How about some discussion, tips, and tricks on getting a good start off the gate? This is one area where I need serious improvement. What is the best gear to start in? First? Second? Some other topics could be gate selection, starting area surface grooming, throttle position, etc.

-Dave

 

This is a good topic for me, since I have always done well when the gate drops. I will start off saying that knowing when to shift is a big part of getting good starts, and only concentrating on the gate and launch is just a part of the equation to getting good starts. This is what I did every time. Beginning with the gate position, you should choose a combination of the closest point and best entry into the first turn. I preferred center/middle positions at most gates, since they give you the shortest distance and best angle of approach. Far inside or outside positions can really mess up your starts by shoving you out of the turn, or pinching you in. The gate prep depends on the type of pad. Concrete pads should be cleaned and dirt pads should be filled and packed hard. Now for prepping for the gate drop - You should spend time watching the starters timing and technique. Some guys like to drop quick after the board goes sideways, while some guys like to make you wait. Try to get a feel for the starters timing. For actual launching technique, I always used full throttle (2-strokes only) with one finger holding the front brake slightly and the other finger letting the clutch out to the point where you can just feel it grabbing. This does a few things including making the clutch release quicker, pre-extending the rear suspension and compressing the front slightly which helps prevent wheelying and holding the front brake a little keeps you from creeping forward and getting your front tires stuck under the gate. I usually lined up a little farther back from the gate than other guys, just so that I could roll slightly to anticipate the gate drop. Choosing the launching gear depends on the gearing of your bike/quad and the type of launch pad. I don't think there is a general rule. Other than that, it's stare at the gate and slip the clutch slightly to control a low wheely and speed shift (throttle pinned and a light flick of the clutch when applying pressure to the shifter). Don't worry about over-revving a two stroke. I always tried to shift as fast as possible without boggin the engine. I've seen too many guys just hold it in a gear too long instead of shifting. It takes practice to know when to shift. That's about it aside from the fact that in my experience, there are good starters and there are bad. It's probably due to something that you "feel" that can't be described or taught.

 

While I am still in the early stages of getting the holeshot, I will relate some of the things that I have seen, tried and read. I always get to the starting area a few races ahead of mine. This will allow me to time the gate drop and watch people start in different lines.

Once the starter points at me and I have the correct gear selected (and tested, been there done that neutral thing) I get focused. I make sure I am little ways behind the gate, so I can roll a little bit before hitting the gate and for the extra cushion. Six inches behind the other riders is better than being stuck behind the gate. As he holds the 30-second board up, I concentrate on the line I am going to take from the gate to the corner. Once the starter turns the board for the 5-second delay, I look straight down at the gate and rev the motor. Clutch ready to be dumped, elbows up, shifter foot under the lever, butt towards the back of the seat and body leaning forwards. This body position allows me to easily and quickly move my weight between the front and the rear. I do not have the quad wide open, but more like ½ to ¾ throttle. I have found that full throttle has too much power and if I have traction, I have to let off to get the front down or in the absense of traction I just spin my tires. But as soon as the gate moves, I dump the clutch and depress the throttle all the way. I know when to shift from practicing. I really don’t listen to the motor, since you can never be the loudest, but rather I go by feel. When the power is no longer at its peak, I lightly grab the clutch and let off a quick hair on the throttle. Just enough to take the pressure off the gears, no sponsors you know. While some people are good enough to use the clutch on the start to keep the front end down and the power to the wheels, I am not that good yet.

