjoyable racing experience for all involved.

CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

Beginner: (Men & women age 13 and above) A Beginner Category competitor shall be a new or recreational racer with limited riding time. Racers with 2 or more years of race experience and/or training more than 4 hours per week should compete in the Sport class. For those finishing at the top of their age class we strongly encourage that you move up the Sport class for the next race season. The race distance for Beginner Category events will be 6-15 miles.


Sport: (Men & women age 13 above) A Sport Category competitor is an experienced racer of average ability. For those finishing at the top of their age class for 2 consecutive years we encourage that you move up to the Expert class for the next race season. The race distance for Sport Category Series events will be 15-30 miles.

Expert: An Expert Category competitor is a racer looking for a challenge beyond Sport. The race distance for Expert Category will be 25-40 miles.

CLASSES
A competitor's racing age is used for class placement and is determined by their age as of December 31 of the current year.

Mountain Bike Series events are scored in these categories and classes: Classes may be combined if less then 5 racers in any single category.

Race Categories (Divisions) & Classes
All numbers denote age in years

Beginner | Sport
- Junior/18 & U
- Senior/19-29
- Master/30-39
- Master/40-49
- Master/50+


Expert/Semi-Pro/Pro
- Senior 0-35
- Master36+

Women |Beginner|Sport|Women
- Junior/18 & U
- Senior/19+

Women Expert
- All ages combined

CHANGING CLASSES
mid series
Changing classes is seriously frowned upon once you have started the season. If you believe you warrant a class change a $10.00 administration fee will be required and point’s carryover will be at the discretion of the series officials.

(SERIES) REGISTRATION
Pre-Online registration will be available for all 331 Promotions races. In most cases pre-registration will earn you a discounted rate for that event. Racers will fill out a registration form at their first race of the season, for all following races the racer will be provided a pre-printed form with all information printed on it. The pre-printed form will only require a signature of the contestant. If you do not have access to pre-register online feel free to call series official to do so, 330-350-1553.

ENTRY FEES

!!NEW FOR 2010 - PRE-REGISTER ONLINE FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES!!
Groovy Series at Vultures Knob
Total Price: $125.00 - $25.00 per race
(Note: Final race is coupled with Neo Power Series)
Neo Power Series
Total Price: $130.00
(Note: Final race is coupled with Groovy Series)

Big Valley Race (Race Day)
Late or Day of Race Entry Fee*: Expert $40.00 Sport and Beginner $40.00 Junior (18&U) $15.00.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.
PRE-REGISTRATION:
Expert: $35.00, Sport $35.00, Beginner $35.00, and Junior (18&U) $15.00.
Online race registration closes approx. two weeks prior to the start race.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.

Vulture's Knob (Race Day)
Late or Day of Race Entry Fee*: Expert $35.00 Sport and Beginner $35.00 Junior (18&U) $15.00.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.
PRE-REGISTRATION:
Expert: $30.00, Sport $30.00, Beginner $30.00, and Junior (18&U) $15.00.
Online race registration closes approx. two weeks prior to the start race.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.

Findley State Park Single Track Time Trial (Race Day)
Late or Day of Race Entry Fee*: Expert $30.00 Sport and Beginner $30.00 Junior (18&U) $15.00.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.
PRE-REGISTRATION:
Expert: $25.00, Sport $25.00, Beginner $25.00, and Junior (18&U) $15.00.
Online race registration closes approx. two weeks prior to the start race.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.

Urban Short Track (Akron)
Late or Day of Race Entry Fee*: Expert $tbd Sport and Beginner $tbd Youth (15&U) $tbd
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available to late or day of race entries.
PRE-REGISTRATION:
Expert: $tbd, Sport $tbd, Beginner $tbd, and Youth (15&U) $tbd
Online race registration closes approx. two weeks prior to the start race.
CAMBA/OMBA Membership receive an additional $5.00 pre-entry discount - must be a current and valid CAMBA/OMBA member and must have membership number to receive discount. Discount not available to late or day of race entries.

Westbranch Endurance Race (Race Day)
Late or Day of Race Entry Fee*: Expert $50.00 Sport and Beginner $50.00 Junior (18&U) $20.00.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.
PRE-REGISTRATION:
Expert: $40.00, Sport $40.00, Beginner $40.00, and Junior (18&U) $20.00.
Online race registration closes approx. two weeks prior to the start race.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.

Reagan Park Single Track Time Trial (Race Day)
Late or Day of Race Entry Fee*: Expert $30.00 Sport and Beginner $30.00 Junior (18&U) $15.00.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.
PRE-REGISTRATION:
Expert: $25.00, Sport $25.00, Beginner $25.00, and Junior (18&U) $15.00.
Online race registration closes approx. two weeks prior to the start race.
CAMBA/OMBA Discount not available this year.
AWARDS

Individual Event Awards:
Beginner, Sport, Expert: The top finishers in each age and sex class, at each event, will receive awards, prizes or cash at the discretion of the event organizer. The number of places awarded is based on the average number of racers in each class. Classes may be combined if less than 5 racers in any single category.
OVERALL SERIES AWARDS

Youth, Beginner and Sport: The top 3 in each age and sex class will receive an award in recognition of their overall result. Overall division winners may be presented with additional prizes.
Expert: Overall: The top 3 overall Expert men and women will be presented with award to commemorate their accomplishment. The possibility exists for merchandise and cash awards above and beyond the plaques. Those receiving an overall award will be excluded from receiving an age class award. Overall division winners may be presented with additional prizes.

