Hey guys, I'm coming up to my first race on April 22nd and I feel like i'm sorta ready for it, Ive downloaded some Gary Semics cornering and jumping videos and I try to remember to apply this practice although sometimes I forget, and my jumping is mediocre, I kind of just hang on when things get squirrly.

Heres a video of a track called "The Pit" in southern Ontario, its a very jumpy track with hard packed dirt, i endo'd the first double earlier that day and hit my shoulder pretty good, but heres a short clip (combined with some little commentary from the girlfriend) of me practicing with 2 weeks to go!

If you guys can point out anything in my technique that I can address before my first race, I would very much appreciate it!

stand up

yeah like Tech420 said stand up , watch your elbows, look forward, and relax. With enough practice and seat time it will all come to you. Looking good but i will say if this is your first race don't try to ride over your head. Race your speed and have fun. Better to come in 4th or whatever position than to get hurt for the season!.  Good luck!

Yea, I think you need a bit more track time before racing. You've still got what I call "the bobble head syndrome" where the bike is controlling you. You can see this because when the bike does something, your body reacts to what it does, instead of accepting what it does and continuing to ride. That comes from many things; staying too close to the seat (not standing fully or sitting fully but hovering), not predicting what is about to happen, not pinching the bike, sitting to far back, etc. If you watch quick guys ride, when the bike does something their whole body goes along with it. The bike and the rider are connected. Once you separate that connection, its super hard to ride without looking like a bobble head.

What you need is seat time, thats pretty much it. Your body position going on the lil straight/corner in front of the camera didn't seem bad, but from a distance, I could see you needed some work in other areas of the track. If we had some close up video of you jumping/landing and taking a regular corner, we might be able to give you better feedback.

Keep riding, pinch that bike and stand up more.

I appreciate the quick responses!

I'll focus on being more in the attack position and exaggerate the elbows up so that it becomest natural, watching a video of me riding is so weird because on the bike it feels so much faster, then you watch a video and it looks so different!

Tye, these are some really good points, like I said, I tend to forget to practice the proper techniques, and squeezing the bike is a big one, when i really concentrate on it I notice that feeling of connecting with the bike and everything is much smoother. I'm signed up in a beginner 250 class at a local club here called CMX. I know I still need alot of track time but I hope thats the case for everyone else in the class i'll be racing. My goal is try to be as relaxed as possible during the race and to just finish the thing, I'm sure if you finish a race in beginner class you aint last!

I'll try my best to not look like a bobble head! I'm sure i'll have some more videos to come, and I'd like to pick up a go pro to film my first race so i can re-live the experience/horror that it may be! I'll be sure to share the videos  

Eric_mx, on 09 April 2012 - 02:15 PM, said:

A bit of advise:

Stand up more on the sweepers and straight aways. Only sit down near the apex of sweepers.You should have the throttle pinned in 3rd or 4th gear, and you will make up a lot of time if you don't fear going fast.

KEEP UR ELBOWS UP. I can't stress that enough. U are doing what I did just 2 weeks ago. Whenever you are jumping, keep ur elbows high. They should be pointing outward, not downward.

I would also advise learning how to seat-bounce. You will gain major confidence if you know how, and when to do this. (If u don't know how to do this, just ask, and I will explain it to you)

And make sure ur standing on the foot pegs on the balls of your feet. Standing on the middle of ur foot gives you less control. (I can't tell if ur doing this or not)

And PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! You are still in that phase where the bike is kinda in control of you. You need to be able to CONTROL the bike in the air and on the ground, if you don't feel 100% comfortable on the bike, then ur not totally in control of it. Once you gain that control, you will be able to go faster and learn quicker, so write down anything you don't feel comfortable with. If ur not comfortable with something, ur most likely not doing it right, and you can come back to this website to learn what ur doing wrong.

And remember, don't be afraid to ask questions, cuz that's how u learn. Even if I think I know how to do something right, I still ask questions to make sure I'm doing it right (Tye knows what I'm talking bout).

Don't push something if it doesn't feel right, and have fun!

Edited by kx910, 09 April 2012 - 07:37 PM.

Thanks Kx910, is your racing number 910 by any chance? our numbers arent far off if thats the case lol.

Seat bouncing is something ive never attempted, I'll have to find a familiar safe jump and try them out, ive read about them here on TT and think it would defintiley be very beneficial.

Something I wouldnt mind clarifying and this involves Tyes comment too... I thought hovering above the seat is a good form for the attack position. I have been told I stand too much (i know in the vid im sitting alot, i was probably tired at this point lol). But I usually stand alot, you can see in the rollers video i've got some weird standing and elbows in form that im trying to correct but I always thought that hovering just above the seat with elbows out braces you for any bumps etc..

