General Tips:Rutted Corners and Berms
"I didn't fall, I was just testing the dirt.
Concentrating on your braking techniques can allow you to make up lots of ground on the
rider in front of you. Good braking techniques and cornering skills will help you make
up positions during a motocross race but so many riders aren't confident using their
brakes to their full potential.
The front brake on a motocross bike provides about 70% of your stopping power but
riders get nervous about the front end washing out. The rear brake doesn't provide as
much stopping power but is effective in keeping the bike stable whilst braking.
When braking you should be in the attack position gripping the bike with your knees,
particularly when the braking area is rough, to allow you to keep control and take some
strain off your arms and shoulders.
When approaching a smooth corner under brakes your weight should be back on the bike to
stop the rear wheel from lifting. If the corner has large braking bumps (usually the
case on sandy motocross tracks) then centralise your weight to allow the bike to rock
underneath you over the bumps. If the corner is off camber, move your weight forward to
weight the front wheel to prevent it from washing out.
Practise
Here are a couple of exercises to help you practise your braking techniques.
Pick a flat area with consistent traction and while moving slowly in first gear
gradually apply the front brake until the front wheel starts to lock. You will need to
increase the throttle to stop the bike from stalling. As the front wheel starts to
lock, release the brake then repeat the exercise. This will get you familiar with the
feeling of the front wheel locking so you can brake to the point of maximum traction
without locking the wheel and washing the front out.
Another exercise is to get four witchs hats or markers and lay out a large rectangle.
As you approach the end of the rectangle, lock the rear wheel and skid steer the bike
around without putting your feet down. Use good clutch control to avoid stalling the
bike and as the rear end of the bike comes around smoothly release the clutch and move
up to the other end of the rectangle to repeat the exercise.
With regular practise you will greatly improve your braking techniques and combined
with good cornering skills you'll be much faster overall.