--- title: "Did You Know Sidecar Motorcross Is a Real Thing?" description: "Sidecarcross looks almost as dangerous as it looks fun. Who doesn't want to hang off a sketchy asymmetrical racing bike?" date: "2022-11-25" modified: "2022-11-25" authors: - name: "James Gilboy" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/did-you-know-sidecar-motorcross-is-a-real-thing" categories: - "News" - "Racing" --- # Did You Know Sidecar Motorcross Is a Real Thing? ![A rider leans off their sidecar motorcross bike]() *\World Sidecarcross Championship/Vandraq\* If it has a motor, then someone, somewhere, is racing it. Not just on asphalt, but on dirt. For some reason, though, you like us probably never considered that sidecar motocross could be a thing—never mind the most fun new motorsport since [tuk-tuk rallies](). Sidecarcross, as it's officially named, is an obscure form of racing that's predominantly found in central Europe. The sport dates back to the 1950s, according to the [World Sidecarcross Championship](), when homemade sidecars were fitted to single-cylinder bikes and used for club racing. By the 1960s, sidecarcross had graduated to two-cylinder bikes with purpose-built frames, and international events became commonplace. Things really took off in the '70s with the establishment of the European Sidecar Championship, and in 1980, the first World Championship was held by the FIM—the same body that runs MotoGP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXQm8uEYiUY Today, world-class sidecarcross bikes are largely built from a single make of frame, with most 2022 competitors using frames from Dutch supplier [WSP](). Engines are much more diverse, with the option of 1,000cc 4-strokes (1- or 2-cylinder), or 750-cc 2-strokes, from a variety of manufacturers at that. Some run motors from well-known companies like Husqvarna and KTM, while others lean on little-known options like Jawa and Zabel. The [sporting regulations]() don't specify a power limitation, so like [karting](), power is probably limited by how often you feel like rebuilding engines. As for the on-track product, it's just like tarmac sidecar racing, with one rider on the bike and another to throw their weight around to keep things upright. It's highly reminiscent of [tuk-tuk racing](), but with smaller teams and at higher speeds. It looks awfully dangerous, what with the large fields, tight racing, loose surfaces, jumps, and the fact that riders have to hang off the sides of their bikes to make corners—but fatalities and serious injuries don't seem to be especially common. It's probably because the fields appear to spread out pretty quickly, minimizing the chances of contact. In all, it seems like yet another novel way to play in the dirt. So, anyone else wanna... *hang out*? ![]() *Sidecar riders hang off their machines at the 2022 WSC finale. *World Sidecarcross Championship/Vandraq** *Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com* ## Author James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids." ### Author social links [Instagram]()