I raced my first c-class race last week. I raced a couple of D races last winter then I didn't ride much during the summer. This winter I have been practicing alot and working out a lot more. I want to race C-class at some of the local AMA events and be good enough to contend for the top spots. Please give me some pointers on what to work on this winter or any practice tips. The track in the video is the track I practice at, so this is the area I have to work with this winter. The video link below is of my first C-class race at a local fun day track event. The C-class for the event had 24 sign up and was divided in to 3 gates with 3 winners and no overall winner. I got third in the race I raced. However, I didn't start pushing hard till the white flag came out. For some reason I thought the race was going to be more laps. I didn't hear it announced. I felt really good at the end of the race, I could have rode another 3+ laps before getting tired.
First C-class race please help me get better
Started by Eric1231, Jan 22 2012 07:16 PM
17 replies to this topic
Posted 22 January 2012 - 07:16 PM
I raced my first c-class race last week. I raced a couple of D races last winter then I didn't ride much during the summer. This winter I have been practicing alot and working out a lot more. I want to race C-class at some of the local AMA events and be good enough to contend for the top spots. Please give me some pointers on what to work on this winter or any practice tips. The track in the video is the track I practice at, so this is the area I have to work with this winter. The video link below is of my first C-class race at a local fun day track event. The C-class for the event had 24 sign up and was divided in to 3 gates with 3 winners and no overall winner. I got third in the race I raced. However, I didn't start pushing hard till the white flag came out. For some reason I thought the race was going to be more laps. I didn't hear it announced. I felt really good at the end of the race, I could have rode another 3+ laps before getting tired.
Posted 22 January 2012 - 08:29 PM
Your video is private, gotta make it either "unlisted" or "public" for us to see it. You will see it because you are logged into your youtube account, but we can't. 
Posted 23 January 2012 - 04:30 PM
Eric1231, on 22 January 2012 - 07:16 PM, said:
I raced my first c-class race last week. I raced a couple of D races last winter then I didn't ride much during the summer. This winter I have been practicing alot and working out a lot more. I want to race C-class at some of the local AMA events and be good enough to contend for the top spots. Please give me some pointers on what to work on this winter or any practice tips. The track in the video is the track I practice at, so this is the area I have to work with this winter. The video link below is of my first C-class race at a local fun day track event. The C-class for the event had 24 sign up and was divided in to 3 gates with 3 winners and no overall winner. I got third in the race I raced. However, I didn't start pushing hard till the white flag came out. For some reason I thought the race was going to be more laps. I didn't hear it announced. I felt really good at the end of the race, I could have rode another 3+ laps before getting tired.
Dude, that's a very broud question. It would take a book and over 20 DVDs to answer that. Just so happens I already wrote the book (The Motocross Practice Manual) and produced the videos. Find them all at; www.garysemics.com
Posted 23 January 2012 - 06:34 PM
I agree with Gary.
Those little indoor tracks, they're impossible to really learn on because there isn't enough variety. So I mean the first thing to think about is riding outside in the spring as early as you can. Its great your getting seat time in during the winter, when a lot of people have hung their gear up. At the same time though, I think you've got a lot to learn riding wise, we've talked about this in another thread. Everything from being less stiff in the air, to getting those RPM's up to help clear some of those jumps. Honestly, there isn't very much more I can say, why don't you post some videos of you riding outdoors...
Those little indoor tracks, they're impossible to really learn on because there isn't enough variety. So I mean the first thing to think about is riding outside in the spring as early as you can. Its great your getting seat time in during the winter, when a lot of people have hung their gear up. At the same time though, I think you've got a lot to learn riding wise, we've talked about this in another thread. Everything from being less stiff in the air, to getting those RPM's up to help clear some of those jumps. Honestly, there isn't very much more I can say, why don't you post some videos of you riding outdoors...
Posted 23 January 2012 - 09:09 PM
congratz on the third your first time racing c. I like the pressure you put on the guy in front of you on the last lap. You have to make do with what you have, i would start by watching and possibly recording b and a class riders. See where they are standing, sitting, breaking, accelerating, (if you can video just one rider then rpms) compare your line choice to theirs. If you go a little wider on those corners you might be able to carry a little more speed. Set up further outside, think about the next corner while your coming out of the corner before it. After the section closest to the camera coming out of that corner and over that double, have you tried jumping across to the right side of that double so you are more out side of the corner before the table? The other thing that really stands out to me is your rpms (it's hard to pick out over the rest of the bikes) still aren't in the meat of the power. If shifting down isn't an option and if you can't carry any more speed, it might be worth changing your gearing if your going to be riding there a lot.
other stuff: more aggressive body position lower and more forward with your head over the bars, standing longer, weight the outside peg, inside foot up and in instead of out and dangling. Keep working on being smooth through the corners.
other stuff: more aggressive body position lower and more forward with your head over the bars, standing longer, weight the outside peg, inside foot up and in instead of out and dangling. Keep working on being smooth through the corners.
