Motocross Race Tips for Beginners 

I'm 54 and I only started racing at the tender age of 43. After not owning a bike for 17yrs I was once again bitten by the bug of dirt bikes. I'd never raced, and thought I'd give it a go. I practiced my heart out did a couple of riding schools, got fitter, went out and raced and I got lapped by half the field. I had a ball, totally loved it. I set a goal of trying to not get lapped. It took me over a year but I did it, (pending on the Track). I have now retired from racing due to my knee's and Shoulder surgery from an old injury, but I still ride, and will until I'm 80. :)

Thanks man. I'll remember this for my first 450 a class race this weekend 👍 I really need to boost up my confidence

You know what? These tips are too general, but that's what I like about these tips. It is applicable to any beginners about to perform. As a psychologist, i have to admit that tips #4 is awesome. I admire your tips #4. I shall make note on that particular tip. Thanks. I love dirtbikes.

More tips: If you're new to riding also, make sure you keep your legs tight, and arms loose. Keeping your toes point in towards the bike makes your knees squeeze against the shroud. Doing this helps the bike stay straight off rutted jumps and jumps with kickers, along with braking bumps, acceleration bumps, etc... and will overall make you a better rider. Also make sure you're on the balls of your feet, as it keeps your feet in also, and makes sure you aren't gonna get your foot ripped off the peg.

idk if this would fall into more of a "race day" tip but definitely if you havent raced before make sure you take a pic or write down your motos and the race order so you dont miss your gate drop lol almost happened to me many times. Great vid!

I have 2. Since I travel around to race quite a bit If we're ever at a new track ill make sure I walk it before the race and maybe watch some videos just to see the fast lines and to learn the track a bit. The second is to practice starts before the race, so you know how to work the clutch out and shift. If your first time behind a gate is also your first race you will most likely get a dead last start.

This helped me a lot in doing my first race this week end :)

I've done a lot of cross country races but no pure motocross races. These Tips can really work for every type of dirt bike racing! Great video BTW!!

Changing your line and jumping and looking behind is an advanced technic really

Don't stall the bike

Did my first race and got 5th

All very good tips. Having raced over 40yrs now with reasonable success and only one dislocated finger in all that time,I feel reasonably qualified to advise those who wish to begin racing. My best advice begins with understanding your goals. No matter if you simply wish to race well at a local level or rise to the top of professional racing,your first priority each time you ride or practice is to end that day intact and uninjured. Today's race is nothing compared to you health. So my first suggestion also don't ride over your head. Do not do anything during a race with people watching that you would not do practicing alone. (not that you should ride alone) Don't place pressure on yourself by boasting beforehand. Don't bring your girlfriend. Do bring your most level headed friend. Give him instructions in case of emergency phone numbers, etc. and leave your keys where he knows they are in case he needs to get your truck home for you. Now as to practice. Don't freak if someone vastly faster passes you. Riders of higher skill levels often sneak into beginners practice. Do not attempt to move out of anyone's way,simply hold your line and ride forwards. Attempts to get out of the way cannot be predicted and the guy coming up behind you had no desire to hit you so make no moves that make no sense,just continue forward in a predictable manner. The first moto. My advice is not gonna make many very happy. But here it is. When the gate drops, let everyone go. Yup. Then see how many you can catch and pass, and remember the "hold your line" advice as the fast guys will be coming up to lap you soon. More so if it was a "split gate" with two classes on the track simultaneously. Now after this moto evaluate your performance honestly. Do well? Pass anybody that wasn't lying on the ground? If yes to both then good for you! Now check your bike over for any loose bolts or flat tires,gas it up,and rehydrate yourself,maybe eat some fruit. Second moto start, and every start thereafter? Simply know you will be first into the first turn. It's yours.You own it. Confident. This is no time to be tentative. Want the best hole-shot technique ever? Here it is for the first time in print. And though I never qualified for a Supercross, I have shown that on a gate of forty of the best, I can be expected to be in the top ten going into the first turn.My advice is more about simplifying the process and avoiding anything that adds to the brains workload,especially regarding the effects of changing your line of vision or your head position. For example,pick a spot as you read this out in front of you then look down and left,as if to watch the pin on the next gate to signal the gates drop. Then snap your head back to the spot in front of you. Takes a second to focus and pick it out plus the balance is affected all at a critical moment. Okay, pick your gate as well as you can. Line up straight, both feet down. Clutch just St the point of engaging. Look straight ahead at the line that leads from your gate. Focus past the gate at the dirt. Your gates top tube should be blurry. Clear track ahead,with a blurry top tube of your gate across it. A static visual with no motion. When anything starts to change, GO! This technique is simple and avoids many things that take time or add to the complexity of the start. Not looking down and left aviods turning your head and requiring your eyes to acquire your target, and avoids any delay in the orientation of yourself required to maintain balance. Both feet down does the same. Watch how often one foot downers veer to one side till both feet come to the pegs. Know you own the turn and go. Keep your elbows up and level in case of contact with a rider beside you. Better to bump elbows than lock bars. Now follow what advice we have covered and never allow anger or vanity or adrenaline to make you do what a calm you would not. Remember if you wish to win and race again or rise to the top of the top,that the next race is the more important and preserving your forces (yourself) is the first priority of a leader of an army. And racing is just like a war, with each race a battle. Read Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and apply it to racing. Do your best to go forwards each moment,lap after lap and all moto. That wins races and races won wins championships.