Eric_mx, on 10 April 2012 - 06:43 AM, said:

Well it is good to know WHEN to stand up. And it's always easier to get used to sitting down than to get used to standing up.

Now hovering above the seat isn't a good habit. I used to do this, but all it does is give you bad form and less control of the bike. You want your legs bent a little, but not too much or else you won't have the extra space between you and your bike to absorb bumps and jumps. Just make sure you're holding on tightly with your knees and ankles whenever you stand up so that you don't get bucked off the bike. You might not feel comfortable on bumps while standing up higher because your not holding on tight enough. SO HOLD ON TIGHT!

And don't forget to keep those elbows facing outward on jumps and on the ground. You will have more leverage to handle bumps if your elbows aren't pointing down. Believe me, sometimes when you think your elbows are up, they aren't all the way. Just lifting them up those extra few inches will help a lot. This should also help you feel more comfortable standing up higher.

Now seat bouncing. Don't just go out and try this without knowing what your doing. I did this thinking I knew what to do and went off jumps nose down about 10 times. It sucks.

So to seat bounce,

1.sit down (about 5-6 inches from the back of your seat), and hold on tightly with your knees so you don't move back too far or lose control off the jump face.

2.When you get to the jump face, keep your elbows pointing out and PULL BACK (towards you) on the handlebars and shift your weight towards the rear of the bike (meaning lean back a little bit, but keep your head forward). DO NOT PULL UP!

3.Keep pulling back on the handle bars until you are positioned in the air (don't forget to release your knees and get into the standing position). Pulling back keeps the bike from bucking, and it will help you move into the standing position once your in the air.

You should be able to feel when to start pulling back. When the suspension starts to compress is when you need to start pulling back. Remember, this isn't  just one quick movement like preloading. If you just pull back 3 feet before the lip of the jump, the bike is going to throw you into an endo. So just feel it. You'll do well. You should write this down in steps on a piece of paper so that you don't forget anything (that's what I always do and it really helps).

So for now, just learn how to seat bounce properly. Later, you will learn WHEN to use it.

And to answer your first question, YES! my number is 910. It seems like a lucky number, and I feel like my kx125 is a lucky bike, because I can't tell you how many times I shoulda been in a horrible wreck but somehow came out of the situation on 2 wheels (endo's, landing sideways, front end wipeout on the face of a jump, etc )

Edited by kx910, 10 April 2012 - 03:13 PM.

Eric_mx, on 10 April 2012 - 06:43 AM, said:

Hovering and standing are two different things in my view.

There isn't anything wrong with hovering, if you are in control of the bike. But in the video, I see you hover and the bike does something, then your body reacts; "the bobble head syndrome". If your in the "attack" position, you want your elbows out or up, you want to be pinching the bike and be connected to the machine. You want to anticipate what the machine is going to do before it does it.

Look at this pix, this is an "attack" position. Notice my head is over the bars and my butt is not over the tail but more centered.

kx910, on 10 April 2012 - 03:09 PM, said:

I'll focus on your pointers for when I practice seatbouncing KX, i'll definitely start slow and work my way up, self preservation instincts seem to get stronger when you get a little older, and at 25 I have no problems staying within my limits!

tye1138, on 10 April 2012 - 04:11 PM, said:

Thanks for the example Tye, pics and videos are awesome learning tools, I use any pics and videos of me to analyze everything! And I appreciate a few other sets of eyes to help point out things I may miss. Your picture looks very natural and comfortable. I'm more in a hunch posture which needs to be straightened out.

Eric_mx, on 10 April 2012 - 05:31 PM, said:

Haha, ok, good  luck in ur race, you'll definitely catch the racing bug!

Stand up more, remember to breathe, and have fun, it all comes with seat time, and racing is better than just open practice. It puts you in an environment for comparison with other rider's techniques and really opens your eyes. I raced my first race last year, and i'd only been to the track 3 times prior to the race and only been riding for 3 months. I learned more in my first moto than i did all summer. Spent time in the pits talking to other riders, watched them in their motos, and came out strong in the next moto armed with new ideas, i shaved 5 seconds off my lap times instantly. Work on starts and good brake control too. Race the track, and not the other riders. Have fun, it's why we ride anyway. The beginner class will have others just like you too, and maybe a few better riders as far as beginner's go. Best of luck!

Thanks KX910, i'll keep you guys posted on how the first race goes!

