Motorcycle racing is a fun, intense sport where riders compete to see who can get the fastest track time in each race. There are many notable professional racers, such as Valentino Rossi, who are big names in the motorcycle racing world—they can win millions of dollars in the MotoGP race alone. Still, anyone watching these races may wonder how to become a professional motorcycle racer. If you’re curious, read on to learn how even the best in the sport got their start.
Start Young
Many professional Sportbike racers start young to gain riding experience. Note your riding to perfect the handling, turns, and hitting the apex. The more you practice these skills, the better your performance. Once you’ve mastered the talent and speed, work on your mental game. Develop a winner’s mentality for any motorcycle race, whether that’s motocross, BMX, mountain bike, or Sportbike.
Find a Local Track
If possible, find a local track to practice at as much as possible. Here you can discover a community of motorcycle enthusiasts who can provide tips and advice to any budding racer. Some people drive hours to see a track day performance, so look out for any possibilities near you. You’ll find a great opportunity to learn and see motorcycle races in person.
Earn Your Racing License
Motorcycle race organizations require proper licensing to participate. Fortunately, earning a race license is easy. Simply attend a racer school at any given track, follow their bike requirements, and attend. Once there, you’ll learn the do’s and don’ts of racing in a classroom and on the track. Then, you’ll participate in a mock race and take a written exam. Once you complete these, you have earned your racing license.
Train
From there, you must train. There are many ways to improve your track skills, from your body positioning to your throttle control and braking techniques. Every aspect of your body and bike must work together to form fluid movement. Also, consider changes to reduce your track times. Something that might help is to change your focus point once you hit the apex. As soon as you hit it, reposition yourself to run the straight. You can also work on your racing lines and passing. No matter what, once you tackle these, you’ll be a more confident racer than before.
Compete
Above all else, get out there and compete. All the practice and training in the world won’t do much if you cannot implement the skills you’ve learned. Look out for schedules and get out there. You will gain experience and occasionally monetary rewards in local races, but once you are comfortable enough, compete in national circuits. Let the adrenaline flow through you—and most of all, have fun!