Deeo i also agree, its all about having fun and i feel i end up going faster because i am enjoying it.

Thank you man. My first race is coming up on this Sunday with the confidence you help a lot as there where I struggle.

Tip 0 - Don't crash

G'day deeo, just moved to cs from Australia. Can't wait to be out racing again. Hopefully I see u out on the track soon!

I’m watching this while we’re going to glen Helen for my first ever race and boy did this help. Especially the 5th tip. Thanks man

Whenever anyone asks me for advice my biggest thing is to squeeze the bike with your knees. This helps you stay on the bike say through whoops and rough areas. It also helps me just to feel more confident knowing I am less likely to superman off the back of the bike when I am doing this lol.

I’ve rode for over a year now and your tips are still useful

Awesome video. Man I’m so nervous just to ride practice laps for the first time on a track lol

To go with #3, a good confidence boost is race a track you ride all the time. An example is Deeo and aztec. He rides there all the time. He probably knows that track like the back of his hand. It will also help calm your nerves if you know all the ins and outs of the track! Goodluck everyone!

The one thing I would add is be prepared with extra parts and tires, having some money set aside for racing expenses also. I know I underestimated the cost part.

I’m 13 and race a ktm 125 2 stroke and this rlly helped for my first race I got 3rd😊

Whenever I line up and I get nervous I just tell my self just ride like you normally ride

great tips ! i started as a Vet class beginner rider a few years ago and have slowly moved up . I still remind myself of all these things every race ! spot on !

Keep up the how to videos they really help us all thanks for all you do for the sport

I love this video dude I just started racing and this really does help I had a hard time with confidence and all I did for my races was roll to maybe clear a tiny jump thank you

Spot on, always great videos. The only thing I would add goes under the confidence and don't second guess yourself part, and that would be always be committed. it goes hand in hand with the whole don't second guess yourself, but if you're not committed, you may choke up a little at the end of the take off of a jump, and cause you to go nose heavy, and things can take a bad turn like that. But this doesn't go just for jumping, whoops, ruts and all. But great content as always, keep up the good work

I may be racing a serie next year here in sweden, I'm about 10 seconds slower than the best in my country at my hometrack and I'm top 5 in my club. That depends on my dad though since I'm only 16 so he's the one who decides.

that was awsome.But I've got a question??? how do you learn to jump.

I ride at my local track, not really racing but just riding for fun. Enduro is always fun to.

