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But you can say what you want, even those guys have/had to work their ass of to get some results and championships
However, there is a huge difference between a highly athletic person and a highly emotionally intelligent and athletic person. The latter are usually the people that go on to have stellar careers and accomplish great things. Talent can take people a long way until they are faced with people of equal talent. That's when emotional intelligence plays a considerable role in whether that talent actually succeeds.
I can point out half a dozen pro motocross guys who are extraordinarily talented but very clearly a bit weak in the head game.
In my opinion, someone with natural talent out the wazoo can win some races when things are just right...but they may not have what it takes to endure the pain & maintain a points lead in order to be a champion. Look at Kevin Windham. Truckloads of natural talent. Won lots of races. Never a champion...at least not in the premier class. I don't think Ricky Carmichael or Jeff Stanton either one were loaded with natural talent. But they worked their absolute asses off to overcome that & to become champions.
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It really shouldn't be a newsflash that we all have gifts in different areas, but its really that simple. That's why there are great welders, fabricators, engine builders, etc.... and then the rest of us mere mortals who are just ok.
That's why its important to try new stuff. You never know what you'll be great at until you try. Case in point, I'm going to try tinting the windows in my car this weekend. It may be a waste of my time/money, then again, maybe I'll surprise myself!
And I really do think that's an issue for Dungey. I think he's definitely able to "go with the flow" when he's not loaded down mentally. But he's an overthinker, and the more he stews in his anxieties, the less able he is to "get into the zone."
Motorcycles were invented in 1885. Based on the current data, humans in our current form have been on Earth about 200,000 years. Where exactly during those 200,000 years did we evolve the "natural ability" to ride a dirt bike better than our fellow humans? I prefer the Doctor's explanation....."There are simply those who train their bodies and minds longer, more precisely, more deliberately, and harder than everyone else."
Everyone is born with an inherited set of genes that provide a general shape for how their brain is going to work. Each person is slightly different, but the generally accepted theory is that 50% of a child's ability in any given area (memory, reaction time) is due to their genetics. The other 50% is molded through the environment, like learning, practice, and nutrition. So, for people like Tomac (father John was a mtb champion) he is born with a skillset that others do not necessarily have at birth. You also have guys like Broc Hepler (loads of natural talent and work ethic) but the environment (crashing) reduced his ability to fully use his talent.
A key area of the brain for motoctoss is the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain is right behind your forehead and was the most recent part of the brain to evolve. This part of our brain makes us human and separates us from animals as it is responsible for things like logical reasoning, working memory, problem solving, planning, impulse control, emotional control, and more.
Impulse control is pretty obvious. Some people are way more impulsive than others on and off the track. We've all seen someone at a local track decide to huck a jump way out of their league for seemingly no reason. Pro riders have to know when to strike for a pass at any moment, but they can't be impulsive and crash. A big par of impulse control is reaction time. Reaction time is huge in motocross. Riders are rocketing around rutted tracks with rocks, jumps, and other riders. There is no time to hesitate if your rear tire kicks out of a rut, of if a lapped rider cuts in front of you. Riders who react at appropriate times (not impulsively) and quickly are some of the most successful at navigating the tracks.
Working memory is how many things a person can remember at one time, like when a rider is approaching a rhythm section he will likely be more successful if he can remember what all 9 (or however many) obstacles are in the section, what rhythms options are available, and the potential times of each option based on the track conditions and position of other riders. Planning is obviously a large component of this as well. Planning can also be important if a rider is pacing their self, planning how/when/where to pass a rider, or how to maintain a lead if you have to ride defensive.
Problem solving is also big in our sport. Riders are continually problem solving as the track deteriorates, riders move around them, and their own body tires. A large part of this is remaining relatively calm (emotional control) when things don't go ideally, such as a bad start, a crash, or maybe a rider brake checks you. Think of Webb / Savatgy in 2016 at Washougal. Did emotions get out of hand? Would a cooler head have handled that situations (And taken the lead?) in a different way?
I hope my post was at least somewhat helpful.
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