My first race is on Saturday and I am getting kind nervous already. Its an MX race and I am riding a 300EX in the 4-stroke 0-350CC B or C class. Anyone out there got some tips/tactics for me?
Thanks

 

Easy to say, not easy to do... RELAX!!!

Pretty lame, huh? Well, your first race you should really just set some realistic expectations. Enter the lowest class they have and be happy if you finish without bailing hard. If you do, then you did okay. If you can beat some people, then you did great. It's more likely that you'll win the lottery than win your first race.

Racing is the only place you're gonna learn how to ride fast. No one learns how to ride really well out on their farm or in the desert with their friends. They THINK they do, but racing is really the only place to LEARN. THAT'S what you need to focus on. Learing what the faster guys are doing, and try to do the same thing. Once you think of racing as school (a really fun school, that is...), then you won't be as nervous.

Butterflies are going to be there on the start of EVERY race. That's what makes it soooo fun. I haven't raced in over 10 years, but I can still remember what it was like to line up on the starting gate and feel the rush of adrenaline. Once the gate drops, you won't be nervous anymore.

Remember, your goals should be to learn, have fun, and don't bail. Oh, and have someone videotape you so you can see what you're doing wrong, and what the faster guys are doing right. That will help a LOT.

Good Luck!

 

Sandman is right, Relax, and most importantly, HAVE FUN!!! Practice during practice, Don't race in practice. Take your time and learn the track, pick out good lines, and figure out how much speed is needed and where. If you're not comfortable jumping, then don't! It really sucks to pay $30.00 to get in a race, and have to sit it out because you broke your quad or yourself. Most important lesson, make it a fun experience, and you'll go back next week too. The more you race the faster you get. Good luck.

 

Another important thing to remember is to HOLD YOUR LINE.

Two weeks ago I was racing an intermediate class MX race, and there was a beginner in oir class that thought he was a good rider because he had been desert riding for years. Anyway, I got a terrible start. I was not ready when the gate dropped. I ended up behind this guy. He was actually pretty fast, but he was all over the track. I was about the fastest guy in the class, but I could not get by this guy cause he was sverving and bouncing all over the track. I decided to fall back a little so that I could get a run on him and blow by. Coming up to a big double that no one was jumping beside me and 1 other guy, I decided to make my move and jump past him. Bad idea, going up the face of the take off, he swerved right in front of me, and I had to nail the brakes. I did not have enough space to slow down enough to not jump, but I did lose a lot of speed. I came up way short on the jump, and now I have a shattered left wrist. I had surgery last week, and they put in a plate, a pin, and a piece of bone from my own hip. To say the least, I wanna kill the guy. Because of him my riding days may be over if this does not heal right.

I'm not suggesting that all rookies are that dumb, but there are definetly some beginers out there that need to be reminded that they need to stay out of the way of the faster guys, and that means hold your line.

I also agree with the first reply, relax, have fun, and learn. Don't expect to win, or even beat anyone for that matter, and do race in the lowest class. It is made for guys like you.

 

Endurance is also the key. Eat a good meal the morning of the race. Nothing that will disagree with your stomach. But you want to have energy for the race.
Also, try to put some hard miles on your quad in the days leading up to the race. There is a big difference between just cruising around and racing. You will use muscles that you aren't used to using. Also, when the machine heats up(engine, suspension, pushing the tires, etc) it starts to handle differently. And it's good too know what to expect.

Relax and have fun......

Chris 00' race ready 300EX

ps. for a real killer, race a 90 minute HareScramble. Your butt will be draggn'

 

Rome was never built in a day.. Take your time..
Its not the winning its the takeing part........
Get to Know some of the fast boys and you will suddenly realise the ammount of dediction and training that goes into being a top rider..Some of the guys I race with are quick as hell,but they ride evey day, are in the gym everday, and eat sleep and drink like athletes...Have fun....

 

i had my first race on saturday i was not nervous until the last batch of lt_80s went then i was nervous as hell i went to hard in practice and rolled my quad i bent my bars and broke the clutch
some serious work done before the racing
but it was fixed and i had a great time i finished 7th in all three races

 

Well, just got home from my race. I went there and discovered that they only had one ATV class which was just open, every quad raced teh same class. So I was like damn I gotta race 250R's and Banshees on my 300Ex but did ok. I got a terrible start but figured I would since I have never done that before. I was about mid pack coming into the first turn because it was sooo muddy that the 2 strokes didnt have the bottom power they needed. Got through most of the first lap, hit some whoops and the banshee in front of me got on the brakes or something and I hit him causing me to stall (I was somewhere in the top 7 or8 by now). My battery was dead I guess and I couldnt get it back started so that was that. But overall, I did get a lot of confidence from doing pretty good and passing 2 banshees and a blaster on my first lap!

 

I just had my first race about 4 weeks ago. I felt pretty nervous when we lined up for the gate. One thing to remeber is drink as much water or gatorade or something like that before the race. Especially if you aren't used to pushing yourself for a while you will get very dry. Also don't expect yourself to do really well your 1st race. Just get a feel for it. Since my first race I've had 2 more races and came in a 3rd overall and 2 second places. Moto-x has turned out to be the most enjoyable type of riding I do. Have fun above all!!

 

racerEX has a good point about drinking water! the night before your race and morning of drink lots of water at least 2quarts the night before, it may feel like your going to barf but you will have so much more energy the next morning, and it will give you more endurance too!