Tips from the champ
Jan. 14, 2004
– We receive many requests for riding tips. So we went to Doug Gust,
the 2003 Grand National Pro Production Motocross champion, to get some expert
answers.
ATVAonline: What advice do you have for jumps?
Doug Gust: Never try something too big. Know your limits and take baby steps. You should start on small jumps and be relaxed. If you're stiff it throws you crooked for the landing.
ATVAonline: How should a rider handle whoop sections?
Gust: Your legs have got to be relaxed. Get your butt back as far over the seat as you can, get the front end up, and, again, take babysteps. You want to dance across the whoops. If you get stiff one will buck you, so the more relaxed you are the better.
ATVAonline: We all know that getting a good start in a race is very important. What can a rider do to get a good start?
Gust: You want to have good throttle and clutch control. You can't have too much throttle and too little clutch, or too little throttle and too much clutch. So you have to have good throttle and clutch control, and find your traction point.
ATVAonline: At a lot of the races we go to, we see riders falling into a follow-the-leader pattern. What should a rider do?
Gust: I just try to take different lines. Because if you get in line with other riders, then you're stuck in a groove.
ATVAonline: How do you handle corners?
Gust: The faster you can come up to a corner and slow down to get the speed you need, the better.
ATVAonline: What other advice would you have for ATVA members?
Gust: Just always wear protective gear, and keep your head on straight. Never think that you're better than the quad because that's when it will get you.