Now that the year is coming to an end, several members of our Helmet Harbor team have started to evaluate their season. While most have progressively become faster, others have hit plateaus. It's easy to see, when you compare their progress with others in our racing clubs. At the first of the year they were hanging with some guys, dicing it up every race. But now these guys are getting trophies, while they are still bringing up the back. What's the secret? Not protesting to be an expert on the subject, but I do have a few opinions.
Racing isn't about the motorcycle, but the rider. Oh, and by the way, motorcycle racing is a sport. If you don't have the correct mindset, and work at your weaknesses, you won't become faster. Several of our members have decided that no practice is needed. They show up for the race weekends, and expect to do better than last month. How many sports do you know where practicing once a month leads to rapid improvement? If you're gifted, and there are some riders out there that are, this might be enough. However, the average rider needs practice to improve. Unfortunately, because our sport is expensive, extra practice is out of the question for some. Then what do you do?
The next step would be to practice when you have the chance. I've seen riders complain about their progress, but spend most of their practice time sitting in a chair in the pits. What sense does this make? If you're at the track, get out there and ride. I've heard every excuse under the sun. Everything from, "I'm saving my tires" to, "I don't want to tire myself out before the race." Ok, these would work, but if you’re not practicing, you’re not getting faster. If you’re out of shape, start working out. If you’re tires are worn, bring another set. They don’t need to be new, use a set of take-offs. The key is saddle time.
Suspension is another “Huge” excuse I’ve heard come from riders not improving. “My suspension sucks, and I don’t have money to fix it.” Granted, suspension is huge, but those that are fast, would be fast on “any” bike. They adjust their riding style, and overcome the bikes shortcomings. They understand that through practice, a bad bike setup is only an inconvenience. I’ve seen guys come into the pits, ask a fast guy to ride their bike to find the "problem", and watch as their bike travels around the track at near record times… This isn’t magic, the rider identifies the bikes weaknesses, and compensates.
There are those that can practice all the time, but still need help. This is where riding schools come in. You could be riding hard, but not smart. I don’t care who you are, everyone can benefit from a riding school. For those that want to improve, it’s a must. Again, it’s not about the bike, but the rider. If you’re out there making a ton of mistakes, you won’t get faster. And if you think you’re above attending a school, get used to the back of the pack. Every top-notch rider has attended some type of school. Whether it’s at the club level, an informal chat with a local fast guy who’s willing to help, or a professional school conducted by a seasoned nationally ranked rider. Knowledge is power on the racetrack.
There are times when you will do everything you can to improve, but yet your times don't come down. If this is happening to you, join the rest of us. It's normal. There will be times when you do everything you can to make progress, but don't. It might be time for a mental break. If you're riding, thinking about every corner, you won't be relaxed. Take a step back, and start focusing on having fun. There have been times when I've gone out on the track, and purposely entered corners out of position, just to see where I ended up. Stop focusing on improving, and just ride for the fun of it. Once your mind is clear, you will see that your times will start coming down.
The hardest part of improving, is finding your weaknesses. If it’s motivation, then decide where you want to go, and what goals you want to achieve. If you’re out of shape, start doing something about it. If you’re relying on natural talent to get you by, then start looking for a school. The bottom line is, what you’re doing now, isn’t working. It’s time to step outside the box, and find another approach. If you don’t, then start becoming content at your current level of progress. If you quit out of frustration, you were riding for all the wrong reasons. If you stay with the sport, ride because it's fun, and stop worrying about your lap times. Put the excuses in the closet, no one wants to hear them. We “do” have control over our riding progress. It’s all about commitment.
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