What Makes A Good Dirt Bike Rider?

By Author: Andrew Green
Total Articles: 2
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There are a great many attributes that make for a good dirt bike rider and the best dirt bike riders are those who can combine the skills it takes. One of the most important things you need to become one of the few good dirt bike riders is the right temperament. You need to combine confidence with humility. That is, you need the confidence to be brave and take a different line; otherwise you won't be overtaking the leading riders but you also need to be careful not to become over confident. Over confidence invariably leads to rash decisions and reckless riding and eventually dirt bike accidents. It's a fine line, but it's a line you need to riding on to be successful.

Skills dirt bikers need to master.

Apart from having the right attitude to racing you obviously need the riding skills that set you apart from the rest of the pack. Balance, agility and a very good knowledge of racing lines. A very good tip is to walk the track before you race it; this will give you a valuable insight into the racing line and the jumps on the track. As an extension of this, it is also very helpful if you can see a couple ...
... of riders on the track so you can learn from their mistakes and also learn from what they do well. Combine all of this and you will have gained a good track knowledge and an insight into what will serve you well when you're racing.

Practise sessions provide you with an exceptional opportunity to learn a few more tips and tricks of the course. Not every course is the same and not every starting gate is the same. Wait for the other racers to start so you have a little room and have a couple of practise goes at the start. Work out the gear and line you need to take out of the gates. It might just give you that all important lead from the very start.

Use the first lap of your practise session to ride around at a reasonable pace, but not too fast; everything will look a lot different from the back of your bike that it did when you were walked the track earlier. Don't just look at the line you are riding, have a good look around, see if there are better lines to follow and work out the best lines for the jumps.

Hit the first corner well and you can set yourself up for the rest of the race. Getting a good kick from the gates can put you in a strong position that will see you near the front few riders. Once you've beaten the start, you need to make sure you can hold on to your strong position and don't throw it away by getting caught up in the fray that always surrounds.

About the author:
Dirt Bikes HQ, http://www.dirtbikeshq.com/,for lots of information about dirt biking.