Tips to get a holeshot in motocross and supercross
Posted on February 15, 2009
Filed Under Technique | Leave a Comment
For dirt starts you need to be as far froward as possible to weight the front end but for concrete starts you’ll need to around the center of the bike to help the rear end to get some traction on the slippery concrete.
Choose the highest gear you can and use the clutch to keep the revs high without bogging the bike down. You need to grip the throttle so your wrist is arched up slightly so you can hold the throttle wide open once you clear the gate and get decent traction. Remember to use the clutch to keep the front under control.
If there are ruts in front of your starting gate pack them with the hard dirt that you can break of the edge of the rut. Don’t just fill it with soft stuff because it will not work. You want a smooth line in front of you not a hole.
Stay back from the gate so you can keep the bike ready to pounce. Once you see the 30 second board let the clutch out far enough so the bike starts moving forward and use the front brake to keep it from leaving just yet. This will also tension your chain so there is no delay in getting power to the ground. You can get the feel of this before the start by doing short wheel spins.
Some riders watch the gate or pin beside them out of the corner of their eye, not looking at it directly, others prefer to look directly at their own gate. Also pay attention to the gate your choose, the quickest line to the first corner is not always the shortest. Look for a smooth path if the main line is chopped up or other obstacles exist.
You must attack the first corner aggressively, getting a great start will mean nothing if you can’t brake late into the corner and get the best line out of the corner. Your attitude is also important, know that you will get the the first corner before anyone else. Do your homework and practice and make sure your bike is well maintained.
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