Posted 24 January 2012 - 06:30 AM
Die_trying, on 23 January 2012 - 09:09 PM, said:
congratz on the third your first time racing c. I like the pressure you put on the guy in front of you on the last lap. You have to make do with what you have, i would start by watching and possibly recording b and a class riders. See where they are standing, sitting, breaking, accelerating, (if you can video just one rider then rpms) compare your line choice to theirs. If you go a little wider on those corners you might be able to carry a little more speed. Set up further outside, think about the next corner while your coming out of the corner before it. After the section closest to the camera coming out of that corner and over that double, have you tried jumping across to the right side of that double so you are more out side of the corner before the table? The other thing that really stands out to me is your rpms (it's hard to pick out over the rest of the bikes) still aren't in the meat of the power. If shifting down isn't an option and if you can't carry any more speed, it might be worth changing your gearing if your going to be riding there a lot.
other stuff: more aggressive body position lower and more forward with your head over the bars, standing longer, weight the outside peg, inside foot up and in instead of out and dangling. Keep working on being smooth through the corners.
other stuff: more aggressive body position lower and more forward with your head over the bars, standing longer, weight the outside peg, inside foot up and in instead of out and dangling. Keep working on being smooth through the corners.
Another quality post. I agree with everything above...and quite frankly surprised that Mr. Semics wasn't a little more encouraging. Anyway I think that as stated above you need to race the entire thing with the vigor you demonstrated during the last lap. When you Youtube the pros notice how active they are on the bike rather than being still like many beginners. Crouch down and get into that attack position. Keep working on those corners. Go smooth and arc them but also practice squaring them off with a brake/power slide. You have to work on different cornering drill since the place is small ( you should anyway).
Good luck
Posted 24 January 2012 - 07:06 AM
Seat time, seat time, seat time. You will get more out of riding and watching other than you will ever get out of riding here. I have all the books & vids, some of it helps, some of it just doesnt work watching at home then hitting the track. Higher a local pro that gives lessons, you wont regret it
And workout, hard. It makes going fast a lot easier
And workout, hard. It makes going fast a lot easier
Posted 24 January 2012 - 06:22 PM
Brake halfway through the corner and switch to gas at the halfway point, put your leg up towards the front fender when it is out, elbows up, stand up more, and the list goes on and on.... Personally I have found out that you will only get better by perfecting form and practicing it. I have purchased some of Gary Semic's videos and have had revelations on technique that have made me pick up 3-4 seconds off of each technique on a forty second turn track. If I were you I would order Gary's videos and watch it over and over until you understand the techniques like the back of your hand. Along with seat time, practice will also help you pick up the speed you want.
Also, after watching the video again I have noticed how bad you are at sitting down ALL the time. It almost looks like you are paralyzed because you are doing the whole track sitting down.
Also, after watching the video again I have noticed how bad you are at sitting down ALL the time. It almost looks like you are paralyzed because you are doing the whole track sitting down.
Posted 24 January 2012 - 07:28 PM
i'll tell you one thing, you looked great off the drop of the gate. everyone else seemed too aggressive and got squirrely on their starts. sometimes being patient and smooth off the line is the way to go.
Posted 24 January 2012 - 08:37 PM
So those GS instructional CDs are worth it?
I just looked at them.
Five set for $100.
I spent $75 for a two hour session with a pro instructor.
I have had maybe ten of those sessions now.
Can't wait to pay him more for more in the spring.
He has a nice track a couple miles from my house.
So those GS CDs are worth it? SOmething to watch and learn and listen to and see durring these winter months?
Somebody have a set they want to sell?
Coo
I just looked at them.
Five set for $100.
I spent $75 for a two hour session with a pro instructor.
I have had maybe ten of those sessions now.
Can't wait to pay him more for more in the spring.
He has a nice track a couple miles from my house.
So those GS CDs are worth it? SOmething to watch and learn and listen to and see durring these winter months?
Somebody have a set they want to sell?
Coo
Posted 29 January 2012 - 10:06 AM
CooHead, on 24 January 2012 - 08:37 PM, said:
So those GS instructional CDs are worth it?
I just looked at them.
Five set for $100.
I spent $75 for a two hour session with a pro instructor.
I have had maybe ten of those sessions now.
Can't wait to pay him more for more in the spring.
He has a nice track a couple miles from my house.
So those GS CDs are worth it? SOmething to watch and learn and listen to and see durring these winter months?
Somebody have a set they want to sell?
Coo
I just looked at them.
Five set for $100.
I spent $75 for a two hour session with a pro instructor.
I have had maybe ten of those sessions now.
Can't wait to pay him more for more in the spring.
