Talent?

I'm not a big believer in talent or at least not the way its perceived by the majority of people. I think its a cop-out for a lot of people. They subconsciously give up long before they've even given themselves a chance because they think they're not talented.

If you look at someone like Travis Pastrana who has managed to win a Supercross championship, multiple X-Games medals in freestyle and now the American Rally Car championship. I find it hard to believe that when he was born, God said, "I think I will give little Travis awesome skills in Supercross, Rally car driving and freestyle".
I think Travis could do well in anything he put his hand to, providing he had the passion and desire to do it. He probably isn't very passionate about tennis. The reason I believe people like Travis manage to be successful over and over again is because they have an over-whelming amount of self belief and desire.

Desire is the one thing I don't think you can manufacture. I've done a lot of different sports and hobbies up to now and although I have enjoyed them I don't think I've ever had an intense desire to do them. I like to think its different with motocross. Things certainly feel different compared to anything else I've done especially in the way of competition. I've never been this excited about competing before.

Do I have talent or natural ability, who knows? What I do know is that I have an intense desire to this and get good at it and maybe that's all I need to become 'talented'.

"We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents."
Eric Hoffer
1902-1983, Author of The True Believer

Its a no go

I did about 7 hours of driving this weekend and didn't get to ride my bike once. The race was cancelled due to the track being in a terrible state after all the rain we had. I'm hoping to go to Peakdale tomorrow night but the weather forecast isn't looking good.

The good thing is that after this weekend there is racing for three weeks on the trot. June is going to be awesome.

The Desert

Yesterday I finally got to go to 'The Desert'. I had been hearing about this legendary place for a while now. A lot of top British riders frequent this spot and apparently Jeremy Mcgrath rode it when he came over for the Sheffield supercross.

I picked up Ryan Mason from his house at about 5pm and we headed off. The place is in Mansfield some where and its basically an old quarry surrounded by forests. It was quite an adventurous drive getting there but the Citroen van did us proud.

There are two tracks, the main track and a smaller track. I say track, Its a series of turns which can change from day to day. We rode the main track first which is very deep sand. The straights are very bumpy and most of them could probably pass off as whoop sections. With it being deep, you've got to be on the power and lent back all the time so that your front wheel doesn't dig in.
I was quite impressed with myself at how well I coped. I did a few motos on the big circuit and didn't go down once.
We then moved to the smaller track which isn't quite as deep. I started off quite well and started going quicker each lap until I got to about the 5th lap and went down 3 times. The good thing about sand is that you don't really get hurt when you go down, its just very tiring having to pick the bike up each time.



We stayed on the small track for the rest of the time. Mason had go on the 2 stroke and after a few laps of warm-up was looking very quick. I did a few more motos and lost count of the times I came off. It was good though because I was trying different techniques in the corners and just getting more comfortable (and cocky) on the bike.

We rode until sundown and then headed home. Its definitely one of my most enjoyable sessions to date and I shall definitely be going back.

Roadie thinking

I went out last night on the road bike with a few friends. I much prefer it to running and now that the weather has improved and its not getting dark until after 9pm, I hope to do a lot more of it. Sheffield is amazing for cycling but its almost impossible to do an easy ride, its just too hilly.

I was thinking last night that road riding is such a good exercise, not just physically but mentally. In so many other sports, motocross included, its so easy to pull off when things get tough but when you're 30 miles from home and you have no other choice but to cycle back, you can't give up. What I have found through road riding is that the mind often gives up long before the body ever does. As soon as you start to think you can't do something or things are getting too tough then your body automatically follows.

When I'm out on the road and things start getting tough I don't let it get to my head or else the rest of the ride will be so much harder. Our bodies are an amazing piece of kit and we forget too easily what they're really capable of doing until we make the conscious decision not to give up but to press on and push through.

I'm going to start thinking more like this when I'm on the motocross bike.

Starting out

Yesterday I went to Worksop. I hadn't been there in a while and I thought It would be good to practice some starts. I also thought it would be a perfect place to take my friend Dan and teach him how to ride a motorcycle.

Worksop is a really big piece of land so we were able to find a nice quiet piece of flat ground where I could practice some starts and where Dan could learn to ride.

First off I tried a few starts with both feet on the ground and then a few with one foot up. My starts were definitely a lot better with both feet on the ground. I made a few improvements and Dan took some videos of me that I have now reviewed at home which will help the next time I practice them.

Dan did really well. He learnt to pull off and change gear in no time. I think he had a lot of fun. Anyone who has ridden a motocross bike will know that once you've done it once, its in your blood for life and its a feeling that you will never forget.