Nephew's first race at IMI this weekend, I'm going to share this video with him. Right on bro, maybe see you there!

did my first race, b class and got 3rd, these tips helped alot.

You are an amazing rider, you have a gorgeous bike, these tips help me no end, I have my first race in September, in memorial of my Dad's best friend - who died at the motocross track. Thank you so much ❤

My very first race weekend I crashed in practice and couldn't race because I rode over my head and got hurt. Once I made it to my first race I was so nervous at the gate I was shaking. I stalled the bike anyways and had a ton of fun even though I came I'm dead last. Great video deeo! Hope it helps some people!

One more thing new riders useally don't know,some might,is how important your legs are and weighting your foot pegs,mainly your outside foot peg,right peg left hand turn,this technique is so important to keep the bike in the line by putting the weight down on peg,you can't do it with your arms,when I was 14 years old and dreaming of riding MX,I used to look at pictures of Marty Smith in MXA,and copy his body position in turns,it worked so well I found out after practicing it and really getting good at it,I could turn better on flat ground then most people could with the help of a berm.One warning thou when you do this technique on modern bike you'll get rewarded with a ton of grip when you accelerate out of turn be ready with clutch or rear brake to keep front wheel on the ground,you don't want big wheel,practice on flat ground racing around a couple tires spaced 35 or 40 feet a part,little oval track...safe and fun learn bike control ,you can move tires farther apart and add a third tire,the other problem new riders don't practice using rear brake in a right hand turn,first time they fall that's why they fall no rear brake action cause they worrying about putting their foot out first,so they don't brake and they fall over,easy way to avoid this is practice riding around standing up semi crouch position and ride around turns right and left feet up and get used to leaning the bike over smoothly till your comfy making turns with your feet on pegs,one thing you should start feeling is how your,bike starts and enters a corner,Honda,Yamaha,Kawasaki,Suzuki each one is a little different,you need to learn how your turns,and later slides,more practice,one thing makes motocross a little tricker than most other forms of motorcycle riding,is your almost always on loose dirt and got get comfortable with riding on changing surface,and grip.That's the thing I love about it most,challenging to say it least...

I was a cross country runner in middle-high school I loved the sport bc I love racing but sadly I blew my knee out in a race one time basically ruined any chances in having a college chance for cross country so I looked at any other things that involved racing and found motocross and having so much fun with it!

“Don’t ride over your head” I probably should have watched this before I did and broke my wrist

Nope, pretty much spot on. Only thing i would like to say is that under the ''have fun'' category, blockpasses falls in. Dont try to copy the pro's with those just becouse you have the chance, its just rude :P

heh a tip my old man used to always say is: if you ain't crashing you ain't going fast enough. you gotta always ride to that limit where your constantly on edge feeling like your about to be out of control and crash, then you will have learnt how to be in control at that speed the more you do it. a tip you forgot though is: be prepared. make sure everything is absolutely perfect, from kit preparation, to bike prep and have everything perfect the way you want it and so that you know that you have the correct tools for the job so that it's never in your mind when your racing. I once rode a race with my break lever up in the air after a crash simply because I didn't check the tightness of the nutts on the levers first, now I run them looser so if I go down I can move them back into position etc, every little thing helps.

Great video. My first ever MX gatedrop I let everyone go before me. I Hung out in the back of the pack and eventually started passing people from last place. I was super nervous and wanted to just get a feel for the race environment. I ended up racing the entire series of 10 races (20 motos) 7th place for the series. I raced super careful and only bumped bars a few times. Take your time someone will be faster than you, it is all about bettering yourself and getting comfortable on the track. My last 2 races I was getting the hole shot on a 30 bike lineup. Dont rush It! Build up at your own pace it is much safer. Once again enjoyed the video thanks!

I’ve been riding for 7 years now and all I’ve done are trail ridings/enduro events and I’ve always wanted to hit a double or send it on a track.

