About Great Bend Motocross Park
Great Bend Motocross Park, known to riders as GBMX, is a clay motocross facility at 455 West Barton County Road in Great Bend, Kansas, inside the Great Bend Expo Complex. The track traces its roots to the 1980s and 1990s, when its central location in the country drew riders from across the region, and it was rebuilt in 2013 on that original footprint. It hosts rounds of the Kansas Motocross Championship Series and runs prepped practice days through the season.
The Hahn Brothers and the Rebuild
Great Bend Motocross Park history produced real professional talent. Wil and Tommy Hahn, both of whom went on to world class supercross careers, got their start at amateur events held here. Years later the brothers helped bring dirt bike racing back to Barton County by sponsoring the Hahn Brothers Supercross Shootout, a two day amateur and pro event that drew riders from as far as California and Florida and grew year over year.
That effort, combined with the 2013 rebuild, put the facility back on the map. Riders in central Kansas had gone without a serious local track, and GBMX filled the gap. The site sits within the same Expo Complex that holds the historic SRCA Dragstrip, so the property has been home to motorsports of one kind or another since the 1950s.
The Track and Recent Improvements
The layout is designed to work for a wide range of skill levels, mixing technical sections with more open stretches. Jumps, tight corners and rhythm sections give experienced riders something to work with while leaving lines that novices can navigate.
Track prep is the reputation point here. Central Kansas dirt is mostly hardpack with sandy patches, which means preparation matters more than it does in naturally loamy states. GBMX is consistently noted for the condition of its surface, and prepped practice days are advertised as such so riders know what they are showing up to.
Recent upgrades include a new Stacyc track for the youngest riders on electric balance bikes, along with a new entrance and exit to improve traffic flow on race weekends.
Racing, Practice and Training
The Kansas Motocross Championship Series runs rounds at GBMX, and race weekends typically span Friday through Sunday with a single wristband covering the full weekend rather than charging per day.
Prepped practice runs on Saturdays, with gates opening at 8:30 in the morning and practice starting at 10:00. Riders looking for structured instruction can find it here as well, since Innovative MX runs training days at the facility that cover technique drills, start practice, sections, sprints and full race simulation. Those sessions take all bike sizes, all skill levels and all ages, and they are commonly paired with a Saturday practice day so riders get two days on the same dirt.
Side by side racing for off road utility vehicles has also been part of the event mix, which fits a part of Kansas where UTVs are everywhere.
Getting There
Great Bend Motocross Park sits in Barton County in central Kansas, about an hour and a half northwest of Wichita and roughly the same from Salina. The Expo Complex is on the edge of town, with plenty of room for trailers and rigs.
Because the track sits on city property, event listings appear on the City of Great Bend calendar in addition to the track's own Facebook page. Between those two sources you can confirm practice days, race weekends and training dates before making the drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GBMX?
It is the common name for Great Bend Motocross Park, a clay motocross track in the Great Bend Expo Complex in central Kansas.
Who raced here before turning pro?
Supercross riders Wil and Tommy Hahn both started out at amateur events in Great Bend, and they later sponsored the Hahn Brothers Supercross Shootout at the facility.
What series races at Great Bend?
The Kansas Motocross Championship Series holds rounds here.
When is practice?
Prepped practice typically runs Saturday mornings, with gates at 8:30 and practice starting at 10:00. Check the current schedule before traveling.
Is there a track for small children?
Yes. A Stacyc track for electric balance bikes was added as part of recent improvements.
Is training available?
Yes. At Great Bend Motocross Park Innovative MX runs training days at GBMX covering technique, starts, sections, sprints and race simulation, open to all bike sizes and skill levels.
Do side by sides race there?
UTV and side by side racing has been part of the event mix at the facility.
Where is Great Bend Motocross Park located?
455 West Barton County Road, Great Bend, Kansas 67530, in the Great Bend Expo Complex.
More information on Great Bend Motocross Park; Click here https://www.facebook.com/p/Great-Bend-Motocross-Park-61566928231549/
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