We finished off the day with some corner practice. Picture courtesy of DC.

SL74

Have you ever met or spoken to someone who's life completely inspires you? Its not their words but their actions that speak so loudly its almost deafening. The sheer determination and the fantastic ability to overcome the impossible to live a meaningful life that inspires the people they come into contact with to press on and overcome the hurdles in their lives which will ultimately make them stronger.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking to one of these people. Simon Lawson, number 74, motocross rider. He has lived for motocross since the age of three and he's pretty damn quick. He's also quick to help anyone out he can.
In 2001 Simon broke his back and was paralyzed from the chest down. He hasn't let this stop him from living an awesome life. He grows more and more passionate about life and riding everyday.

Simon is a big inspiration to me and has left a mark on my motocross journey. I look forward to the day when I have the priviledge of riding with him.

New bars

Before I left work yesterday it started raining quite hard and by the time I got home it was still raining hard so I decided to give Peakdale a miss and fit my new bars.

The model I got was the RC HIGH. Most bars are around 90mm high but these are 119mm , so really good if you're tall. I looked for this model in the UK and no one seemed to stock it which is why I had to order it from America.
I really like them and I can already feel a big difference just sitting on the bike. I also got to fit my new Renthal Kevlar grips that DC got me which I had been saving. I think it looks factory.

Oh yeah, Alec Townley, one of my mates has started a blog, check it out here.

How tall are you?

Yesterday was exciting. I got home and there in the bike room was a nice big box from America.
I had ordered a few things which I couldn't get hold of here in England. The two main items were a set of high Renthal twinwall bars and a Factory Effex tall seat.
When I got my bike I said I wasn't going to 'bling' it out with lots of after market parts or do any engine mods as I believe the bike in its standard form is more than enough for most riders.

However after some discussion with coach Cooper a while back, we came to the conclusion that I would definitely benefit from some higher bars and a tall seat. So we classed these as essentials.

I'm going practicing again this evening. It hasn't really stopped raining so I presume it will be the same as last Sunday. I'm up for it though, one last ride with my standard seat and bars.

Come rain or shine

Well the weather hasn't been great the last week, it rained everyday. Sunday came round and guess what... it was raining. All my gear and bike was prepped and I had a hard time making the decision whether or not to go out and practice at Peakdale.

Then an image came into my head of Ricky Carmichael at one of the outdoor nationals last year. He made history when the weather took a turn for the worst and he ended up lapping the entire field. While everyone was struggling in the mud he was cruising round.

Its so easy to only go out when the conditions are perfect but I know there will come a time when the weather takes a turn for the worst at a race and I want to be prepared. Needless to say Peakdale was in a pretty bad state. Some of the sections were very deep and some of the ruts were so deep my footpegs were catching. I really enjoyed it though and I think at the end of the session I was definitely a better rider. So from now on I will never let the weather put me off. I dont care if its raining or shining, its all practice at the end of the day.

On friday and saturday I went on a little road trip down to London with DC. It was a really enjoyable trip and we had some great conversations. Its funny how you can travel with some people for hours on end and you will always have something to talk about. I guess its just a by product of great friendship. Its a really good feeling to know I have friends I can count on come rain or shine.

Secret Goals

I got my results for the Pilsworth race today and I actually finished 12th in my last race and 12th overall. I was really happy.

I think setting goals is definitely important when you really want to make a success out of something no matter what level you're on. One of my first goals is to finish top 10 in a YMSA meeting. I really believe that will happen very soon.

I do have some much higher goals though, however I think its wise not too share them just yet. Mostly out of self preservation as I think people might think I'm crazy if I had to share them at this point. Its important that I have them though as they will be a great driving force with in my journey. I think if you place to much focus on the smaller short term goals, it actually takes longer to overcome them because they become the end point or conclusion to your journey.

I worked with a guy called Marc for just over a year and he was someone I had a lot of respect for. He was a really good business man and visionary. He once shared one of his business goals which was absolutely huge. I had never heard of a goal that was that ambitious from anyone I knew personally. By the time he finished I was pretty convinced that he could possibly reach it and then he said, "at the end of the day, even if I don't fully accomplish it in my lifetime, if I get any where close, that would be awesome". Aim High!

There is a lot more behind this and I will definitely go into it more in future posts but for now I have some short term goals which my friends and family (and readers of this blog) know about and then I have my secret goals.

Here is a poster I got given years ago. It still hangs in my room to this day.

Pilsworth

I went to Pilsworth not knowing what to expect. No one seemed to know what the track was like and there was no coach Cooper present but I was keen to get another race under my belt.

