Going pro

-MAVERICK- wrote:

If you got unlimited funds and can ride/train intensely for the next two years you maybe have a shot at it but if you are just...

If you got unlimited funds and can ride/train intensely for the next two years you maybe have a shot at it but if you are just starting out in the sport well the ship has sailed away.

aversage2 wrote:

Is 16 too old to try to go pro in moto?

Radical wrote:

I disagree with all of the naysayers. If this is your dream and you dedicate to it 1000%, it's possible. I repeat, you have to go...

I disagree with all of the naysayers.

If this is your dream and you dedicate to it 1000%, it's possible. I repeat, you have to go 1000% or they're right.
Why do I say this?
Because in almost everything in life a great deal of the time spent "practicing" and gaining experience is doing the same thing over and over, and over, and over. That's absolutely necessary to perfect any skill, but that part of it is not required for 15 years.

The time that matters most is the time spent learning new skills, and MASTERING others. That goes for anything you want to succeed in. Be "Present" every time. That is where the magic is in anything.

The time spent going through the motions is necessary to a point and for a time. After that it gets in the way, because we get into a habit of going through the motions. When I play guitar, I put it down when I'm not ("Present"). It's mostly a waste of time.

In order to accelerate your progress you'll have to work hard, and very smart.
That means:
* First and foremost, be "Present" every single moment that you're on the bike. Every moment! Without this, you're wasting your time. You can't make up for 15 years of practice in 3 or 4 years unless you do it differently. While you're practicing, ride how you'll race (but don't be an a$$hole to others on the track). Always be looking for ways to go faster, every lap, all of the time.
* Observe what your competitors do both good and bad, and make adjustments to your own techniques accordingly, immediately.
* Race every race near you. Enter 2 classes.
* Race to win from the first gate drop. Fight for the win and for every position, every time, even when you're last off the start and it seems impossible. Race until you cross the line, whether you're in first of last. This is part of developing the heart of a champion.
* Study the films of as many races as possible, especially the helmet cam footage. Study them, not just watch them.
There's a tremendous amount to learn. When I'm lifting weights, I watch RV and others' helmet cam footage at Unadilla, Spring Creek, etc... and understand why he chooses the lines he chooses. I'm trying to get inside his head to understand why he does what he does and make it my own. For example, I can tell you RV's technique for ruts. He avoids them as much as possible. I'm getting a portion of his experience when I'm not even on the bike. Believe me, it helps a lot.

* Listen and consider the advice you hear, read or watch, then choose what you buy into and what you don't. The experts disagree on things, so they can't all be right. Consider everything. Be willing to buck trends if you believe you have a better way. Also, be willing to admit wholeheartedly when you're wrong and make adjustments. The goal is to become faster, not to be right.
* Learn at a faster pace than everyone else. Observe, practice that one thing until it's how you want it, then don't accept that as the end all. Continue to look for ways to improve it. The moment you start going through the motions is the day your progress slows to a crawl.

* Get your ass in shape, big time. It'll take time for you to become pro and more time to be competitive nationally, but really only a year or two be in as good of shape as anyone on the circuit.

Make it a goal that when you meet the pros at a SX or MX race, to be in as good or better shape then any of them. You need the fitness.

Besides if you're too old at 16, then I'm definitely too old, and I haven't given up the dream . Actually, at 55 I've moved on to other goals and dreams. I have the fitness believe it or not, I have the determination. I don't have the ability to pause everything and put 1000% into it, but even at 55 it's improbable, but not impossible. If you don't believe me, look up John Dowd.

So, the big question is:
"Are you willing to put EVERYTHING YOU HAVE WITHIN YOU, 1000% into racing MX for the next 5 years?"

If the answer is yes, then do it, and don't look back.
If the answer is no, then still get the 125, then go out and simply have some fun.

Radical

F.B wrote:

It's doable IF you can get your hands on a factory ECU.

F.B wrote:

It's doable IF you can get your hands on a factory ECU.

cali11 wrote:

That's going to be tough! Stews having a hard enough time finding one