Hey I just had some really good stuff to share with you,tips for new rider racers, when I used to race also would safety flag,biggest mistake new rider make ,and keep falling back on same mistake,over and over is not looking up the track ,and ahead of where they are,mainly in berms,turns,if you look down while your in the rut your balance will be affected,pick the rut or berm out before you get to it.get your weight forward smoothly so front wheel stay where you put it then look out ahead of where your going practice this ,cause you can't ride to a place on track your not looking to,if you always look down at the ground right in front of your front wheel,that's probably where your going to end up.Amazingly as this sounds as I've seen vet riders 30 to 40 years old,come into corners,tired and start making same beginner mistake not looking ahead.And when I'm waving yellow caution flag for a crashed rider,I put the flag almost on the ground next to their front wheel when they are next to me ,in a corner,before they see it and finally look up at where they are going,jeeze l,I say to myself ,hi what do l want,oh nothing.get outta here,mama Mia...

My first race was on Friday and my first Moto I fell and sprained my ankle second Moto I came back and got one position ahead then my first Moto

My son started riding dirt bikes end of 4 years old. Started with a razor electric bike and is now on a 80cc auto dirtbike. We watch this video and others learning how to ride dirt bikes.

Thanks man! I'm gonna hit my first race at IMI this year around August or September

The nervous thing is very true. It's good to be nervous to an extent. Have that adrenaline rushing. Just like professional fighters. They're nervous and have a bunch of adrenaline pumping but it's a good kind. Use it to your advantage.

Few more tips... If you are leaning way too far back (touching rear fender) simply put a rock there and tape it. My dad taught me this and it actually helps. If you dont want to race anymore... simply just come off the track. Ive seen many riders just ride very slowly and ive done it myself and that can lead to a serious injury. Try to be better. This is a silly one i know but this is the best tip to be better. Just push yourself, try to be faster on one section. And so on because if you wont try to be better you will never be. Just as simple as that. If you know behind you someone who is faster than you then let him pass you. You will block him/her. Oh and if it is a competition then you have to do it only when he is a lap ahead of you Last tip Always wear safety gear. It is a must. You never know what is going to happen. Btw im 14. Last time i rode a motorcycle was when i was 6. These are just tips and they will help you. Oh and just to flex i have ridden with Stefan Everts’s son. Everts has taught me. Just so you know Edit: Stefan Everts is a 10x world champ and his instagram is s72forever go and check his instagram he has alot of cool posts about his son (the one i raced with). Btw Liam(his son) is riding emx125

hey deeo today we rode at rainbow falls and rode all the way to rampart range! we found the most badass single track. come ride with us at gold camp wednesday!!??

If your bike requires you to turn on the gas, make sure to check it at least 5 times. Maybe ask the rider next to you if you did it correctly, and then mention how you hope you don't loop it out like you do every time you practice your starts. Then ask the rider on the other side of you which way you should turn at the first turn. Ask them to refresh your memory that the levers on the bars are just like a bicycle, rear brake on the right, and the left side is the front brake. Is it 1 down and 4 up, or 1 up and 4 down, and which one of these is the gear changer thing, and what the heck is the other pedal for. They will either be to scared to take off when the gate drops, or laughing to hard.

My first race is soon just learning to keep in the power and coz I ride 2 stroke and I love riding it's one of my favourite sports i just like speed

deeo i have been riding with the new zealand no.1 cody cooper you might have seen on tv at the first 2 rounds of the outdoors this year but a big thing he said was to ride on the balls of your feet so you can lock your knees to the bike and atack a lot more easy

This will help me for sure! I’ll re watch this on my trip to my race!

