More fun practicing or racing?

level
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Acworth, GA US
7/2/2019 6:56am
Which do you find more fun or intriguing?
Tough one for me. I like to practice and push myself or try new things or jumps and there is a satisfaction from that.

Nothing like competing though even if it’s not a good night but when you win or do good it’s an exhilarating feeling.
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Mr. Afterbar
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Green Bay, WI US
7/2/2019 6:59am
Racing is by far more fun, but also more stressful at times.
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kb228
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6161
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1/31/2018
Location
Mansfield, OH US
7/2/2019 7:01am
Practice for me. After 3-4 hours at the track im over it and ready to go home.
dedi684
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1350
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8/21/2009
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Ravena, NY US
7/2/2019 7:01am
Ive been pondering this myself. Im old school i prefer doing motos at home or private track alone or with friends. Then i race when i feel good enough. I tried open practices and its just a clusterfuck and they didnt really have them when i started riding.
bvm111
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7/1/2008
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Las Vegas, NV US
7/2/2019 7:01am
Professional practice rider here!
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crusty_xx
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CH
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7/2/2019 7:02am
Racing.
Nothing beats the feeling when you're on the gate and the board goes up. Even after 20 years of racing
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bents
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CA
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7/2/2019 7:08am
Practice is fun with the boys shooting the shit and riding, but nothing replaces racing, even though I rarely race any longer. If I had unlimited time and money and no other responsibilities, I would race way more often!
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omalley
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Snohomish, WA US
7/2/2019 7:15am Edited Date/Time 7/2/2019 7:17am
I practice far more than I race these days. For me it’s about more track time and less stress for the same or less money.
That said, I race a few times a year because nothing beats the feeling of actually getting behind a gate and competing.

I’d add that racing is more fun now that I’m over 40. Everyone is still competitive, but we all understand that everyone needs to go to work on Monday, lol.
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ti473
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Location
Arlington Heights, IL US
7/2/2019 7:21am
Racing is by far more fun, but also more stressful at times.
This
Ingjr1
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5/30/2019
Location
Spring Hill, FL US
7/2/2019 7:22am
Prefer the rush from racing although it's been several years since I've done it.
FWYT
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3305
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5/25/2014
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San Diego, CA US
7/2/2019 7:27am
Racing by far. But as I work most weekends, it's hard to fit in. Soooooooo much more fun, though!!!
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pete24
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2733
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10/20/2011
Location
Marlborough, MA US
7/2/2019 7:30am
ive been racing for 37 years last year I rode three classes a day for the NESC fall series im kinda over it
theres only maybe six guys in my class left cuz they all either retired or died so getting a third means I beat three guys yippee!
next the tracks really don't give a shit about racing they count the entries and figure out how to get rid of you as soon as they can, as in cutting motos before practice has even started
third the once prestigious NESC has gone down a bad road its not what it was and I guess never will be , the acting president makes his own rules ha ha what a joke
when I started there were no practice tracks if you wanted to ride on a good track you raced, I tell newbies all the time now don't race go practice its cheaper quicker day, and the track owners actually want you there

there is the fact that race tracks have real bumps and its a great test of where you stand but ya, at 56 years old I think im a crusty practice zero
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spacecat
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89
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5/22/2011
Location
Spencer, OH US
7/2/2019 7:31am
As for time on the bike, I enjoy racing. As a whole day, I much prefer practice days. Do my riding, hang with friends and I'm out after 3 hours. On racing days we are at the track for 8+ hours for a couple of 4 lap motos. I'm older now and have other things that need my attention.
Spudnut
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1946
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6/25/2018
Location
WA US
7/2/2019 7:35am
Racing for sure. Waiting around gets old but when you have a group of friends there it makes it much less painful
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sandtrack315
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2545
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7/19/2013
Location
Philadelphia, PA US
7/2/2019 7:53am
I enjoy being on a practice track with a friend that is close in speed to me. We battle with bragging rights on the line, but we know neither of us is going to do something stupid.
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andyyam
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133
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4/1/2008
Location
GB
7/2/2019 8:45am
Racing for me , I hardly ever go practising , I find it hard to get motivated at the practice track .
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dimetime
Posts
640
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5/27/2017
Location
Huntington Beach, CA US
7/2/2019 11:27am
Another pro practice guy here. Honestly l find the racing thing a little weird the older you get. It means literally nothing and there's no end game. I don't give one fuck if l'm the fastest old guy in a class of eight. Especially if l have to spend ten hours and a bunch of money for a total of twenty minutes on the track. Another thing is l've watched a lot of "vet" racing and the truth is a most of the riders are just riding around like it's a fucking trail ride. So what's the difference?

