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Possibly the biggest obstacle to getting involved in motorsports — of any kind — is the financial thing. It costs money to go racing, whether on two wheels or four, and the higher up the ladder you climb, the more expensive it gets.

But if you want to get in on some grassroots, two-wheel racing with a huge entertainment factor and relatively minimal startup costs, supermoto may be right up your alley.

With influences from both motocross and road racing, supermoto has been around, in one form or another, for about 25 years. Like so many cool things involving motorcycles, it has its origins in California, although these days it is immensely popular in Europe — particularly France.

In a nutshell, supermoto (supermotard in Europe) pits riders against each other on a small track that is usually three-quarters pavement and one-quarter dirt or grass. Typically, riders have to jump, slide and drift their bikes, and the winner is the guy who gets across the finish line first.

The ability to handle your mount and ride aggressively is key, and there's lots of knee-dragging, airtime, and paint-swapping.

"Supermoto is probably 80 per cent road racing and 20 per cent off-roading," explains Gaston Morrison, president of the B.C.-based Riders Promoting Motorsports. His group organizes events in Western Canada and is currently working to tie up with similar organizations in Central and Eastern Canada. Both Ontario and Quebec have a full slate of supermoto events throughout the riding season, but at this point, it's all non-profit, volunteer work for Morrison and his fellow enthusiasts. There are trophies, but no prize money for race winners.

"The thing about it is that anyone can get involved," says Morrison. "One of the fastest riders in the U.S. is a guy named Jeff Ward, who is in his late forties, and we have several women racing as well.

"The guy that wins is the guy who makes the least amount of mistakes. It's all about combining racing disciplines into one action-packed spectator experience."

Riders rarely top 100 km/h on the small tracks and, as in motocross, the hole shot — the ability to get to the first turn and shoulder your way through it before anyone else — is paramount.

Typically, there are between 10 and 15 riders on the grid and once it catches on, Morrison says supermoto is going to be "the next big thing" in two-wheeled motorsport.

The bikes competing in supermoto are invariably thumpers like the Honda CRF 450, KTM 525, Yamaha WR450F or Suzuki DRZ400. Power output is usually 50 hp at the most, with 17-inch rims and smooth tires. Knobbies aren't allowed because they tear up the track too much and don't give the "slideability" on pavement.

Sometimes two-stroke motocross bikes compete, but they tend to be high-maintenance and unreliable, according to Morrison. "Once they're set up, the bikes are incredibly easy to manoeuvre — they almost ride themselves. Some guys drift when they ride, some don't, but anyone who can ride a motorcycle can compete in supermoto."

Most events are broken down into classes based on the riders' level of experience and the performance capability of the bike. There's usually a novice class, as well as a "masters" class and intermediates. Like any form of motorsport, you climb up through the classes as you gain experience.

If you lose it — and everyone does, eventually — the worst that happens is you fall down and get banged up a little. According to Morrison, supermoto is probably the safest form of motorsport there is.

"We had a rider go down at an event a couple of weeks ago," he says. "It happened on a straightaway, where the bikes are going their fastest. Her dignity was hurt and she got bruised up a little, but she got back on and was racing again the same day."

Morrison himself is a renowned stunt bike rider and has a busy schedule doing movie and TV work. His own ride, a Honda CRF450 with "the full meal deal," has extras such as special lightweight rims, upgraded brakes, a "slipper" racing clutch and other odds and ends. He reckons he's spent approximately $4,000-$5,000 on top of the bike's purchase price to get it where it is now, and he is one of the top competitors in the western conference.

"But the guy that spends the most money isn't always going to be the top finisher," he adds. "Each track is different and has its own set of challenges."

Alas, as seems to be the case with just about every form of motorsport in Canada, there isn't a lot of money in supermoto. "We are sanctioned by the CMA [Canadian Motorcycle Association] and have some sponsorship," says Morrison. "But, yes, we need to get more of a national profile."

That should just be a matter of time, because although supermoto is fun for the riders, for spectators, it's a thrill a minute.

For more info, go to: www.supermotocanada.com or www.UnitedRPM.com .