Travis Preston racing hangtown.

jleews6
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jleews6
Edited Date/Time 4/5/2013 8:17pm
This is great to see. I always liked TP and it's going to be good to see him back on the track.
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jleews6
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jleews6 4/4/2013 8:14pm
4/4/2013 8:14pm
WHY IM RACING HANGTOWN

Since my retirement in 2009, I have been coaching/training riders on the proper form and technique of riding a dirt bike. When I first started teaching, I had no idea what I was doing. I had raced a dirt bike professionally for many years, but I was really not focused on what I was doing. Most things I did just came naturally. I didn't really understand why I did certain things on the bike.

For me as a teacher, I needed to break down the whole process of riding a dirt bike. I wanted to be certain that what I was teaching was accurate. I had a 2009 YZ450 and nothing but time. I spent hours riding by myself, trying to understand why I ride the way that I do. I started with a simple technique like braking. I would try braking in different ways and in different conditions, to find the techniques that work the best. I would then watch videos of top Pro riders to see what techniques they were using. By studying myself and other riders, I began to understand there is a formula to riding a dirt bike.

I started riding with this formula every lap. I now had a plan for how I was going to use the brakes. I had a plan for how I was going to set up the turn. After repeating this planned process every lap, my lap times started to fall. I couldn't wait to get to the next lap to try and fix the mistakes I had made on the previous lap. I started to chase the perfect lap. I have been riding this way since 2010, and I'm getting faster as I get older.

I started testing for Yamaha last summer, which gave me another excuse to ride. We would test at local tracks in Southern California where Pros racing the nationals would be practicing. My speed felt good, and I was only riding once or twice a week. I felt with more time to ride, I could go even faster. So with the help of JGR and Yamaha, I have decided to race Hangtown. This is not a comeback or anything. My racing days are over. My future is training and teaching riders the proper way to ride a dirt bike. I'm only doing this to show that I can compete at a Professional level. If I can compete at a Professional level at the old age of 35 (God willing,) how fast could a young rider be if he listened to me and applied what I know?

I like to say, "To go fast on a motorcycle, you should learn from someone who has gone fast on a motorcycle."
Xeno
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Xeno 4/4/2013 8:18pm
4/4/2013 8:18pm
Eric Sorby just took his shirt off.
Matt Wozney
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Matt Wozney 4/4/2013 8:23pm
4/4/2013 8:23pm
Hangtown is getting more and more interesting....me likey.
disbanded
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disbanded 4/4/2013 8:24pm
4/4/2013 8:24pm
Bad ass

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Factoryphoto
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Factoryphoto 4/4/2013 8:34pm
4/4/2013 8:34pm
Im sure someone here knows TP or maybe he reads this himself but I rented hangtown on 4/12/13 for a private ride day with about 25 guys. Maybe TP can drive up and join us and get some time on the track. Just throwin it out there.
factoryphoto@gmail

Im pumped to see him ride he was always a beast.
AZ35
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AZ35 4/4/2013 8:38pm
4/4/2013 8:38pm
Xeno wrote:
Eric Sorby just took his shirt off.
Laughing Laughing
PADDY'S LAD
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PADDY'S LAD 4/4/2013 8:42pm
4/4/2013 8:42pm
Travis still hauls the mail. I was at milestone and he was on the gas on the main track. The guy can still light it up. I've always liked how he is very straight foreword with his comments on anything. Best of luck to you Travis !
JeepnMike
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JeepnMike 4/4/2013 8:44pm
4/4/2013 8:44pm
PADDY'S LAD wrote:
Travis still hauls the mail. I was at milestone and he was on the gas on the main track. The guy can still light it up...
Travis still hauls the mail. I was at milestone and he was on the gas on the main track. The guy can still light it up. I've always liked how he is very straight foreword with his comments on anything. Best of luck to you Travis !
His comment about Ferracci owing him some money after bring Husquavarna a SX win definitely shocked me!
TripleFive 4/4/2013 9:08pm
4/4/2013 9:08pm
Travis Preston is my kind of guy.
tonyb
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tonyb 4/4/2013 9:13pm
4/4/2013 9:13pm
Which class?
Choppy
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Choppy 4/4/2013 9:18pm
4/4/2013 9:18pm
This is cool. The 450 class at the first race will be highly entertaining. Hopefully it can keep the luster going throughout the series.
PADDY'S LAD
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PADDY'S LAD 4/4/2013 9:19pm
4/4/2013 9:19pm
PADDY'S LAD wrote:
Travis still hauls the mail. I was at milestone and he was on the gas on the main track. The guy can still light it up...
Travis still hauls the mail. I was at milestone and he was on the gas on the main track. The guy can still light it up. I've always liked how he is very straight foreword with his comments on anything. Best of luck to you Travis !
JeepnMike wrote:
His comment about Ferracci owing him some money after bring Husquavarna a SX win definitely shocked me!
Doesn't surprise me one bit. The whole truth and nothing but the truth! That's just the way he is. Wish more people were like that.
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jeffro503 4/4/2013 10:01pm
4/4/2013 10:01pm Edited Date/Time 4/4/2013 11:17pm
Whoa! This is some pretty cool news indeed! I'm happy for the guy and hopes he has a great showing. Who knows.......maybe if he puts in a good solid race.....he may want to do a couple more? I'm with you guys.....always liked Travis. Very honest......and says some of the corniest shit! Smile
Lightning78
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Lightning78 4/4/2013 10:32pm
4/4/2013 10:32pm
Matt Wozney wrote:
Hangtown is getting more and more interesting....me likey.
Yes it is ......even if most of these comebacks are for hangtown, its going to be a sweet day for moto. My parents live a little over an hour from hangtown I'm gonna get a 2-fer. Visit the family and hit the race ....both are gonna be awesome
gotwings
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gotwings 4/4/2013 11:05pm
4/4/2013 11:05pm
Good luck, Travis! Just remember old guys don't bounce like young guys!!!
haydos25
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haydos25 4/4/2013 11:17pm
4/4/2013 11:17pm
Didn't he wax Ryno and tedesco from a fair way back at the vets race last year? Sounds like he's not getting slower.
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pacman00 4/5/2013 6:41am
4/5/2013 6:41am
last time i saw him at glen helen his corner speed was incredible. he definately still has it. super smooth style as always.