As l've said before. If l had the land and the time l'd build a track and l'd be more than happy to ride alone for the rest of my life. It's always been about the battle against the track for me. The only difference between racing and practicing is 5% of effort for me. Not to mention l'm tired of other fucking people being the cause of so many unnecessary get offs while racing.
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-MAVERICK-
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Ontario CA
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7/2/2019 11:53am
I enjoyed my time racing but once I couldn't afford it anymore, I enjoyed practicing just as much, maybe even more.

Going to different tracks on the weekends, camping, meeting new people, more track time, etc. Just had more bang for my buck practicing.

It's easy to see why less people race today. Gate fees, entry fees, camping fees, short motos, sitting around most of the day, etc. is not exactly pleasant.

That said nothing beats the feeling of racing against a full gate of riders.
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zippytech
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1119
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9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH US
7/2/2019 12:09pm
Racing is great but the 50 + classes and the limited track time killed it for me and that fact there was only 5 guys on the gate.

I have a track at home and I enjoy riding it a few times a month. I can go as long as I want and pull off when ever I want.
WW444
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492
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10/2/2016
Location
Decatur, AL US
7/2/2019 12:20pm
$25 to ride all day till I'm done or $100 plus easily for 15 to 20 laps through an all day/night process. I still enjoy the intensity of racing but its practice for me.
ProKawi24
Posts
1707
Joined
2/20/2018
Location
Folsom, CA US
7/2/2019 12:44pm Edited Date/Time 7/2/2019 12:48pm
2 things...

1st) Nothing like racing...those jitters I got the night before and the morning of. Being totally 100% focused, on a mission. Walking the perfectly prepped track in the morning fog with the sun creeping over the hills, knowing all Hell is about to break loose shortly. Sitting on a full gate, engines pinned - no drug could ever compare in the world. The icing on the cake is taking the white flag with a nice lead and soaking in the accomplishment for a final lap.

2) That being said....there was also nothing like just going to the practice track with my dad at the crack of dawn, nobody else around for awhile. He was always so focused on training/coaching me, it was rare times like this he would bring out his bike and we could just have fun riding together. No lap times, no charging, just son and dad riding bikes before the crowd comes and we had to get back to business. He even let me ride his KX250 a lot which for a 12 year old was the funnest thing ever! Getting back on my 85 felt like a midget bike lol.
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Myke
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San Diego, CA US
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2861st
7/2/2019 12:45pm
Practice definitely. I just do one race a year so I can tell people I race. 8)
Mr. Afterbar
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Green Bay, WI US
7/2/2019 12:46pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
I enjoyed my time racing but once I couldn't afford it anymore, I enjoyed practicing just as much, maybe even more. Going to different tracks on...
I enjoyed my time racing but once I couldn't afford it anymore, I enjoyed practicing just as much, maybe even more.

Going to different tracks on the weekends, camping, meeting new people, more track time, etc. Just had more bang for my buck practicing.

It's easy to see why less people race today. Gate fees, entry fees, camping fees, short motos, sitting around most of the day, etc. is not exactly pleasant.

That said nothing beats the feeling of racing against a full gate of riders.
Racing is actually cheaper for me. If I race +25 and +30A, I usually cover my expenses for the weekend with my winnings. That being said, I still only race five or so times a year. Going to bigger races is fun, because you can race against the best guys your age in the region. It doesn’t mean anything, but it does to the individual.
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philG
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9630
Joined
5/12/2012
Location
GB
7/2/2019 1:43pm
Racing.. practice is only practice if you actually race , other wise you are just riding round,

I will ride if we have stuff to test or settings to try , but would rather drive 500 miles to a race in Belgium, that do a test day here.
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