Prairie City OHV Area in Sacramento, California is the home of the Hangtown Classic — the oldest round on the current Pro Motocross schedule and one of the most historically significant tracks in the entire sport. Established in 1969, Hangtown has hosted more professional motocross racing than almost any other venue in America. Champions have been made here, legacies built, and rivalries ignited. When the gate drops at Prairie City, history drops with it.
The Track
Hangtown is a classic Northern California track with hard-packed dirt that transitions to loamy soil in the shade of the oak trees that line several sections of the course. The track features a distinctive uphill start that immediately tests throttle control and traction management — riders who wheel off the line lose critical seconds before the first corner. The course winds through varying terrain, with open high-speed sections offset by tight, technical wooded segments that require precise line selection.
The dirt at Hangtown is notably different from the sandy soil at Fox Raceway a week earlier. The harder, more predictable surface rewards smooth riding over aggressive attack. Riders who try to muscle Hangtown typically find themselves fighting the track rather than flowing with it.
"Hangtown is where you find out if your setup from Pala actually works. Two tracks, two completely different surfaces, one week apart."
— Moto, Moto Track GuideHistorical Significance
The Hangtown Classic has been part of the American motocross calendar for over fifty years, and the race carries a prestige that goes beyond its points value. Winning at Hangtown means something different from winning anywhere else — it connects a modern rider to a lineage that stretches back to the earliest days of professional motocross in America. Many of the sport's greatest riders consider a Hangtown victory among their most meaningful results.