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jamma10
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jamma10 4/5/2013 7:03am
4/5/2013 7:03am
Guess Preston was the ex-Pro rider that Kenny Watson mentioned wanted to return to racing on PulpMX a while back then?
MT MX
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MT MX 4/5/2013 7:11am
4/5/2013 7:11am
haydos25 wrote:
Didn't he wax Ryno and tedesco from a fair way back at the vets race last year? Sounds like he's not getting slower.
He battled with Ryno both moto's barely beating him. Hot Sauce was a ways back, on a PC two fiddy. I think that was one of his first times back on the bike after his accident in the Lites Nationals last year.
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GuyB 4/5/2013 9:00am
4/5/2013 9:00am
If you want to check in with Travis, you can follow his journey at Travisprestonmx.com
Markout
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Markout 4/5/2013 9:29am
4/5/2013 9:29am
All the things he said he has done to learn why he does what he does, like watching tape of other pro riders, and practicing lap after lap.... shouldn't he have been doing this when he raced?

I would think all top amateurs, and professional riders would be doing this.
dboivin
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dboivin 4/5/2013 9:36am
4/5/2013 9:36am
man, totally blew it. i skimmed the headline and jumped in....thought travis pastrami was making a comeback. got like 6 posts in before someone actually said "travis preston" in the thread and reality hit me.
BAMX
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BAMX 4/5/2013 10:35am
4/5/2013 10:35am Edited Date/Time 4/5/2013 10:36am
Crisp BRAAAP! wrote:
TP
TP takes out JLaw....VitalMX implodes later that evening
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COAL-TRAIN 4/5/2013 11:11am
4/5/2013 11:11am
jleews6 wrote:
WHY IM RACING HANGTOWN Since my retirement in 2009, I have been coaching/training riders on the proper form and technique of riding a dirt bike. When...
WHY IM RACING HANGTOWN

Since my retirement in 2009, I have been coaching/training riders on the proper form and technique of riding a dirt bike. When I first started teaching, I had no idea what I was doing. I had raced a dirt bike professionally for many years, but I was really not focused on what I was doing. Most things I did just came naturally. I didn't really understand why I did certain things on the bike.

For me as a teacher, I needed to break down the whole process of riding a dirt bike. I wanted to be certain that what I was teaching was accurate. I had a 2009 YZ450 and nothing but time. I spent hours riding by myself, trying to understand why I ride the way that I do. I started with a simple technique like braking. I would try braking in different ways and in different conditions, to find the techniques that work the best. I would then watch videos of top Pro riders to see what techniques they were using. By studying myself and other riders, I began to understand there is a formula to riding a dirt bike.

I started riding with this formula every lap. I now had a plan for how I was going to use the brakes. I had a plan for how I was going to set up the turn. After repeating this planned process every lap, my lap times started to fall. I couldn't wait to get to the next lap to try and fix the mistakes I had made on the previous lap. I started to chase the perfect lap. I have been riding this way since 2010, and I'm getting faster as I get older.

I started testing for Yamaha last summer, which gave me another excuse to ride. We would test at local tracks in Southern California where Pros racing the nationals would be practicing. My speed felt good, and I was only riding once or twice a week. I felt with more time to ride, I could go even faster. So with the help of JGR and Yamaha, I have decided to race Hangtown. This is not a comeback or anything. My racing days are over. My future is training and teaching riders the proper way to ride a dirt bike. I'm only doing this to show that I can compete at a Professional level. If I can compete at a Professional level at the old age of 35 (God willing,) how fast could a young rider be if he listened to me and applied what I know?

I like to say, "To go fast on a motorcycle, you should learn from someone who has gone fast on a motorcycle."
I miss this guy!
Motocross83 4/5/2013 11:22am
4/5/2013 11:22am
That's good news and another point of interest for the first National. Be cool if he does well - no idea how fast is these days so I won't hazard a guess. But yeah I hope he does good.
40Plus_922mx
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40Plus_922mx 4/5/2013 11:34am
4/5/2013 11:34am
Once again, as much as I respect the hell out of TP he will be shocked at how fast the whole group is going.
Bodybag
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Bodybag 4/5/2013 12:05pm
4/5/2013 12:05pm
Not trying to spam or hijack this thread, but we had Travis on our show a few weeks ago. As expected, he was full of character and never short of words as we talked in depth about salaries, memories, battles, mini donkeys, and of course his TravisPrestonMX.com Motocross. School. If you're a TP fan like we are it's worth a listen.

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