California

Highest density of dirt in the country, and it shows in the talent pool. Glen Helen out in San Bernardino is the cathedral, with the elevation of REM and the Lucas Oil National layout still casting a long shadow over how SoCal riders think about big tracks. Cahuilla Creek up the hill, Milestone in Riverside, Pala in the north county, Argyll out by Salinas, plus a long roster of central-coast and NorCal venues. The state covers four climate zones and you can ride year-round if you're willing to drive: desert in the winter, coast in the summer, foothills in spring and fall. Pro riders move here for the same reason; the practice days here are harder than races in most other states. CMC and the SoCal vet/over-30 scene runs deep, and weeknight lit-track sessions at Cycle Park, Cal City, and others fill in the gaps. Watch the wind in the high desert, watch the heat in the inland empire, and watch out for the local on the 250F who looks 14 and rides like he's 30.