Race Day Psychology
It’s finally race day and all the intense preparation
is behind you. You
have trained according to your schedule, you are brimming
with
confidence, your bike is perfectly tuned, and you have
memorized the
track. It’s all set up, but as you sit on the moto
starting line, your
brain starts playing tricks on you, and your confidence
begins to
waver.
This is racing’s mental game, and it can kill your
race.
Racers are great about their training, bike maintenance,
and
practicing, but many of them disregard the mental maintenance.
This
aspect is just as, if not more, important than the others
mentioned. It
is precisely the racer’s thoughts and feelings that
determine his or
ability to kick into high gear and deliver a peak performance
on race
day.
Motocross racers, a word to the wise: work on your mind
as ruthlessly
as you work on your ride. You’ll be picking up a
trophy more often or
at least finish higher in the field more consistently.
The trickiest part is
figuring out what to work on to fortify your mental grit
and attitude
and then apply it to your game. So get started!
Which important mental skills do racers need to work on
to boost their
mental horsepower? Every racer is different with unique
challenges,
but a few fundamental mental game skills are applicable
to boost
everyone’s game.
Confidence
Topping the list is confidence. If you have a habit of
doubting yourself
or ability on race day, you can surely use some work in
this
department. You can spot the confident ones such as James
Stewart.
You can read the total conviction and belief in his inherent
ability in his
face. How do you think he got there? You have to believe
you can
before you can! You must first take responsibility for
your own
confidence to eliminate those pesky doubts that pop into
your mind
when least welcome.
Focus
Next on the list is the ability to focus like a true champion.
Performing
in that magic zone where everything clicks is what
all athletes live for
You can’t put those feelings in your pocket when
you find yourself in
the zone, but you can train your mind to recognize a “zone
focus” so
you can be there when the gate drops.
Distractions are to be expected as anyone involved in a
sport can tell
you. You can’t change that, but you can train yourself
to refocus when
distractions happen. This (and the ability to maintain
focus) is one
factor that separates the winners from the losers.
The best athletes will tell you that there exist two essential
mindsets
that you must master for success, regardless of sport:
practice
mindset and the race mindset.
In the practice mode, you work on your technique and focus
your
riding competency on jumps, in the corner, and on bumps.
The
training mindset is your homework.
The race-time mindset is there to maximize your race performance
and is a must-have for peak riding with the top dogs. Why
do you
think Ricky Carmichael is the best motocross racer? Part
of it is his
incredible work ethic and devotion to training. However,
he also is the
master of the race-time mindset.
The ability to be a natural performer and apply your skills
without
thinking is crucial to motocross success. That’s
why you go to racing
school, practice, and slide through the same turn fifty
times in a row
just to get it fluid and right. It has to be there when
the chips are
down. You want everything to become “just a reaction.”
Shaking It Off
The next skill you must master to minimize brain fade and
arm pump
is the ability to just shake off the tension and get focused.
Of course,
it’s natural to tighten up and try harder. But trying
too hard to fly
through the course can actually work against you. Your
timing gets
fouled up and your natural rhythm evaporates. It might
even cause
arm pump. You want to ride as fast as you can in a race,
just as you
do when you practice. There is no such thing as the perfect,
mistakefree
moto. Accept it. Deal with it.
This leads us to the ability to handle errors and take
them in stride.
Some racers have a hard time putting early-race errors
in the back of
their minds, which sticks them in a mental rut. Let
go of those errors
right away and don’t over-analyze them. Ride your
race one section at
a time.
Tuning Up Your Mind
The final mental prep for a moto is just as important as
the bike prep.
You have to tune up your mind. How can you do this? By
having a race
strategy prepared before you get to the starting
line. This is no time to
figure out what you need to do! Let experience be your
guide. Have
confidence in your plan from the starting line to the finish
line. You will
need to be flexible as conditions change but have a core
game to
follow.
Remember to have fun out there. Pressure and expectation
from any
source will only cause you grief. Remember why you’re
out there
anyway; it’s because of the thrill of putting the
hammer down and
hanging on!