I appreciate the tips kawazuki250, I bet racing is a whole different animal compared to just riding on practice days. I'm sure there will be sandbaggers but i'll be happy with no matter what my results are, the rush of racing will be more than enough for now.  I've been working on my starts and I've got a 1 on 1 lesson with a local pro this weekend too, can't wait for that gate to drop next sunday!

Haha I love the commentary on the video... She's like "Huh?? Good." lol. But you'll be ok. Just ride ride ride!! One thing I noticed is you look stiff.. I would try to loosen up... I would say the main thing with you is just seat time. I would ride as much as possible before that race. (Even though I'm a hypocrite, going to race sun after not riding for two weeks lol)

Oh yeah and I want to give you the thumbs up for getting into racing! Nothing will improve your speed like racing!

Eric_mx, on 11 April 2012 - 04:59 PM, said:

OMG dude, racing is SO AWESOMEEEEE.....................just had to let that out .

I'm still in shock at the lack of rider skill in people who race. I wish MX would develop some type of race licensing system to prevent this type of stuff from happening. You'll never see that type of stuff with road racing because you have to take a race school in order to get a license to race. Imagine how many idiots out there on the starting gate and have no idea what the flags mean because they were too cool for a riders meeting.

Tech420, on 12 April 2012 - 03:39 AM, said:

The riders meeting at this club is mandatory to attend, and the referee's will pull you off the track if you don't follow the rules, but you do have a point, I've ridden tracks all last season and feel like i'm ready for a race, I just hope other ppl in my class are the same way and know how to respect track rules (ie: knowing not to cross lines on jump landings...etc).  It would be a little crazy if someone had never ridden a track and lines up at the gate, but I think thats very unliekly up here.

Numkut, on 11 April 2012 - 07:55 PM, said:

haha yeah Maegans a pretty funny gal! She's very supportive of motocross and actually pushes me to ride more, can't argue with that!
Something I really want to work on is to stay loose, I can tell when i'm riding stiff cause the arm pump is insane, and itll be hard not to be stiff on that first race but i'll try.
And thanks for the humbs up, this is something I've always wanted to do when I was younger and we couldn't afford it, now that I can buy my own stuff, its go time!

kx910, on 11 April 2012 - 10:21 PM, said:

lol yeeeeeaaah buddy!!

Tech420, on 12 April 2012 - 03:39 AM, said:

Well, at least they don't let idiots get into A and B class races. C and beginner class is where the real morons are.

For those of you still following, heres an update:

First race was AWESOME!! I raced the 250 beginner class and the open beginner/junior class. I finished mid pack in both classed. I stayed in my comfort zone and focused on staying loose. I LOVED IT! Cant wait for the next race weekend now.

Only hiccup of the day was my first ever gate start. lol... 30 second board comes up... adrenaline pumping... hands are sweating... breathing shallow... 5 second board (oh shit this is actually happening).... rev to the moon, gate drops, POWER WHEELY almost loop out, oh shiiiit STALL... kick, kick, kick, &%$#@!, kick kick braaaaap braaap.

I caught up with the pack not long after and worked my way to 17th out of 25 in moto 1, oops, haha, i took it easy on the starts for the other 3 motos that day, thought youd enjoy!!

Eric_mx, on 23 April 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

Haha, sounds cool man. I'm glad you had fun! I hope I get 25 people in the next race I enter. I entered the 250 beginner class during my first race with about 12 other people (I got last teehee!) and I entered the 125 beginner class with only 1 other person there, there were other classes racing at the same time though, so it wasn't just 2 people on the track. (I got last again teeheeheeheehee!). But I'm WAAAAAY better (I can actually catch up to people during practice now) and going to my next race next month. I know for sure that I'm not gonna get last again, and it will be sooo much fun if there are 20 plus people. I'm getting pumped just thinking about it.

And you wanna know something wierd? I have never been nervous on the starting gate. I'm nervous BEFORE the 30 second board goes up, but once I see that board, I get calm, and feel like the only person on the track. I almost got the wholeshot on the 1st moto of my first race, and the 2nd moto of my second race. I was just so bad at cornering at the time that I couldn't drift the corner to keep my speed up! I guess I developed my "Race Mode" before I even started racing! You should develop a distenguishable practice and race mode. I focus on my mistakes and improving myself during practice, and I only focus on riding as fast as possible without worrying about anything else while I'm in race mode. I feel fearless. It feels good when I'm in my race mode.....soon, you'll know what I mean .

Edited by kx910, 23 April 2012 - 07:28 PM.