State Championship Final at Oak Hill MX

Oak Hill is basically the staple of North Texas racing. It is sitting out in Decatur, and when you pull in, you just feel the history. This is the State Championship Final in late October, which means everything is on the line. It is the spot where the north and south regions finally meet up to settle the score. There is a different energy in the pits for this one because of the double points. People are checking the standings every five minutes, and the atmosphere stays pretty tense from Friday practice all the way through the last moto on Sunday.

The dirt at Oak Hill is that classic Texas clay that can be your best friend or your worst enemy. If the crew gets the moisture right, it tacks up and develops these deep, technical ruts that pull you through the corners. It is not just a flat power track. You have to deal with some elevation changes and jumps that require a lot of commitment. There are sections where the transitions get choppy, especially when you have three days of heavy racing on it. You can expect some square edges to show up by Saturday afternoon, so your suspension better be dialed for more than just the big hits.

If you are out here training with someone like Kyle Swanson, he is going to have you focusing on your corner exit and your standing position. Oak Hill has those long sweepers that lead into big obstacles (like the legendary terrace jumps) and if you lose your momentum by sitting down too early, you are not clearing the next section. Kyle would probably be on you about your line choice too. Since the track changes so much over a long weekend, you cannot just stick to the main line. You have to find those outside edges or late apexes that stay smoother when the inside is completely blown out.

This is the race for anyone who wants to see where they actually stack up against the fastest kids in the state. If you have been grinding all season, you owe it to yourself to line up for the final. Just make sure you bring plenty of tear offs and a spare set of clutch plates. The gate drops are fast and the competition is aggressive, so the track is going to test your fitness. Check your bike over twice before you load the truck. You do not want a simple mechanical to be the reason you miss out on a podium after a whole season of work.