046 SKILLS PHOTO BY CASEY DAVIS
Line Selection
Ultimately, the first step is to plan ahead as far as line selection goes because
you want to be able to carry as much speed as you can throughout the S-turn.
In this case, I like to approach the first turn from the outside line and then
swing to the inside once I reach the turn, sort of like a road racer. You’ll never
see one of those guys come barreling down the inside as they approach a
corner, and they do that to maintain as much momentum as possible. You
should know exactly where you want to end up well before you even get to
the first turn.
Braking
First and foremost, you should always do most of, if not all of your braking
while standing up because being on your feet gives you more control of
the bike—especially if you’re approaching a corner from a long straightaway
where you’ve accumulated a lot of speed. Once you’ve slowed, you’ll then
release the clutch, sit down and roll on the gas simultaneously and in one fluid
motion without being too hard on the throttle. Keep in mind that you should
get your braking done early, as well. You don’t want to be on the brakes in the
middle of the turn because that interrupts the rear wheel’s traction, which will
make it harder to get the bike to turn as efficiently as you want.
Lean With It
Keeping your weight centered on the bike and leaning with a strong core so
that you’re not falling to the inside or drifting too far out is always a big one
for me. As you exit the first corner of the S-turn, you’ll want to try to hold it as
tight as possible so that you can sweep the second corner as you exit. Staying
tight to the inside of the first turn will allow you to aim for the exact line that
you’re looking for in the second half of the corner, which will enable you to exit
with a little more speed for the next upcoming section. Keeping a strong core
throughout this process will help with leverage and control of the bike, as well.Throttle Control
As you exit and get on the gas, you want to make sure that you’re not asking
for too much by cracking the throttle wide open. You should always be smooth
on the throttle by rolling it on when you’re still in the corner. If you rip on the
throttle, you can expect to break traction, which can potentially put you on the
ground. Even the slightest bobble as you exit the second half of the S-turn can
upset your line selection for the next section, so it’s important not to be too
aggressive on the throttle. Again, you want to make all of this one fluid motion
as you approach, turn, and exit! It’s very easy to come into a turn with too much
speed, as well, so you have to find a pace that’s suitable for you, otherwise
you’ll be standing the bike up trying to get it to slow down, and by that time
you’ve likely upset whatever rhythm or flow you had going around the track.Eyes Up
Making sure you’re looking ahead and not at the ground directly in front
of you is important not only for S-turns, but for every part of the course, as
well. It’s important that you always see what’s coming because when you’re
staring at the ground you won’t be able to see any upcoming obstacles or
slower riders. Looking ahead not only helps you see potential dangers on
the track, but it allows for you to make more efficient line selections around
some of the bigger braking bumps or whatever the obstacle may be. Once
it becomes second nature for you to keep your eyes up, you should see a
noticeable difference in your speed.Almost any professional motocross racer would agree that the biggest key to going fast is corner speed. Or as the common phrase goes, “Jump for show,
corner for dough.” Corners are the backbone of every rider’s speed on the track, and they require more skill and technique than some may think, so it’s
important to know the proper steps of navigating a corner properly and quickly. However, what do you do when you find yourself approaching back-to-back
corners in the form of an S-turn? Navigating these tricky sections requires a different set of skills altogether.
S-turns can be found at nearly every motocross track, and during a recent trip to Pala Raceway we couldn’t help but notice Troy Lee Designs/GoPro/Red
Bull/KTM’s Mitchell Oldenburg acing this particular S-turn lap after lap, so we let the number 28 drop some knowledge on proper technique. “S-turns can
be tricky because one corner alone already requires some finesse on the rider’s part in order to maintain speed and momentum,” said Oldenburg, who is
one of the more technically sound riders on the starting line each weekend. Although “Freckle” has just recently broken into the top tier of talent in the 250
class, Oldenburg has always possessed a very technique-based riding style. “One of the more important pieces of advice that’s stuck with me since I was
a kid and that has proven to be true time and time again is this: You should always look exactly where you plan on going because if you’re staring at the
ground in front of you, you’re likely to end up there.” We can sure vouch for that!
BACK-TO-BACK
TAKING ON S-TURNS
W/ MITCHELL OLDENBURG