For all those motocross racers out there trying to shave a few seconds off your lap time, this article is for you. We provide some tips with videos, many of which include the industry’s best racers. As always, remember to keep at it and have a great time. Always practice with the right protection and in the right settings as this sport can be very dangerous. Master our tops and you’ll be well on your way to your first competition.

Starts

In order to get that perfect holeshot during your moto, take these tips into consideration. When aligned at the gate, make sure to have both of your feet planted firmly on the ground. This will keep you level and make it so your bike won’t pull to either side. Lean as far forward as you can and don’t be afraid to be against the bar pad. Keep your eyes on the gate as you wait for it to drop. With a finger or two on the clutch and the front brake, build the revs on your bike. When the gate drop release the clutch and brake, if the bike begins to wheelie to much just pull the clutch in a little to lower the front end. To get a visual on this tip, check out Ricky Carmichael’s video above.

Jumping

Make sure whenever you’re about to tackle some new jumps to have spotted them first. You always want to know where you’re landing and gauge the necessary speed for the jump. When you first start jumping it will be intimidating and, if you’re a beginner, you should start with tabletops until you feel comfortable. Don’t even consider dabbling with rhythm sections if you’re not comfortable with your throttle control. When you are jumping off the face make sure to have your weight neutral to help control the bike. When in the air, consider how the throttle helps prevent the front end from diving and how the rear brake lowers the front end. Make sure, however, to pull in the clutch otherwise the bike will stall and the front end will dive. Check out the video above for some good advice when jumping and staying in the attack position.

Whips And Scrubs

Whips and Scrubs seem to be very similar, but there is a difference. A whip can be used to add some style to your riding but also help you position your bike for an approaching corner. With a scrub, a rider can approach the jump faster than necessary, because they will lose some speed on the face as they scrub of it. Riders will also lose height in the air, which is a benefit since riders will go faster on the track then in the air. Don’t attempt to whip or scrub until you feel qualified enough. Eventually you will know your limits. Check out Trey Canard’s tips above.

Seat Bouncing

Seat Bouncing has the opposite effect of scrubbing, in the sense that you do this to gain height in order to clear the landing. To successfully seat bounce you want to sit off the face of the jump so your suspension compresses as much as possible. Sit on the mid to rear of the seat. The steeper the face the farther back you’ll want to sit. Coming off the face your suspension will rebound giving you that extra boost of height to clear the jump. Once in the air be sure to stand and, depending on how you came of the face, you may need to pull with your arms. Check out the video above to see how Tyla Rattray perfects his seat bounces.

Cornering

When approaching a corner, you should sit down and begin braking, using mostly your back brake as well as some front brake. Be gentle with the front brake especially, as it can cause you to wash your front end out if you’re too abrupt with it. Once you’re entering the corner, release the brakes, move your weight farther forward on the seat and stick your inside leg out to help you get lower in the turn. After you hit the apex of the turn, roll on the throttle and slowly shift your weight back as you exit the corner. Corners will begin to get rutted as the day goes on, so check out the video above to see the best way to approach them.

Whoops

Approaching the whoops section can be extremely intimidating, but have no fear, as they are simply tightly packed mounds of dirt. For the best results, you’ll want to carry in as much momentum as possible and hold it. You do not want to pin the throttle as that will send you all over the place and likely face first into the dirt. Make sure to stand up on the balls of your feet and squeeze tight with your legs to try to hold the bike in your line. If the whoops are smaller and your skilled enough you can hold the front wheel off the ground and let the rear suspension take all the impact. Be conservative with the throttle, otherwise the ground won’t feel too smooth. Check the video above to see how the “GOAT” himself handles his sand whoops on the track.

Posture

Last but not least, make sure to maintain a solid posture throughout your lap. You always want to be sitting up with your elbows high. Make sure to not stare at the ground in front of you, but what is ahead of you. You never know what’s coming and you don’t want to run over anyone laying on the track. Check out the video above to learn how to regrip in order to maintain the best posture during the whole moto. With this final tip, you’re ready to jump on a bike and but this info to good use. Start perfecting your skills and show us what you can do.