Why Racing Different Motocross Tracks Makes You a Better Rider

By Nick McBride | FlowVision

One thing I’ve really enjoyed about this summer is getting away from the same routine and just going racing.

Not chasing one big event. Not worrying about where we “need” to be. Just loading up the van, traveling as a family, finding new motocross tracks and seeing where the trip takes us.

Over the last couple weeks, that’s meant racing Fiddler Creek, heading to Lincoln Track & Trail, and then making our way toward Wyoming.

And honestly, I think riding and racing different tracks is one of the best things you can do for a young motocross rider.

Every Motocross Track Teaches You Something Different

It’s easy to get comfortable at your home tracks.

You know where the bumps develop. You know which ruts usually form. You know the jumps, the dirt and sometimes even exactly where you want to pass.

Then you pull into a track you’ve never seen before and all of that goes out the window.

You have to learn quickly.

Different dirt. Different ruts. Different jumps. Different starts. Different lines.

That forces a rider to actually read the track instead of just memorizing it.

As a moto dad, I love watching that process with Landon. Sometimes he figures a track out immediately. Other times it takes a couple motos. Either way, he’s learning something.

You Don't Have to Be at a National to Get Better

Motocross has become so focused on the big amateur nationals that sometimes I think we forget how valuable a good local race can be.

You don't need 40 riders on the gate and a national championship on the line every weekend to improve.

A new track with 10 fast kids can teach you plenty.

There's also something to be said for racing when the pressure isn't through the roof.

Go battle with some new kids. Try different lines. Work on starts. Race an extra class. Make some mistakes.

Then go back to the trailer, grab something to eat and have fun with your family.

That's still motocross.

Racing New Competition Is Good for Kids

One of my favorite parts of traveling for motocross is meeting people we probably never would have met otherwise.

Every area has fast kids.

When you race outside your normal series, you don't know exactly where you stack up. You don't know everyone's tendencies. You don't know who is going to send it into the first corner.

I think that's good.

It makes kids adapt instead of racing the same five or ten riders every weekend.

And when the gate drops, none of the Instagram followers, hype or expectations matter anyway.

You've got a track in front of you and a bunch of kids who want to beat you.

Figure it out.

The Family Part Matters Too

This is probably the biggest thing for me.

We're obviously a motocross family. We spend a ridiculous amount of time around motorcycles, tracks, gear, motocross goggles and race trailers.

But these trips are also our vacations.

We get to drive through parts of the country most people would probably never have a reason to visit. We find places to eat, camp, fish, mess around and meet families from completely different parts of the country.

Years from now, I doubt we're going to remember every moto finish.

We're going to remember the trips.

That's a big reason I've tried to stop looking at every weekend as another step toward some bigger race.

Sometimes the race is the destination.

Good Vision Matters on an Unfamiliar Track

There is a practical side to racing new tracks too.

When you don't know the terrain, being able to clearly see what's developing in front of you matters even more.

Dust, changing light, shadows, mud and roost can completely change throughout a race day.

That's exactly why we put so much emphasis on motocross lenses and tear-offs.

A good pair of motocross goggles isn't supposed to be something you're thinking about while you're riding. They should fit comfortably, stay in place and give you a clear view of what's ahead.

For younger racers, our FlowVision Youth Motocross Goggles are built specifically around the fit and needs of youth riders.

And when conditions turn muddy, our FlowVision motocross accessories and Element Film Systems give riders another option for keeping their vision clear.

Whether you're racing your home track for the hundredth time or pulling onto a track you've never seen before, that's the job.

Go Race Somewhere New

If your kid has been racing the same series and riding the same tracks all year, pick a weekend and go somewhere different.

It doesn't have to be a huge race.

Honestly, sometimes the smaller races are better.

Find a track you've never been to. Load the bikes. Bring the family. Don't worry about points or qualifying for anything.

Just go race.

You might come home with a better rider.

More importantly, you might come home with a pretty damn good family memory.

That's what we're doing right now, and I'm loving it.

See you guys at the track.

— Nick
FlowVision

Faith. Family. Moto.