Racing is a brutal, physically demanding exercise. The amount of riding, training and physical exertion that elite level racers put in can’t be understated. Their whole lives are centered around results on the weekends. Every decision, whether big or small, is touched by some aspect of racing. What to eat, when to sleep, what to drink or not drink, and where they live are just a few of the never ending factors directly determined by this racing life. Being fit and strong enough to battle through two long motos is vitally important and what drives these guys to work so hard in their daily life. Arguably the most important component of racing, however, is the mental side. It can also be the hardest to figure out. There are sports psychologists and mental coaches popping up more and more as athletes become increasingly aware of the mind’s power.
In the 250 class, Alex Martin’s rise has taken everyone by surprise. An eight-year veteran, we all thought we had AMart figured out. He is as solid as they come. He’s fit, smart, and a lock for solid top ten finishes. He may not have the blinding speed to win races but he is going to deliver consistent results and stay healthy all year. He may not ever win a title like his brother but he is the type of rider that every team needs.
Well, that’s what we thought we knew about Alex Martin.
What Alex Martin has taught us the past three weeks is that he’s not satisfied with being a solid, predictable, reliable rider. He has shown elite level speed, passing riders on his way to the front in any situation. He has passed his champion brother multiple times now and so far Jeremy hasn’t had much of an answer, despite having the number-one plate on his bike.
In the second moto on Saturday, Alex chased down leader Joey Savatgy and looked to be on his way to victory. In those laps when Alex was closing, both of the riders’ minds had to be in overdrive. What happened when Alex caught up is what I find so interesting and here’s why: as Alex got within striking distance on Joey, it became a battle of wills. Joey had to realize that Alex was coming and that’s never a good feeling. The lead rider always has to fight off the demons creeping into their mind, begging you to give in and succumb to doubt. Alex was coming off of his first overall win of his career and while he surely wanted to win, I am not sure that he “expected” to win.
That’s where the mental battle exists. Who has the mental edge? Alex is not the Martin brother that Joey Savatgy would be most easily intimidated by. When you have a two-time and defending champion bearing down on you, it’s hard to stay positive. But this was Alex, not Jeremy, Martin. Deep down, I truly feel that Joey was able to regroup and refocus because he believes he is better than the elder Martin. His instinct said that he wasn’t supposed to be beaten by Alex so his confidence rebounded and he picked up his pace accordingly. Had it been Jeremy on his rear wheel, maybe things would have been different. That’s the unanswerable but highly debatable topic. Would Joey’s response have been different if the Martin brothers had been switched? Joey believed he was and is better than Alex so he found determination and resolve in that. His confidence may not have been as unfaltering if being hounded by the #1 plate.
For Alex, I feel he is still sorting through this newfound success. He’s had years and years of decent finishes but not elite-level results and wins, and that takes time to mentally overcome. His preconceived expectations are a work in progress and as he approached Joey, he was probably happy with how things were going versus the killer instinct that long-time winners possess. That can certainly change and if Alex can continue this level, it will.
As I watched those two chase each other around, I could feel the “I’m not quite sure I am supposed to win” coming from Alex and the “you’re not better than me” coming from Joey. It’s just the instinctual thought processes occurring in the middle of the chaos, but it can be the difference between winning and losing. Alex is learning that he belongs at the front and he will naturally expect more from himself. Self-realization and self-analysis can take time to sink in, though, with so many years of previous results forming tough-to-break opinions even if they are of one’s own self.
For Alex, believing in his own abilities sooner than later may be the deciding factor for his championship hopes. To win, above all else, Alex has to believe he is the best, he has to expect that he can and will win every time the gate drops. As the late Muhammad Ali once said, “Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”