Moto Tip | Take It Outside
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Welcome to the new Answer Racing Moto Tips feature! Answer Racing has been producing the highest-quality motocross and off-road gear since 1976, and this month launched its new line of 2020 apparel. With riders like Alex Martin, Ryan Villopoto, Nick Wey, and Mike Sleeter flying the Answer flag, there is a wealth of knowledge and know-how when it comes to riding a dirt bike efficiently and effectively in the Answer camp. Each week, Answer will bring you some riding tips to help you become better at the sport you love! Have a specific skill you’d like to improve? Comment below and we will cover it in a future post!
Have you figured out there’s more than one way to get around the track as fast as possible? We know it’s easy to follow the same lines as the rest of the pack, because what the masses do is typically considered the “ideal route,” but that isn’t always the case. The best riders are the ones that can tell when it’s time to get away from the worn-in groove when the course breaks down, that way hey can stay on the gas and save some energy during their motos. One very easy way you can do this is to take the outside lines in turns, something Nick Wey explained to us for this week’s Moto Tip. Yeah, it might add a little extra distance to your lap but if you do it correctly, it’ll allow you to conserve energy and carry more momentum.
The inside lines in a corner aren’t always the best, because those are often the first that will get rutted up and develop harsh braking bumps, which can make the section of the track even more tricky. When this happens, it’s time to look to the far edge of the track, where you can rail around the outside.
Even though it’s the longer way around, it’ll likely be smoother and allow you to carry much more speed than picking through the tight inside would. This can especially important late in a race because you’ll be able to conserve some energy.
It’s important to maintain as much momentum as possible when entering the turn, so that means you need to be easy on the brakes, stay off the clutch, and apply the throttle smoothly. Being hard on the brakes or gas here will cause the bike to become unbalanced and you really don’t want that, especially if it’s a quick section.
Fundamental skills like looking ahead so that you can see what’s coming next on the track, weighing the outside peg for improved traction if you’re in a turn, and keeping a neutral body position are always important and will definitely be used when you’re hanging out on the edge of the lane.
If there’s a berm for you to blast around in a turn, great! Just make sure that you don’t bury the bike in the soft soil, which would break your momentum. If it’s flat spot, you’ll want to prevent the front-end from pushing away and keep even your inside leg up and out of the way so it doesn’t catch on the ground.