working on the bike watching deeO

Its not really about being nervous it hat adrenaline starting to kick in lol

I like this very helpful,most important tip that you gave was hold your line sounds silly but this really is probably most important tip for new riders and first timers,another tip for first timers,and I've been riding for,God,almost 40 Years,I feel old say it,go to race and watch a race from the pits,and see and get close to all aspects ,mostly go over to starting gate,watch pros,intermediates,novices,and the class you might ride in,if the tracks aren't to far away,and if they are still go watch,its a lot to ask of yourself to go and ride a real motocross track for the first time,from a physical stand point its going to be a lot rougher than you expect,specially in the second moto ,and your probably going to be a little tired,plus a rougher track,can you see were I am going with this,fatigue and rough track not good...I really think, go and watch a local MX race first,before you race,there's whole rhythm to the day,and pace, be a spectator once or twice...I race motocross,and I road race also,I went to watch my first road race,purely as fan,not having any clue that I wanted to race.But these guys were just having a blast,compared to how defensive I was having to ride out on the street it was stressful and not fun.Any who MX is my first love anyway,starting line jitters,couple tips,again watch the starts,all classes,second focus on the gate and finding a straight rut off the line,a little distraction will help you focus,and relax breathing is key don't hold your breath,its a natural human reaction to stress,jumps you should really practice before you show up to race,its hard to find practice areas that have jumps,table tops are good start.My first jump,believe or not was a tree stomp,pretty good size to,little did I know till years later it would be the hardest type of jump I would ever do,it was the kicker from hell ,but it made me learn the launch attitude control,early,imagine hit a curb,very hard.Gary Bailey's Art of jumping video tape,changed my life,there is one small section of the video,where Gary shows some film of Ricky Johnson jumping this pretty easy double,the landing body position was the big secret,97 out of 100 professionals miss,and once I started moving my body properly ,more so shifting my weight,to proper spot on bike,at each crucial moment,approach,launch,in the air ,and then prep for landing,and landing,a lot of slow motion,repetition,you can't really see it in real time and the smoother a rider is the harder it is to observe,there a lot to learn about your bike before you jump it...Good job on video,hold you line,doesn't the group Toto sing that song,nice work.

Anyone that says they are not nervous is lying, just like he said everyone is in the same boat. Everytime I was on the gate last year I would have a mild freak out but it all goes away. And with having fun tip is most important. Go out and ride your own race. Yes you are racing and trying to do the best you but ride your own race.

Ok my first and only race I locked up and crashed and broke both of my legs. My parents said no more racing and dirt bikes. I luckily talked them into letting me get another bike. They won’t budge on racing. Have fun and be safe.

I'm getting a dirt bike and I will probably race and this helps a lot thanks

How to get better is push yourself out of your comfort zone the more u do that the better u will be. But just little bits at a time, don’t go out there and try to do upside down whips ur first practice laps because u will crash. Get a feel for racing then push urself to be better

Good video Deeo, 1st year racing already hooked!

Great video deeo very very helpful. Every step is well put. Thank you for the video 👍🏽

DeeO, thanks for making this video! I’m going to have my first race in a few weeks. I’ll be racing in the beginner/D class. Do you think that holeshot devices are necessary for beginner or casual racers?

Racing for the first time tomorrow. We will see how it goes!

This makes me feel better about myself

The biggest and best tip/trick is have fun 🤘🤘

Great video DeeO!!

The posted speed limit doesn't mean that you have to go that speed, It's just the limit you're not to exceed. So go at whatever speed feels comfortable to you.

My dad is a motocross super star!! And so is my mom and I have a dirtbike race tomaro

Thank you..i like your motivation..now i be confident for my race..good job bro👍

Solid advice deeo, no one wants a crushed calimari

I would say if your beginning you want to learn how to use your breaks and throttle control when you figure that out you will have more control your front break is 90% of your stopping power good to practice in cornering the back break and throttle control on jumps are used a lot start with small jumps and learn these controls and you will advance

100% true @ReturnOfDeeO there was a big ol step up that I didn't feel comfortable on hitting it but I hit it and my front wheel came up to high missed the bake brake then bailed and Broke my leg.

sick video I can relate to you too out of all of my 5 years of racing!!

This is great. racing red bluff this weekend

hey its my first time having a dirt bike but i have had 4 electric dirt bikes they all broke from me jumping so i upgraded to a pit bike can i race with a pitter?