He has a nice track a couple miles from my house.
So those GS CDs are worth it? SOmething to watch and learn and listen to and see durring these winter months?
Somebody have a set they want to sell?
Coo
Posted 29 January 2012 - 11:41 AM
Push ups, sit ups and riding my mountain bike will help me the most 
Last year, the obvious weak link was me and my ability to hang onto the thing for many minutes at a time.
Not this year. I have been walking, pedeling, push ups and sit ups and lifting weight. Have spent many hours in the back clearing woods to make a good track around the property. I'll be in bettrer shape this year. More practice time around the house....although the school track is only 4 miles from my house. But that is in depth 2 hour sessions...not the time to be conditioning.
So yea....going to order a set and have something to watch and think about. The more tips and instruction the better.
I'm a 47 year old newbie.
Coo
Last year, the obvious weak link was me and my ability to hang onto the thing for many minutes at a time.
Not this year. I have been walking, pedeling, push ups and sit ups and lifting weight. Have spent many hours in the back clearing woods to make a good track around the property. I'll be in bettrer shape this year. More practice time around the house....although the school track is only 4 miles from my house. But that is in depth 2 hour sessions...not the time to be conditioning.
So yea....going to order a set and have something to watch and think about. The more tips and instruction the better.
I'm a 47 year old newbie.
Coo
Posted 04 February 2012 - 07:09 AM
CooHead, on 29 January 2012 - 11:41 AM, said:
Push ups, sit ups and riding my mountain bike will help me the most
Last year, the obvious weak link was me and my ability to hang onto the thing for many minutes at a time.
Not this year. I have been walking, pedeling, push ups and sit ups and lifting weight. Have spent many hours in the back clearing woods to make a good track around the property. I'll be in bettrer shape this year. More practice time around the house....although the school track is only 4 miles from my house. But that is in depth 2 hour sessions...not the time to be conditioning.
So yea....going to order a set and have something to watch and think about. The more tips and instruction the better.
I'm a 47 year old newbie.
Coo
Last year, the obvious weak link was me and my ability to hang onto the thing for many minutes at a time.
Not this year. I have been walking, pedeling, push ups and sit ups and lifting weight. Have spent many hours in the back clearing woods to make a good track around the property. I'll be in bettrer shape this year. More practice time around the house....although the school track is only 4 miles from my house. But that is in depth 2 hour sessions...not the time to be conditioning.
So yea....going to order a set and have something to watch and think about. The more tips and instruction the better.
I'm a 47 year old newbie.
Coo
I only have two dvd's. I have Gary Semic's 2 Day School and Private Lesson's. They both overview all of the basics and give examples. I really like them, while I know they aren't very entertaining I have learned about a lot of techniques I have never even heard of.
Posted 04 February 2012 - 07:54 AM
Lots has been said on what you need to work on. The only thing that I might add is looking farther ahead. One common mistake newer riders make is they stare at their front fender. In your video that's exactly what your doing. Looking ahead allows you to setup and prepare for obstacles before you approach them. Overall, you did a lot better then me at my first race. Keep it up and remember that your not paid to take stupid chances or risks!
Posted 04 February 2012 - 06:04 PM
Just ride a lot on a lot of different terrain and always ride hard. Make a circle rut and ride in it a lot, ride trials type terrain whenever you can, stay in shape, weight the outside peg (obviously). even stupid shit like doing wheelies helps a lot with learning traction to get the front end up and balance point to wheelie across stuff and back brake instincts. do wheelies on a lot of different soils. also do endos on a every type of soil you ride. this is just so you can have more experience to predict how the bike will handle in different soils. I did a lot of trials type riding along with the circle rut, and doing wheelies and endos different soils for 1.5 months and I went from getting 15 out of 20 in C class to beating my best friend who gets top 3 in C class every race. he was pissed, and it didnt help that the girl he likes kept texting me and asking me to hang out lmfao. then a while later we were still mad at eachother so i got out of my wheelchair with my cast going up to my knee and pushed him down in front of 40 kids in archery club, and I beat him at archery the next week which was about a month after he spent $1k on a new bow and i have a shitty bow
Posted 09 February 2012 - 10:30 PM
Towelie, on 24 January 2012 - 07:06 AM, said:
Seat time, seat time, seat time. You will get more out of riding and watching other than you will ever get out of riding here. I have all the books & vids, some of it helps, some of it just doesnt work watching at home then hitting the track. Higher a local pro that gives lessons, you wont regret it And workout, hard. It makes going fast a lot easier
I could not agree with you more. Nothing beats seat time. I had my son work with multiple trainers and he would pick up different things from each of them. Then he would work on those technics when he rode. The most improvement I ever saw with my son was when I was able to get him to the track 4 to 5 times a week and just let him ride moto after moto.
