TEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PASSING STRATEGIES
(1) Preparation. Some passes are planned and some happen when the opportunity falls into your lap. Either way, it’s important to know how to pass your opponents when signing up for a race. Many of these are common-sense rules, but some you may have never thought of before.
(2) Study. Studying the track and the races before the gate drops will give you an advantage over any competitor who doesn’t do his due diligence. If you have the authority or ability to ride onto the infield of the track before your race, take advantage of it. Spot the corners that have ruts in them and visualize which lines you’ll be hitting on the first lap. Be sure to watch earlier races and make mental notes on where the passes are being made.
(3) Follow. Sometimes the best way to pass a rider is to follow him for a lap or two. Often a faster rider will try to pass his opponent by going everywhere he isn’t and, in the process, he will lose time on them by making mistakes and taking a slower line, thus delaying the pass further. Following a rider through a corner that you know you can’t pass him in can help you stay close so you can capitalize in the next section where it’s easier to pass.
Whether you are the passer or the passee, the man who controls the inside is in the catbird seat.
(4) Pressure. Instead of trying to pass at every moment, strategically apply pressure to your opponent so that he can hear, or even see, you behind him. Everyone gets anxious when someone is on his tail, and oftentimes he’ll make a forced mistake. Applying pressure means you are close to the rider in front of you, preparing to make a pass.
(5) Watch. Even if you aren’t close enough to make the move, keep an eye on your competitor. Watch which lines he takes and search for a section where you think he might be leaving the door open. Typically, riders will gravitate towards the same line each lap and often they’ll even get passed in the same place twice. It’s hard for riders to learn from their mistakes while fatigued at mid-race.
(6) Throttle. The simplest pass is typically done when you are faster than the other rider. All it requires is the willingness to carry more speed through a corner or straightaway. This pass doesn’t require strategy and usually isn’t possible when you’re evenly matched in a battle (unless the other rider makes a mistake).
Sometimes you block and sometimes you get blocked.
(7) Blocking. More throttle isn’t always the answer when making a pass. Track position is often more important than speed. The term “blocking” sounds dirty, but as long as you have the inside line and you’re not cutting them off from the outside or crossing in front of them over a jump, it’s completely acceptable. Cooper Webb has become a master of this skill. By coming alongside his competitor and keeping his bike next to him through a corner, he’s able to control the situation, ensuring he doesn’t dive underneath him or carry more speed around the outside of him. Be forewarned that many riders get overanxious when pushing by a rider on the inside of a tight turn and end up drifting to the outside, where they quickly get re-passed when the other rider cuts behind them.
(8) Golden rule. The golden rule of making passes in motocross is to make your opponent change his line. If you’re entering a corner next to someone and your front fender causes them to flinch and change lines, odds are you’ve got the pass made. From there, use the blocking or throttle methods.
(9) Outside-in. The outside-in method takes some planning. Sometimes a rider will block the inside line entering a corner to keep you from making the pass. In this case, try carrying more momentum from the outside and begin your corner early so that you are already turning while your opponent is still going straight. Then, if a door opens, hit the throttle and capitalize on it.
(10) Holler. The final straw. If you’re close to the rider in front of you, yelling at your opponent can be a fun and effective way of catching him off guard‚ as long as you don’t throw yourself out of focus in the process. Wait until you and your opponent both chop the throttle while entering a turn and let out a loud roar; however, don’t overuse the yelling strategy. If you yell in every corner, it makes the other rider angry and he will fight back harder. Yelling works best when it comes as a surprise.
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