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10 Absolute MX Practice Rules by Gary Semics ( http://www.gsmxs.com )

In order to improve your race results, you first must improve your practice strategies. Then practice the correct techniques until they become automatic.

Absolute rule number 1 – There’s a mind to the madness. When you go out to practice have a purpose behind your practice. Don’t just race around the track, making the same mistakes over and over. Always spend some time separating and working at your weak points and techniques.
Now that we’ve got that right, here’s tip number one of a ten quick tips series on how to become a better racer.

#1 You need to be able to work the levers and hold onto the grips independently.
The most common mistake here is to hold onto the grips with all four fingers than grab at the levers only when you really have to use them. This way is so award that the rider doesn’t use the clutch and front brake levers often enough and when they do use the levers they can’t hold onto the grips well.

The thing that takes time and practice to develop is the ability to hold onto the grips and work the levers accurately at the same time, many riders use two fingers on the clutch, and many use one finger. It’s best to use one finger on the front brake. Get used to it and make it a habit.Give up a finger or two on the grips in order to work the levers independently from holding onto the grips.

#2 When you’re not using the shifter or brake the ball of your foot should be on the foot peg.
A general rule to go by is that if you’re not using the shifter or brake you should be on the balls of your feet. When you need to use the shifter or brake simply move up to the arches of your feet, than when you’re not using the shifter or brake move back to the balls of your feet again. While you are riding you should be using this technique frequently changing back and forth. This is true whether sitting or standing.

The benefits are: it adds another joint to your body’s suspension (your ankle joint) for better movement and feel, your feet won’t hit the ground in ruts and get ripped off the foot pegs, and you won’t hit the shifter or brake by accident. The only exception to this technique is if you are going to land very hard (like casing a jump) then you should be on the arches of your feet so you don’t sprain or break your ankles. This is defiantly one of those techniques that you have to think about and practice separately. Keep checking the bottom of those boots.

The rest of the tips

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