Road Racing Categories Explained

All junior and senior licence holders, male or female are categorised by their ability. Riders of the same ability category continue to compete together in races irrespective of their age category, except in the case of age related events.

Senior Riders

4th category

A new junior or senior licence holder or any Junior or Senior licence holder who has not obtained 12 points in any one calendar year. Riders taking out a Day Licence are also treated as 4th Category riders.

3rd category

Any junior or senior licence holder who has gained 12 points during any one season whilst holding a 4th category licence. Note: Riders are never downgraded to 4th category once a 3rd category licence has been achieved.

2nd category

Any junior or senior licence holder who has gained 40 points during any one season whilst holding a 3rd category licence. To retain a 2nd category licence for the following season, a rider must obtain at least 25 points in events open to that category of rider.

1st category

Any junior or senior licence holder who has gained 200 points during any one season whilst holding a 2nd category licence. To retain a 1st category licence for the following season, a rider must obtain at least 100 points in events open to that category of rider.

Elite category

Any Senior licence holder who has gained 300 points during the previous season whilst holding an Elite or 1st category licence.

(Please note that any points counting towards an upgrade, will not be included in your new categories ranking total. ie a 4th gaining 15 points in total, will carry over 3 points only to their new category).

Junior Riders

On reaching the Junior age category, existing licence holders will be awarded initial ability categories as follows:

4th Category

Any rider who has gained no Youth licence points in the previous year.

3rd Category

Any rider who has gained Youth licence points in the previous year.

2nd Category male - Any rider who has achieved:
 - Top 15 in the Youth A Boys in the previous year's National Circuit Race Series
 - Top 10 in the Youth A Boys in the previous year's Track Omnium Series
 - Top 3 in Any in the previous year's Road/Track Youth A Boys National Championship
 - Top 10 in Youth A Boys National Rankings in the previous season

2nd Category female

Any rider who has achieved:
 - Top 5 in the Youth A Girls in the previous year's National Circuit Race Series
 - Top 10 in the Youth A Girls in the previous year's Track Omnium Series
 - Top 3 in any in the previous year's Road/Track Youth A Girls National Championship
 - Top 5 in Youth A Girls National Rankings in the previous season

Note: Junior riders will not be eligible for elite licences