OZ KIDS™ CRIT CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RULES
The following OZ Kids™ Crit Championship Series rules are meant to provide guidance and guardrails for fair competition while promoting a welcoming atmosphere for participants, officials, spectators, or anyone connected with or attending the event.
Series Format
The 2025 OZ Kids™ Crit Championship Series is a 5-race series across Northwest Arkansas. Each race is scored, with scores accumulating throughout the series and a champion being crowned at the final race in October.
2024 OZ Kids™ Crit Championship Series Schedule
Round 1 – at Pea Ridge Second Saturday, May 10
Round 2 – at Fayetteville Upper Ramble, June 21
Round 3 – at Gravette Day, August 9
Round 4 – at Bikeapalooza, Bella Vista, September 20
Round 5 – Championship Race at Big Sugar Classic, Bentonville, October 18
Series Overall Point Structure
The Series Overall is based on a point structure, with a participant’s best 3 out of 5 finishes in the series counting towards the Series Overall points total. Each race is worth up to 25 points, with the Series Overall awarded to the Top 3 racers in each category with the highest number of points after the final event in the series. A minimum of 3 finishes, one of which must be participation in the series final in Bentonville, is required to qualify for the Series Overall Championship podium. At the final race of the year, the Top 3 racers in each category will be recognized during a Championship Podium ceremony.
In the event that there is a tie in the Series Overall, each rider’s next best finish will be calculated into the overall score until the tie is broken. If two riders have completed all 5 races and still have tied points then total race time will be calculated, with the rider with a lower total time advancing in position.
2025 OZ Kids™ Crit Championship Series Categories
OZ Kids™ Crit Championship Series features 9 Categories with the goal to create a fun and competitive environment.
· Balance bike, racing ages 2 and 3
· Balance bike, racing ages 4-6
· Pedal bike, racing ages 3 and 4
· Girls, racing ages 5 and 6, pedal
· Boys, racing ages 5 and 6, pedal
· Girls, racing ages 7 and 8
· Boys, racing ages 7 and 8
· Girls, racing ages 9 and 10
· Boys, racing ages 9 and 10
Racing Age: A participant’s Racing Age is their age on October 18, 2025.
Course Warm-up
Courses will open for warm-up/practice rides 30 minutes prior to the first race start.
Equipment Requirements
Properly fitted helmet
Bike must have flat handlebars (no road bikes)
Handlebar ends must be plugged (no holes in the end of the handlebars)
No BMX pegs
Closed toed shoes
Knobby tires
Each rider must be self-sufficient during the duration of the competition. A parent or guardian is allowed on course and welcome to run alongside riders during Balance Bike categories. The race director can approve exceptions to this rule.
Number Plates, Staging and Start
All participants will be issued an official number plate during each event’s check-in process. Number plates must be attached to the handlebars in a visible manner and displayed on the bike. Racers will also receive a wristband in the color that coordinates to their race category. Racers must be on-site and ready to go, with their wristband on and race plate affixed to their bike, 30 minutes prior to their race start time. Race schedule, race staging and start times are posted on the OZKids.org website.
Rule Violations & Protests
Interpretation of the rules and rule violations are at the discretion of the Race Director. Any protest of final race results must be submitted to the Race Director within 10 minutes of the results being posted at the event timing tent. Accuracy is the goal, please do not hesitate to bring potential discrepancies to the attention of the Race Director.
Final decisions on assessing corrections to race results will be made within 30 minutes after the protest period closes. All other instances, violations, or judgments will be handled on a per-case basis.
