Answer Racing Moto Tips | The Perfect Rut

Presented by Answer Racing

Welcome to the new Answer Racing Moto Tips feature! Answer Racing has been producing the highest-quality motocross and off-road gear since 1976, and this month launched its new line of 2020 apparel. With riders like Alex Martin, Kyle Peters, Ryan Villopoto, Nick Wey, and Mike Sleeter flying the Answer flag, there is a wealth of knowledge and know-how when it comes to riding a dirt bike efficiently and effectively in the Answer camp. Each week, Answer will bring you some riding tip to help you become better at the sport you love! Have a specific skill you’d like to improve? Comment below and we will cover it in a future post!

There’s something about railing a rut that makes you feel like an excellent rider. Maybe it’s the way the bike puts to the power to the ground all the way through the curve, or how the bars almost drag in the dirt, or the sudden snap in a directional change. Whatever it is, it feels good. But how can you make the most of a perfect line when it gets carved at your local riding spot? Nick Wey has some advice that will allow you to drop in, maintain momentum, and cut a little bit off of your lap time.

EASY IN, EASY OUT

Getting the necessary braking done early will pay off all the way through the turn. Wey pointed out that when you let off of the throttle and gradually apply the brake earlier, the bike easier to control and won’t require you to make sudden adjustments.

“When you come from a fast section to a perfect rut, the last thing you want to do is go into it too fast because then you have to basically stop. You want to be patient on the entry, carry steady momentum through the center of the corner, and then have smooth acceleration. That’ll help you maintain as much momentum as possible. The biggest thing is that you cannot come so fast into the corner that you have to get on the brakes and skid.”

FINGER ON THE TRIGGER, EYES LOOKING FORWARD 

Proper body position is always key and Wey had his body in a neutral spot on the seat, his foot on the peg and near the rear brake pedal, and a finger on both the clutch and front brake lever just in case he needed to tap either. His head was turned up so that he could spot the exit of the corner and see what awaited in the next lane of track.

“I had my fingers and right foot on the controls so that I could adjust the speed if need be, but essentially, I try to do all of the braking when I enter the corner and then left off of them so I can roll into the corner. If you are in a position where you’re going too fast or all of a sudden the bike rebounds, you’ll have to slow down more than you expected and will have to readjust your speed.

“I want to keep steady speed through the apex of the corner and have a plan if there is an obstacle at the exit or an acceleration bump that I have to miss. I don’t want to make the corner too tight, so at the apex I’m looking ahead and preparing for what is coming up.”

LESS IS MORE

As great as it is to speed through a rut, it sucks to encounter acceleration chop at the exit, because that can erase all of the progress that was just made. Wey said that if you can get the bike under control early and coast through the curve without issue you shouldn’t have to hammer the throttle at the exit, which will save you some energy and keep the track from breaking down.

“This goes along with the same thing I keep reiterating about how you can’t overcook the entry into the corner, because then you have to do the brakes so much that you essentially come to a stop and have to hammer the gas. It’s all about momentum. The less you have to use the brakes, the less you actually have to gas it.”