Byron Motosports Park — Layout & Terrain
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Track Profile
Byron Motosports Park is Northern Illinois’ premiere motocross facility, hosting limited events this summer. It features a world-renowned NUCLEAR SERIES and has been home to many top pros over the years. The park offers a family environment that creates memories and builds dreams for riders of all levels.
History
Opened in 1969 by Joe Vincer, purchased by Aaron Vincer in 1990. In 2005, a second track called Hilltop was added. World-renowned track builder Marc Peters redesigned both the Legacy and Hilltop tracks in spring 2011.
Season
2026 season update: Byron Motosports Park will be hosting limited events this summer.
Notable
One of the oldest motocross tracks in the country, hosting more than 1200 events and counting.
Compiled from the track’s website (motobyron.com). Always confirm current days & fees with the track.
Grippy loam — takes ruts, holds a line, and rewards smooth riding; drains well, usually prime 1–2 days after rain. Prime window: Jun, Aug, Sep.
Track DNA — what the dirt is really like
Intermediate- ▸Loam — the good stuff. Takes ruts, holds a line, and rewards smooth riding. This is the surface most tires and stock suspension are happiest on.
- ▸Drains well — typically prime 1–2 days after a soak, when it’s tacky instead of slick.
- ▸High silt (60%) — this dirt turns to DUST when dry. Expect water trucks, hazy late motos, and pack extra air-filter prep.
- ▸Genuine elevation (~36 m of relief) — real uphills and downhill braking zones, not just man-made jumps. Brakes and fitness matter here.
- ▸Wettest months: Apr, May, Sep — highest mud/cancellation risk. Prime window: Jun, Aug, Sep.
What do these terms mean? ▾
- Sand / Silt / Clay %:
- What the topsoil is made of. More sand = looser and faster-draining. More clay = harder, slicker when wet. Silt is the fine dust-maker in between.
- Loam:
- A balanced sand/silt/clay mix — the tacky, rut-forming dirt riders love.
- Blue-groove:
- When dry hard-pack gets polished by tires into a shiny dark racing line — grippy for some tires, ice for others.
- Drainage class:
- USDA’s rating of how fast this ground sheds water — it predicts how soon after rain the track is rideable.
- Soil series:
- The official USDA name for this exact soil type (like a breed name for dirt).
- Relief:
- How much the ground rises and falls within the track’s ~1 km square — flat, rolling, or genuinely hilly.
Tires that work on this dirt
Dunlop · Front & Rear
Geomax MX33
The most popular soft-to-intermediate tire — safe all-around pick.
Pirelli · Rear
Scorpion MX32 Mid-Soft
Versatile mid-soft compound for loamy, mixed dirt.
Maxxis · Rear
Maxxcross MX-ST
Value intermediate-terrain rear that wears well.
Picked for this track's intermediate surface.
Topsoil (0–15 cm) composition from USDA SSURGO soil survey. A guide to typical conditions — actual surface varies with prep, weather, and watering.
Riding Season
Apr – OctPractical riding season Apr – Oct; best in Jun, Aug, Sep (warm + dry); wettest / mud risk Apr, May, Sep; peak heat Jul (~83°F).
Best months to ride in Illinois→Based on 2019-2024climate normals (Open-Meteo / ERA5) at this location — a planning guide; check the track's Facebook for current conditions before you haul.