Ping,
As someone who is in the know, allow me to riddle you this: I'm sure on some level (ranging from minor to extreme) racers deal with being nervous on the line, before the race, during the practicing sessions, etc. All the weight on their shoulders has to be a lot to bear day-in and day-out. I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks in my life from time to time and it has really put a damper on my riding lately.
How do riders deal with it? Do the top guys in the sport deal with it at any kind of debilitating level and they just "man up and get over it?" Anxiety disorders are real, and I miss riding every weekend and often 2-3 times a week for fear of panic attacks. They're no fun in the middle of the desert/woods/20-minute motos. Sadly, I've been there.
Bring on 2015!
Peter
Peter,
Anybody who has ever lined up on a gate full of riders at a motocross race has experienced anxiety at some level. Some racers love that feeling while others go into a full-on freak-out, breathing into a paper bag and scream crying before the night show starts. I wasn’t the only one who did that, was I? Hey, don’t judge me; professional racing is scary. Look, it sounds like you have some deep-seeded issues that you need to talk to a specialist about because you shouldn’t be freaking out while you’re riding your bike out in the woods. In fact, that is one of the few activities that will typically clear your mind and force you to focus only on what you are doing at that moment; that is one of the things I love about riding. Have you tried having a friend just shake the crap out of you and maybe give you a couple good smacks across the face when you start to wind up? I always picture that scene in the classic movie Airplane where passengers are lining up with their weapon of choice to have a go at the old lady freaking out in coach. If that doesn’t do the trick I would suggest working on your breathing. We have a great deal of control over our heart rates, blood pressure, and mental condition if we can control our breathing and get to a calm state of mind. That might be easier said than done for you, but it is something you should be working on. Hope you figure things out before you miss too much riding.
Happy New Year
PING
Ping,
Much has been said about the current numbering system in AMA racing (mostly from people who don't like it). I realized though that I don't have a clue what FIM's system is, and I am curious what Villopoto's number will be. I am guessing that he won't be able to keep his number 2, but will he be able to choose his own number or will he be assigned one?
Thanks
Kyle
Nor-Cal
Kyle,
I don’t know what Ryan’s number will be next year, but my guess would be #2. Speaking of #2, you know that saying about where a bear takes a dump in the woods? The answer is ‘Anywhere he wants to’ and I imagine the promoters of that series will bend over backwards to make him happy, even if that means telling some techno-pumping Euro who currently uses the #2 that he needs to pick something new. Quick update: I just sent Ryan a text and he says he will indeed be running the big deuce next year in the GPs. There you have it.
PING
Ping,
Chad Reed tweeted something from a Cairoli interview where he basically says, and I’m paraphrasing here, that hiring a trainer is a waste of money and you need to figure out what your body needs to be ready to race. Do you agree with that? Seems like guys with trainers [RV, Dungey, Reed, Stewart, etc] have done pretty well over the years here in the States.
Bob A. Ganoosh
Bob,
It’s crazy how much the sport has evolved in this area in the last twenty years. Back when I first turned pro in 1993 there weren’t many trainers in the sport. Jeff Spencer was the only legit guy, and his program consisted of very rudimentary strength training and cardio exercises. Think Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1970s. Surprisingly, retired pros weren’t around to take new riders under their wings and help them understand how things worked as a professional. Johnny O’Mara started that trend when he partnered with Ricky Carmichael in 1997, which really started a movement in the sport. Pro riders came out of the woodwork after that trying to get in on the action. Side note: If you haven’t picked up a copy of the critically acclaimed Motocross 101 DVD please get online and do so immediately! Before long any washed up bag of crap who once almost qualified for a national at his local track was pushing riding lessons and training programs, and over-zealous mini dads were flocking to them like they had the only lighter in a crack house.
I think there is a very real value to rookie pro racers in partnering with a successful former professional to help them understand how things operate in the professional arena, and to realize just how hard they will have to work if they want to be successful. There is also a surplus of former bicycle racers and mediocre pro racers who are just trying to cash in on the latest trend in the sport. I’m sure Cairoli has had trainers throughout his career who have helped him understand how to train and to figure out what type of training works for him. At this stage in his career he can probably do the work on his own. Chad Reed has worked with many different trainers, including Jeff Spencer, to get to where he is today. They might say they can do it on their own but even excellent climbers hire a Sherpa to scale Everest.
PING
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