Lessons
by Robert Beaupre
Photo courtesy of Mike Torres at www.tagnmx.com

Improving at motocross isn't just about learning to ride a motorcycle better. It's also about carving a philosophy that will allow you to cope with the challenges that every rider faces. If you fail to do this, you will either quit or go insane by the time you reach the Junior class. Here are some excerpts from my own volume of Motocross Lessons Learned:

--When you're tempted to kick your bike after a moto because you think it's too slow, rickety or unsightly, don't. In nearly every case, it's you that's to blame for your poor finish. And even in the cases when the bike breaks down, there's some likelihood that you caused that too through some maintenance failure.

I've sometimes blamed my bike for a poor finish in the first moto, only to have someone yard me in the second moto on a borrowed rattletrap that I knew was no better than my ride. The lesson? A healthy dose of skill and determination is enough to overcome a worn tire or loose piston. As a dirt bike owner, you already have a cooler toy than the majority of people in this world could ever hope to own. Ride it more and complain about it less. You might even give it a hug now and then.

--When you're thinking of pursuing the glory that comes with being the first to jump a gnarly double or triple, go work on a turn somewhere else and wait to see who takes your place. If no one goes for it, just keep working on your turns. You might have just bypassed a hospital visit without knowing it.

Once as a 250cc Intermediate, I pulled a holeshot at Fernley and immediately began stretching a lead. I felt so good that I decided to go for a tricky double on the first lap that I had barely made in practice, which was before the lip had become toast as it was in that moto. What happened? I have no recollection at all. Concussions will do that.

--When someone drives it in a little hot on you, resist the urge to return the favor. There's a fair chance that they came in a little hotter than they expected to and didn't mean to cut it that close. By simply putting your head down and making a clean pass in return, you take the higher road and still get the last laugh, regardless of what their intentions were.

Punt them if they try it again, though.

--When you're bumped up into the next class by one club, don't resist it by exhausting your bump points in every organization west of the Mississippi. Just ride the higher class, pay your dues and look ahead to the next bump. It might seem glorious in the short term to be a Junior-class champion, but in the end it will be no more meaningful than the little-league trophies you tossed out while rearranging your room at 15.

I've always clamored to be included in the next class. Even the winner of the Beginner class is still a neophyte. You'll endure many a bruise on the ego by choosing to ride with faster riders, but in the end it's the only way you'll ever reach your goal--unless your goal is to a be a 7-time 125cc Junior champ. Congratulations.

--When you do poorly in a moto, don't let it wear too heavily on you. As a guy who's raced a lot of motos, trust me when I say that a single moto isn't worth moping over. No one will remember it. You probably won't even remember it in a few weeks. Just blow it off and make up some story about how someone messed with your clickers if it makes you feel better. No one's listening to your story, either, by the way.

Conversely, enjoy it when you do well. You needn't drop your bike for a victory dance after the finish, but allow the glory to sink in a bit as you sip your post-race beverage. While it's true that no one will remember this moto either, you should take the time to deposit the triumph in your own memory bank for cheering up when you need it. We all need that sometimes.

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