Had my first race last sunday pretty much did everything you said except for contole over your bike i was on the race and spent 2 hours riding barran ground before that the track is much different and i came in last did have fun but if you want to race than like me spend more hours riding before you sign up though i had a great experiance also work out a lot these things tear you down in no time

After 45 year of riding the best thing i suggest is find a good used 80cc...kx 60 or honda crf 150 mini an practice an master that before u buy a yzr250 silver race bullet u dont ride them u point them an shoot them...get good on a mini then step to 2 stroke 125cc before u go to a modern 4 stroke real race bike...start small so if u crash the bike would pound u into the ground....a mini would do that...

when you trying to find tips for your first time in motocross track : --What do you expect to learn from the video -> gearing, gears of use, clutch control, how to jump, low speed, how to drive at corners and how you use clutch/gears etc, bike mods, bike adjustments, body positioning --What you actually see in every f@@@@ng video -> 1.have faith in yourself, 2.believe, 3.dont be afraid, 4.dont be stressed, 5.dont be nervous, 6.have fun

Stand up when jumping I'm a 10 year old motocrosser And my bike is called Ktm 65

Great video! Well explained.

I've got good positioning and stuff and I've been racing for 3 years on an 85 I just still am not great on mx jumps

I am 46 years old. I have never ridden a dirt bike but I have always been on the street bikes since I was 20. Do you have advice on me getting into this sport

I race the other day and got my first ever race win

Don't let anybody intimidate I race almost every weekend at all different clubs and a lot of people coming up beside you trying to put a scary voice can make you give your line up and hand over to the slower rider who puts on a stupid voice and also don't be afraid of trying to intimidate people yourself as it may get you an extra position or 2

I stoped motocrossing cause it was such an expensive hobby cause i fucking loved it maybe something to start again in the future

thanks for the tips i will think on it next time i ride ;D

Yah above all you had a good fun.. tnx for the advice idol

Great tips brother.

The thing about being nervous is wrong the more you line up the more it becomes natural, eventually it's like breathing air you forget to even be nervous because you're so used to doing it. I can tell you now eli tomac isnt nervous on a starting gate he has raced far more than I have and I've been in races since I was 4. The most important thing is to hold your line if your not that fast of a rider, I cant tell you how many times I've almost landed on people because they swap lines before the face of a jump and dont jump it. A good tip is to make sure your buying quality gear, dont go buy the cheapest shit you can find you wont be comfortable in it especially a helmet shop around and find one that fits good.

I’m 12 and I’ve just started riding for the first time in a while and I’ve never rode a motocross track cause there’s none near me but I’m going to one soon but I wanna know how I should do it properly so this really helps thanks 🙏 it is my dream to be a pro rider and to ride for Ktm but I don’t really believe in myself enough to Edit: it’s not gonna be a race obvs

The starts all ways get me, I race desert. I remember sitting at the start line watching for the flag to drop while it's dead silent because it's a dead engine start and my heart just starts pounding. One time my camera wasn't charged so I turned it on and while the flag was up and all the bikes were silent my camera beeped and turned off and I heard a spectator in the back ask what that was.

This is going to help me cause I'm racing soon

awesome deeo nice tips for people. is it ok I blame you for you ringing my dad up to go out ride his bikes with him aha na thanks man can't wait to get on a bike 😊😊

Tip #1 Buy a bike.

Do more top 5's, like 5 tips for cornering... And 1 question, I always feel to pull the clutch in in the corners, I dontnknow why! What am I doing wrong you think?! Thanks!

Nice video it helped me out, I ride the same track

All the great riders started pw 50s kx 60 kx80 an 125s up an up

On the track, if I am a slower rider, should I stay to the inside or the outside to avoid interfering with the fast riders? I also see this is a way to minimize the chance of getting landed on if I am over a jump and they can't see me leading up to it.

Here in Ohio we had 2 AMA districts 11 and 12 things have changed they have made the local tracks more rideable for all classes C B A and Amateur A pro use to have many track's I my self did make some Amateur National's