Factory Ride or Championship?
It has become evident that many of our new pros are satisfied with attaining a factory ride and have lost the internal drive to become a Champion. Winning a Championship at the amateur level is nothing compared to what is involved in becoming a Champion at the National pro level. How many of the best amateurs have gone on to win a Supercross or National title? What I am seeing at this point is younger pros settling for the “ride” and not working towards winning. Once this “mindset” is put into place the rider finds a “comfort zone” and he will most likely never attain a Championship.
To win a Championship in Supercross or Motocross everything must be in place. The smallest problem may keep the rider, team and support group from winning. Unlike amateur Championships, you will need to be consistent and charging almost every weekend. The competition will much higher and the pace must more intense for longer periods of time. The tracks will much more demanding and will take every bit of skill and technique the rider may have to do well. The mechanic has to make sure the bike finishes every race and is running close to perfect. The rider must ride smart, yet charge every race to gain valuable points. The team must have everything in order to allow the rider to do his job. The coach/trainer must have the rider conditioned not only physically but mentally to handle each issue as they arise. The support group must not allow distractions to interrupt the Championship process. Hopefully the rider will stay injury free, but may have to race and handle the pain of small injuries. All of the aforementioned necessities must happen for 16 main events (250 SX) and 12 Motocross (24 motos) races starting in January and ending nine months later in September. Once the season ends, the rider may be able to take a break for up to two weeks. This down time will allow the rider to relax physically and mentally but it will also be the time for him to prepare for off season training and testing. Testing for SX will start in the middle or late September. This is a grueling schedule and if a rider is serious about winning, leaves him without much time for anything but focusing on his career.
New pros usually come into the teams with an attitude of “I’m here to win, just like I have been doing in the amateur races.” This “winning attitude” is mandatory but it may also limit the new pro in the “learning process.” It is difficult for all but a few to come in and win races or Championships in their first year. Look back in the record books and you will see that most of our greatest Champions had to pay some dues before attaining all that was needed to win at the highest level. During this learning period, especially the first year or two, if a rider is unable to attain the level he feels he should, doubts begin to arise, confidence is slowly lost and the new pro starts to question his abilities and goals. This is the time a rider can be distracted and lured away from his program, instead of focusing on what areas need work and implementing a plan to correct them. The rider soon starts to lower his goals, giving in to “not winning” and starting to settle for “top 5’s or 10’s. The Champions in this sport have one thing in common, they never lost the desire and internal belief that they could and would win. Even though it may have taken them more time than they thought it would. Other riders, without this internal drive and strength, will be known as riders who can “get a podium or top 10.” Once this stigma has been placed on a rider and more importantly, once the rider himself starts to believe and settle for this position, he will never become a Champion. These riders become “position riders,” riders who have the abilities and talent to be a Champion, but settle for position. The winning attitude is replaced with cars, trucks, houses, parties, “so called new friends,” and the lifestyle that comes with making a lot of money “not to win.” Once you attain the goal of “team rider” it will be time for you to sit down, look inside yourself and see if you have what it takes to work long and hard to attain a Championship. If you have what it takes, then put yourself in a position to liste and learn all that you can to make it happen. Championships come from the “heart,” make sure yours never loses the motivation to stand on top of the podium.
Note: These “position riders” should not be mistaken for the hard working riders who give everything they have every day of their life, trying to win, but may not have the natural talent or background to become a Champion.