If I notice that I am not going to be in the front of the pack right, I start to look for the bottlenecks. I have actually slowed down, to get away from a potential bottleneck. Many times on the Banshee, I would be near last out of the gate. But by staying away from the fight on the inside, I would come out in a decent place. So once the gate drops, assess you position. It may be beneficial to slow down and avoid a 5 quad backup in the first turn. But if you are near the front, dive into the turn as hard as you can and hold your line. The front three or four guys usually play a game of chicken of who will back off first. That is where lane selection is the key

Which lane will be the best? Well, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. (Unless you’re the Event Horizon) But that one lane may not be the fastest. If you have one of the first picks, take the lane that is the shortest to the corner, yet offering the best traction. I tend to stay more towards the outside of the turn, rather than the inside. This way I can go to the outside of the bottlenecks. Also, on the two tracks we race on, the outside is better than the inside after the first turn. One has a long straight where the extra speed from the outside lane will give me more top speed on the straight. The other has turns slightly to the outside after the first turn. So the outside will quickly become the inside on turn 2. And the best line in the morning may not be the best in the afternoon. So pay attention to the first turn berm and how it is formed.

As for the gate preps, we use one of each. Southwick has an asphalt pad. Now if you have big bucks or big sponsors, by all means heat up your tires. This will get them sticky and provide the best traction off the pad. But in any event, try and clean off as much dirt as possible. Usually the actual gate itself is pretty clean on this track and very little gate prep is needed. But the other track we race, there is only dirt. This requires a little more effort before the start and can even change the gate selection. Early in the day, all the gates are pretty smooth. But as the day wear on, the more popular picks will develop ruts and even a lip. Racers grab the inside gate, thinking it will be the fastest, but the little lip will only cause the back wheels to force the front up in the air. So you can either fill in the ruts and lips or find a better gate and hope some one else will fall prey. First thing when touching up the dirt gate, is get rid of any rocks. Under a spinning wheels they can act as ball bearings. Push some loose dirt into the runts and pack it down. Jump up and down like an idiot, the harder it is packed the better the traction. Also take a look at the gate itself. Make sure the part near the bottom of the gate is real clean. No rocks or piles of dirt to hang the gate up. Also do not be afraid to walk a few feet in front of your gate and do the same. Just don’t throw the rocks in front of the rider next to you.

While I have not had an actually holeshot yet, I have steadily improved over the years. To the point where I may have a chance this year. But practice with your quad on similar conditions to the races. Know by feel when to shift your motor. How fast you can go through the first turn.

Oh, one last piece of advice. After racing a whole year with the same guys in my class, I learned who to line up with and who not to. Line up next to a slower quad/rider and you will have two open lanes in front of you. Yours and the slow pokes.

 

While I have only race twice I have always got an excellent start except one moto.

I just tryin and pick the best line to the gate.I look for the shortest line to the first corner.THe track i race at is a concrete pad.I ussluly just kinda brush it off with my feet as best as possible.

When the 30 second board goes up I keep my 250 about 1/2 throttle and just hold it there.When is goes sideways I lean back a bit and and pin the throttle,then as soon as the gate flinches the clutch is out and I am banging gears.I am not afraid of tradin a little paint as long as the guy is trying to take my line.

I always start in 1st just to make sure I am not going to stall and i never pump the gas.I have fouled plugs that way.


The only time I got a bad start is when I got a bad pick at the gate and started in the weeds!The only spot left was all the way over in the corner and about 10 feet in front of the gae was a bunch of weeds!


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A person made this offer to me last year. Just before we step on the kicker for the gate to drop, have our hand on the side of the building and wiggle his hand for $50.

PS
you would be the last one out because you would not have your brain focused. Do what the other ones said if you can remember all of that at the starting line. Find out what works best for you and go out and practice your starts just like you practice cornering and jumping.

 

How does everyone deal with ruts left by the dirt bikes at the start? I race at a sandy track that is very soft and the dirt bikes dig deep ruts as they take-off from the start. When I pull up to the gate I usually line my front tires up with each one in a dirt bike rut. The dirt bikes always use each others ruts and my thought was that the loose dirt has already been spun away from the rut. But I am not sure if that is the best method since the wider quad rear tires may bridge the skinnier dirt bike rut and may not have full contact with the soil. Just wondering if anyone else has any thoughts or comments on this.