AWARD PRESENTATION
Series award winners wishing to claim their award are strongly encouraged to participate in the official awards ceremony at the conclusion of the series as winners must be present to claim award.
SCORING
To be scored in the NEO Power Series overalls, a competitor must compete in a minimum of 4 of the 5 series events. In case of a tie, head-to-head results at the Reagan Park Single Track Time Trial will be used to determine placing. If a tie still remains, a tie will be declared and both racers will receive equal awards, with the next place being dropped.
POINTS: Points awarded at each individual NEO Series race toward series overall scores are listed in the Point Scale table below.

Fixed Point System
In each race of the series, points are assigned as follows:
1st 50 points, 2nd 40 points, 3rd 31 points, 4th 23 points, 5th 16 points, 6th 10 points, 7th 9 points, 8th 8 points, 9th 7 points, 10th 6 points, 11th 5 points, 12th 4 points, 13th 3 points, 14th 2 points, 15th 1 point, etc..
Series Points Scale
1st 50
2nd 40
3rd 31
4th 23
5th 16
6th 10
7th 9
8th 8
9th 7
10th 6
11th 5
12th 4
13th 3
14th 2
15th - 99th 1
(DNF's receive 1 points)

NEO POWER SERIES RULES TO RACE BY:
It is each and every competitor's responsibility to be aware of and to comply with these rules!
Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

- Only registered racers may compete in an series event. An official race number plate must be displayed by each racer. No competitor shall cut, fold, mutilate, apply stickers to or alter in any way the number plate. Numbers are not transferable. Penalty is disqualification.
- All competitors must wear a properly secured helmet, complying to DOT or CPSC Standards at all times during competition as well as when pre-riding or warming up on the course.
- Competitors must wear proper riding attire, including a shirt, shorts, and fully-enclosed shoes during competition.
- MP3 players, and other personal listening devices are allowed but must not interfere with a racer's awareness of other racers and their surroundings on the race course.
- Each competitor is responsible for having their bike in good operating condition. All Competitors must be self sufficient. All repairs during a race must be performed by the individual racers. Tools and spare parts used in a repair must be carried by the racer. No off-course assistance is allowed. Exception to this rule - If the racer makes it back to the scoring table, the officials may grant aid to the racer and allow the contestant to re-enter the race where he left off and finish that race as not to have a DNF.
- Deviation from the marked course will result in disqualification unless the competitor reenters the course at point of exit. This includes ducking under any flagging marking the boundaries of the finish chute. A competitor that purposely leaves the marked course during competition is deemed to have retired from the race and will be scored as a DQ or DNF.
- Feeding and/or "hand-ups" may occur on any part of the course. However any interference with another competitor during a hand-up is grounds for disqualification. Designated feed zones may be available at each event, please try to use them to avoid interference with other racers.
- Any competitor littering the course with a gel packet, food wrappers or other waste will be publicly addressed and humiliated at any given chance by any racer or promoter and will be asked to walk the track in bare feet and pick up all the garbage left by the race. Tread lightly and take out what you bring in.
- A competitor on their bike has the right-of-way over one pushing their bike. Lapped racers must yield the track immediately. Yield the track (fastest part of the trail) when possible when asked. It is the responsibility of an overtaking rider to pass safely. No racer is expected to stop their race to allow other racers to pass. However, no rider shall intentionally impede the progress of another. A rider should make his/her presence known when overtaking a slower rider (i.e. "On your left. Please!"). Especially in single-track, await return communication from the rider being overtaken that it is safe to pass.
- The use of profanity or flagrant discourtesy directed at another competitor, race worker, or spectator is grounds for disqualification from an individual event, first offense, and the series upon the second offense!
- Mountain biking is an individual sport, entering into agreements or forming alliances (monetary or otherwise) to control or alter the results of a race will result in disqualification from that individual event.
- A race may be stopped by the race director in case of severe injury to a rider or life threatening weather. Racers failing to heed the instruction of medical personal and/or course marshals attending to an injured rider will be disqualified!
- Protests of results, the conduct of a racer, or any other matters related to the race may only be filed by a competitor in the event or a race official. Protests must be reported to or filed with a timing official within 10 minutes of the completion of an event, posting of results, or a ruling to be considered valid. All results become final as of the presentation of awards.
- The sale of merchandise or display of products for promotional purposes at NEO Power Series events without the permission of 311 Promotions, Toad Promotions or Medina Mountain Biking and the individual event director is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to banners, tents, and anything not permanently attached to a vehicle that a competitor has driven to an event.
- IGNORANCE OF THE RULES IS NEVER AN ADMISSIBLE DEFENSE!
Final interpretation of the rules is up to the event director. These individuals have control over all competitors, scorers, and officials at their event and their decision on these rules, and any situations not specifically covered by these rules, is final.
All North Eastern Ohio mountain bike races are promoted and directed by individual event promoters and companies. The race discount fee is being offered to OMBA members by 331 Promotions LLC, Toad Promotions LLC and Medina Mountain Bike Event Promotions LLC