CRA (California Roadrace Association)
A road-race club that runs licensed motorcycle race weekends in California, including rounds at Buttonwillow, alongside a new-racer school.
Wheel to wheel
Racing
Track days got you hooked? The next step is wheel-to-wheel racing. Here is how to get a license, and the clubs we point licensing-bound riders toward.
How to get a racing license
Club road racing in California is run by member organizations, each with its own license. The usual path is to attend a new-racer school put on by the club, which covers race starts, flags, passing under competition rules, and racecraft. Pass it, and you earn a novice competition license that lets you grid up.
Most clubs offer license reciprocity, so once you have one license you can often race with another club. Rules, fees, and schedules change every season, so confirm the current requirements directly with the organization you want to race with.
Do you need to race?
Not at all. Plenty of fast, happy riders never pin on a number. Racing is an option, not a requirement. If you just want to keep getting better, a coaching day or more track days will take you a long way.
Where to race
Race organizations we point riders to
These clubs run licensed road-race weekends in California, including rounds at Buttonwillow. We celebrate the sport and support every one of them. When you are ready to race, go straight to the source for schedules, schools, and licensing.
AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists)
One of the oldest amateur road-racing clubs in the country, running a championship series at California tracks including Buttonwillow.
AHRMA
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and racing vintage motorcycles, with road racing among its disciplines.
CVMA (Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association)
A Southern California motorcycle road-racing series with its home track at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. CVMA racers also compete at Buttonwillow alongside CRA.
Prepping for your first race weekend?
Our coaches actively race in these series. Work with one to get race-ready, and lean on us for a bike and trackside support.