Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
A mild continuation of last week’s jibber-jabber…
Like most of you I was watching the supercross this past weekend, albeit in silence for most of it, but eventually and thankfully, those familiar voices came through the speakers and helped make a little sense of what we were watching.
The 450 class was on the start line as the camera was panning across the riders. It got me thinking, it’s quite difficult to miss the jitters and the nervousness of the riders as they prepare to go to work. Last week I spoke about the roller coaster of emotions these guys deal with when it comes to injuries. How these guys flirt with negative thoughts and manage them to the best of their ability while the only thing they’ve ever known is taken away from them. But this week I want to discuss what they’re going through on the start line.
Sharing that title of mental toughness, the mindset on the start line is intense and just another form of how incredible these guys really are.
Most of us race and most of us have left a start line at some point throughout our addiction to motocross. That means, most of us have sat on that line, attempting to govern the overwhelming thoughts and feelings. Doing our best to funnel everything into positivity to have the best outcome for what we’re about to do. After all, this sport is gnarly. In my opinion, it is hands down the most demanding sport on planet earth. Physically, mentally and everything else in between.
As a racer myself, I’ve sat there on the line impatiently waiting for the class on the track to finish their moto. Visualizing getting the holeshot and circulating the course in my head with my eyes closed. Doing my best to control my breathing and my heart rate. Usually, I’m beside a buddy or two and some knucks are knocked and then the goggles go on. A little yell at the clouds to get going and it’s on… I’m getting goosebumps writing this just thinking about it all. Timmy throws the 30 board up and in my head, everything goes silent and calm. One of the early TGO (The Great Outdoors) movies, I believe it was Larocco that said, if you don’t have your shit together by the time the 30 board goes up, you’re in trouble. I think of that often when I’m on the line and it’s definitely true. I don’t know how to describe the feeling when it’s flipped to 5, and then 5 turned sideways, it’s almost just… emptiness. At that moment, nothing else in the world matters. It’s 100% focus and attention as you wait for any sign of movement to react.
Go time!
Preparing yourself to go into the first turn with (sometimes) 39 other riders that want it as bad as you do, is simply mind over matter. However, a lot easier said than done, and then proceed to battle tooth and nail for 35 minutes (in the pro class). To some, that is absolutely and positively insane. Think about it, the first turn is pure chaos, and if, and I mean IF, you make it through that safe, now you’re going to put your body through hell for the duration. Yep, sounds insane to me. But damn it, it’s the purest, most free, amazing feeling in the world. For those that haven’t, or can’t, I wish you could feel it to understand. I have steered clear of drug use in my life, but I can only imagine it comparable to cocaine or similar stimulant drug. Hence, addiction.
When you watch the best in the world gather their thoughts (like Larocco said) as the 30 board goes up, you’ve got to believe they are in one wild place inside their heads.
Like I mentioned, as a racer, I can relate to what’s happening upstairs for those guys, but I am no professional, and my abilities are extremely distant from theirs. I know what I need to do, and what methods I use to get there. But to get to a place mentally, where what they’re doing is acceptable in their minds has to be something neuroscientists would consider abnormal. To me, it’s phenomenal, and being beside a rider when this is taking place is truly an unparalleled experience.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of this sports best racers and stood with them on the line as they are transforming into a superhuman mindset. Some guys completely change who they are. Most of the guys I’ve worked with are always good for a laugh here and there, and in staging the mood is usually light. I think that’s how most manage their stress, the ol’ nervous laugh is evident.
When it’s nearing time for the hot lap, it’s when things start to get serious. Some guys still keep it light, but most completely change in the blink of an eye. It’s time to go to work. I’ll give a few words of advice and suggest some things to look at on the hot lap and then they take off. When they come back, usually very few words are spoken, and it’s all business from here on out. You can feel the intensity, if their eyes could burn a hole in things they would.
This is where it gets exciting, the fan in me has to stay calm, the mechanic in me knows what to say, and the racer in me knows the place my rider needs to get to before the board goes up.
I often think about the fact that I’m the last human contact my guy has before all of which we’re talking about goes into action. What I say and/or do has a significant impact on their focus, and ability to get their mind to a suitable place to race a dirtbike.
To be able to convince yourself into doing what these guys do, knowing the consequences should something unfortunate happen, is truly fascinating to me. I think we amateur motocross racers, and especially professionals, are very unique individuals that have an exceptionally strong mental capacity.
Watching the camera pan across the gate showing the guys fidgeting, checking their goggle strap many times, and all the other distinctive nervous twitches brings forth many thoughts and emotions for me. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience that particular moment from many different positions but each is its own type of rush. Lately, the couch has been my spot for that and usually includes a slice of pizza and a 30B bevvy. But man, I can not wait to get back to the other side. Standing beside my rider, or revving my bike waiting for Timmy, this season can’t come soon enough.
