TO be a champion in motocross sport requires not just speed, but also the mastery of balance. As what professional riders always advise, “Master balance, speed will always be there,” the ability to position oneself effectively on his bike at all times in all circumstances and situations plays a crucial aspect in this field of sport.
Enduro rider Graham Jarvis once said on an interview, “Doing exercises to improve your balance will make you a better rider. If your balance is good, you’ll use less energy to ride.” Though this sport is known as a fast speed, difficult motorcycle stunt/exhibition, and extreme ride, one can’t be able to do this with honing his craft of balance.
Why Balance is important in Motocross?
We’ve already covered that it ultimately leads to more speed on the track. But there’s more to it than improving lap times. Improving your balance will also:
Provide more stability. This perk also helps increase your speed, but it also protects you from wrecking your bike or losing control of it when hitting the ground. Proper balance ensures your maximizing your stability while minimizing the effort you exert to do so.
Decrease your risk of injury. Think of this more as a “side effect” of improving your balance. The exercises used to improve your balance strengthens specific muscles – the same muscles you use on the track; that can become strained to the point of injury if not strong enough. Balance training leads to stronger muscles that lead to lesser risk of injury.
How to improve your Balance
Nothing beats practicing every single day. Here are some real world exercise and solutions for improving balance:
The Indo Board. Dedicated motorsports racing enthusiasts, whether NASCAR drivers, quad racers or motocross riders, know the value of balance training and core strengthening exercises. The Indo Board Balance Trainer offers mentally engaging and physically challenging exercises that complement the daily workout routines for motorsports training. Motorsports are some of the most physically demanding sports so being mentally and physically prepared is of paramount importance. The Indo Board is a piece of exercise equipment that resembles a large skateboard that rests on top of a cylinder. You take the board, place it on top of the cylinder, and then balance yourself on the board without letting the ends touch the ground. It’s extremely simple, yet extremely effective at improving balance and coordination. The Indo Board can cost up to $190 on Amazon, so to save money you can also use a can of soup and a 2×4.
One-legged Balancing. It’s so simple, yet so effective. It’s exactly what the name implies – you to stand on one leg while the other one is extended in front of your body or raised underneath it. Just like you used to do when you were a kid. Only with this body balance exercise, you’re going to increase the difficulty as you progress. Once you’ve become fairly decent at this, try closing your eyes and feeling which way your body is swaying. Once you have that down, move on to standing on narrow surfaces. Then with your eyes closed and standing on the ball of your foot.
Practice daily. No, I’m not talking about riding every day. (Remember, that’s the “nearly-impossible-to-accomplish-fantasyland” answer.) But I am talking about practicing the exercises above every day. Repetition is the key to becoming proficient at any skill, and learning to improve your dirt bike balance is a skill. You have to be diligent in practicing balance daily in order to see results sooner, rather than later.
