Mental side of riding and racing

generally watching someone do it who is the same skill or sometimes even less skilled then me helps get over that mental gap.  like okay if dipshit over here is clearing that i know i can😂 also if its for jumps i find focusing on the corner before helps me alot.  like okay im not even thinking about the jump just hit the corner as perfect and as fast as possible, and this usually gives you enough speed to clear said obstacle.

90% of motocross is 60% mental. Or something like that. I was back at the track yesterday after 11 months off from a big injury. I tried riding a couple times a few months ago, but found I wasn't ready, so I don't count that. Anyway, I was rolling almost every jump that I used to do with ease, that now seem scary as hell. I just wasn't comfortable, as well as still dealing with some pain, but I know its mostly mental. However, I just couldn't pull the trigger. Its extremely frustrating and embarrassing. I hope I will be able to get over these mental hurdles and get back to my former level. But right now its looking grim. I'm guessing many of you can relate.

I'm going to use this for the X Brand Forum Check-In on the MotoXpod Show tomorrow night. Good topic.

What makes me feel slightly better is it’s mental for the best guys in the world also. Granted they’re on a completely different level but still deal with the same mental challenges we mere mortals do. 

the winner effect

Of course it's an issue in other sports.  Sports psychology is an industry that wouldn't exist if it had to rely on MX penny-level income.

How many times have we all told ourselves ….. Dum Ass that was easy after doing something for the 1st time? I know I have. I personally do not like blind jumps.

Mental is a huge part of going fast.

I feel like this exists in other sports, but for moto (or any action sport really) it's a lot different.  If you miss a basket in basketball there aren't likely going to be physical consequences, but if miss a peddle trying to tailwhip a double on a BMX bike there is very likely going be physical consequences for that.  Mistime your header in soccer and you might get smacked in the face with the ball (which sucks btw don't get me wrong), but mistime a rhythm on a SX track and it's probably lights out and an ambulance ride.  But, if you're like me, I struggled a lot with the team aspect of stick and ball sports was constantly terrified of messing up and letting my team down, which hindered my performance.  That aspect doesn't exist in quite the same way for individual sports like moto, bmx, skateboarding, etc.  

In the end what I figured out for me was taking stock of and controlling as many variables as I can, and accepting that there are some variable that will always be outside of your control.  If there's nothing left to second guess on race day that goes a long way towards building that confidence.  Did you stick to your regular gym routine?  Is the bike prepped and maintained correctly?  Have you been eating well and prioritizing sleep?  If you can confidently say that you've covered those kinds of bases then the rest just is what it is, I don't think the fear ever fully goes away but it's a lot easier if you don't have anything other doubts nagging at you behind the scenes, at least that's been my experience.  

Being in Cal. The section was probably high speed too. Welcome to the club of Flow , your all in now, Good job.  I didn’t ride for 13 yrs bikes where stolen. 1st ride without walking the track I jumped everything in 4th . 1 step on a hill had a drop away to the bottom. That was exciting, enjoyed the floater into a big drop into a valley.  Had time to get the bike straight to land.  I get the most excited when I see whoops & I mean Really excited I just Love them.   Laroccos leap I don’t hv the hp to clear it but 4th gear jumps I,m doing .  To keep my flow going.  Other sports r all different in 5,6th grade we played fast pitch against other schools . I hit a home run every time but once I got a triple only time I went to full count.  In 5th grade we practiced against the 6th graders . Scotty was a phenomenal pitcher & a little prick his heat was scary fast. I got hits off of him so reg pitchers it was easy . Bball in 5,6th grade too total domination all steels & fast breaks , most fun ever playing. 7th grade moved to a city & u hear u might not make the team . City kids r bigger because there’s more & that’s all they do is play ball.  I not only made the team I was a star.  Every yr every day during the season practice & work on your craft.  10th I stopped growing then ball handling got phenomenal.   I always knew I could hit game winning shots 100% confidence.  And end of a game coach draws plays to get me the ball to get fouled too. Because that’s another fun way to beat a team is from the stripe.  But doing moves to get on the baseline to snap the net . Is the biggest Rush of excitement.   Extremely abused kids hv a way to lock into a much deeper state of concentration & there level of effort is much higher.  Body& mind is peaked to a unexplainable Level. 

Every sport is mental, in team sports you can have the best roster but if the team mental isn't there then the team is useless.

Heck every aspect of life is mental, ever noticed that complainers, negativity and poor me people never do anything in their lives ?