Racing kit
Race Plates
What you need to order, how to get your race number, and where UK riders buy their plates.
Do I need a race plate?
Yes — every rider needs a race plate on the front of their bike for club racing. The good news is that at club level it can be anything: any number, any material, any colour. A homemade paper plate cable-tied to the bars is a long-standing BMX tradition, and there's always at least one rider on the gate rocking one. Anything goes as long as the commissaire can read the number from the start hill.
Once you start racing at British Cycling Regional or National level you'll need a proper front plate plus two side plates with your assigned race number — that's where the suppliers below come in.
🛠️ Classic BMX tradition
Paper plates, cardboard, the back of a cornflakes box — every BMX track in the country has seen them. Spotting a homemade plate at the gate is part of the culture, right alongside the kid in a helmet with no visor known to the regulars as a “Bullitt Head”. Both are signs you're at a proper club race.
Your BMX race number
When you start racing Regional or National, your default race number is the last three digits of your British Cycling membership number. For example, if your BC number is RTC1234567, your starting race number is 567. This number follows you year to year as long as your membership stays active.
Once you've raced a full Regional or National series and earned a ranking plate, you can race on that ranking number instead — a much shorter, more prestigious number that reflects your finishing position. Top riders end up on single- or double-digit plates. Keep your BC number plates as a backup until you've banked your new ranking.
Not a British Cycling member yet? See our membership page.
Where to order plates
Crucial BMX
UK-based BMX shop with bespoke front and side plates in club colours.
Visit site →Moto 1 BMX Plates
Lightweight number plates popular at Regional and National level.
Visit site →DC Cycles
Number plate printing plus a wider range of BMX race kit.
Visit site →The club doesn't resell plates — order directly from the suppliers above. Lead times vary, especially around the start of the racing season.
FAQs
Do I need a race plate for club racing?+
Yes — every rider needs a race plate on the front of their bike at club racing. The good news: at club level it can be anything. Any number, any material — a homemade paper plate held on with cable ties is a long-standing BMX tradition. You only need a proper printed plate once you move up to Regional or National events.
What number goes on the plate?+
When you start out at Regional or National level your default race number is the last three digits of your British Cycling membership number — so RTC1234567 gives you 567. Once you have raced a full Regional or National series and earned a ranking plate, you can race on that ranking number instead. At club level you can pick any number that nobody else on the gate is using that day.
Do I need front and side plates?+
A front plate is enough for club racing. Regional and National racing requires a front plate plus two side plates so commissaires and timing systems can identify you from any angle.
Do I need a transponder as well as plates?+
At club level no — timing is manual. At Regional and National level you also need a Mylaps ProChip FLEX transponder. See our transponders page for details.
Don't forget the transponder
Plates handle visual identification but Regional and National rounds use chip timing — every rider also needs a Mylaps ProChip FLEX transponder paired to their British Cycling number.
Transponder guide →