I found the place easily (thanks to satnav). I pulled up next to a big white van and it happened to be Ben Trumen's van who I had been speaking to on the MXUK forums the week before. His dad walked up to me with a big smile and said in a thick Yorkshire accent, "You that tall New Zealander our Ben's been talking to on t'interweb". I just nodded and smiled. Ben and his family were really sound and his dad later apologised for calling me a New Zealander. It was really good to have some friendly people to talk to during the day.

I walked the track and it looked really fun. The track was quite tight and there were some really steep off camber turns. There was a really nice step down jump which I was able to clear in practice and then there was a massive step down which went into a big bomb hole. I had to slow down a bit for this in order to do a small jump off the take off onto the platform below and then another jump into the bomb hole. The good guys were just clearing the platform and jumping straight into the bomb hole.

My first heat went really well. With it being a championship round there were a lot more riders then there were at my first race, about 20 plus. I felt good the whole race and was really surprised how much my fitness had improved. I ended up battling with a guy on a crf250 and on the last lap I pulled an awesome block pass on him on the second last corner. I finished 14th.

In my second heat my start was terrible and I was right at the back. I felt good again and and just tried to ride as smooth as possible. After two laps I caught and passed two riders and then went down in the next corner. I got up as quickly as I could without stalling the bike. I managed to catch them again and pass them. This time I never went down and managed to catch another two riders before the end of the race. Again I was really impressed with my fitness.

I have to thank my girlfriend Hannah for coming to watch me and marshaling. Marshaling isn't the greatest job in the world especially when its cold. I went to go stand with her before my last race. Her spot was just opposite the big bomb hole step down I had mentioned earlier. While I was standing with her I knew deep down that I needed to have a crack at it and if I went home without trying it I would be annoyed with myself.

My last heat came and I was still feeling good. I felt a bit nervous knowing that I had to try the big step down. The gate dropped and I got my best start of the day. I settled down chasing someone. After two laps of chasing I was right behind him and my opportunity came in the corner just before the big step down. I came up next to him and pinned it. I hit the take off as fast as I could and passed the rider in the air whilst clearing the step down. It was such a good feeling. I must have easily gained a second or two every lap by doing that. I managed to catch and pass another rider by the end and finished in 13th place.

The day was a complete success and my confidence has gone up no end. I felt so much better compared to my first race at Sherwood. I still can't believe how much fun it is. I can't wait for the next race. Ben won all his heats so he was super stoked. I'm not sure what my overall position was as the results page had either been nicked or blown away. I'll be able to check on the net soon.

Bolehills prep

I spent this morning making sure everything was prepped for tomorrow's race. I went and bought a small tool chest so that I could take some tools to the race. Up to now, coops has always had his tool box to take along.

After I had finished getting everything ready I rolled down to Bolehills BMX track to take in some sunshine and see how my injured hand was feeling. My hand still isn't 100%, I'm still struggling to hold on with my small right finger but its a lot better then it was. Hopefully the adrenaline should get me through tomorrow. I felt good on the BMX today and even jumped the first 4 on my brother's mini racing BMX.

I'm pretty excited about the race. Its another chance to improve. A quote from Mr Soichiro Honda, “Racing improves the breed.”

Lets go racing

Well yesterday after speaking to Coops it looked as though I might not be riding this weekend. He is still too busy with work and his bike isn't running either. Mason has gone to Vegas to catch the last round of the Supercross (bastard) and Jack still has a broken collar bone. My two closest practice tracks are closed.
So last night the thought came to me, I might as well go racing. There is a YMSA (the club that I am apart of) race this weekend at a track called Pilsworth. No one I know has ever ridden there so I have no idea what the track is like. We'll just have to wait and see. Lets go racing!

A Lack of Motivation

This week has been the first week since I got my motocross bike that I have found it really hard to do fitness training.

Its really strange and I wonder why it happens sometimes. My main motivation to get fit is so that I can become a better rider. My passion for riding is still going strong, I can't wait to ride this weekend, yet for some reason I'm finding it hard to get out and train.

Well this evening I managed to get myself out the door and go for a nice hard run. I have a route that I normally run and time myself. Its quite hilly and really gets my heart rate up. A third of the way into the run I felt quite tired and slow and my first thought was that I had lost some fitness. Half way through the run I checked my stop watch and it didn't look too bad, much better than I thought it would be. By this time I managed to find a nice rhythm and set a good pace right until the end. I checked my finishing time and I had beaten my best time for that course by 13 seconds. I did some skipping sessions after the run and finished it off with some light powerballing to loosen up my hand.

I now feel motivated to keep training again.