Motocross addiction is not yet recognized by the American Medical Association
(the other AMA); however, its effects can be just as serious as an addiction to
alcohol or drugs. During the racing years, it shows itself as dedication which
helps the person become a successful racer. But after retirement, it can cause
erratic or self-defeating behavior. Being from the land of 10,000 treatment centers
(Minnesota) as well as being a recovering motocross addict, I felt that I would be
able to help others that are suffering from this affliction.
Riders quit racing for many reasons. They could be financial, physical or due to other
commitments. Often, the addiction will remain. Once your racing days are over, it can
become a disruptive force that leaves you feeling purposeless in life. It is important
to learn to recognize the warning signs and take steps to readjust to a society made
up of non-racers.
During your racing days, it's hard to distinguish between dedication to the sport and
obsession. The best racers often have a narrow focus. It can go too far though. Were
all your reading materials related to motorcycles? Did you only participate in other
sports to keep in shape for racing? Were you almost 30 years old and still living
with your parents so you could afford to race? These are some early warning signs.
Once you stop racing, the symptoms are easier to recognize. Here are a few of the more
obvious ones:
* Racing Fantasies - Do you picture yourself holeshotting a national? Do you
have daydreams about smoking a local race while your friends, relatives and coworkers
in the crowd watch in admiration and amazement?
* Racing Paradigms - Another sign is constant analogies to racing. Do you need
to think of everything in terms of racing situations? For example, if someone is
talking about malnutrition, do you suggest that it is a lot like when your carburetor
jetting is too lean?
* Physical Signs - Does your heart still race when you hear the familiar
sounds of the one minute card being held up? Do you find yourself turning an imaginary
throttle when you get in a hurry? Do you still wake up early Sunday morning? Although
harmless, these could be your body's reaction to going cold turkey on racing.
* No New Interests - Have you not tried to get interested in any other
activities? Do you still read and memorize every last technical detail of the latest
race bike offerings despite the fact that you are supposedly not going to be buying
one soon?
* Irrational Plans to Resume Racing - Have you considered living in a box
instead of having to pay rent each month so that you could afford to race? Has your
doctor told you that you don't have any cartilage in your right knee, but you feel a
good brace will protect it?; Have you though about cutting your sleeping time down to
two hours a night so that you'll have enough time to work that extra job and maintain
the bike. Is your wife's ultimatum of "her or racing" becoming a close call?
If you found that you had two or more of the above symptoms, then you are addicted to
motocross. The first step is to admit this condition. You can then take steps to deal
with it, and begin to adjust to a society where most people are not even sure what
motocross is. (Yes, people can really be that ignorant). Through personal experience
and interviews with many ex-racers, I've compiled that following list of tips to help
you through the adjustment period.
• Talk About Your Feelings - It is not healthy to hold your pain inside.
Sharing it with others is beneficial. It is important to consider who it is you are
talking to. It's tough to talk to people who still race. If they are still
"using", your silly reasons for quitting, such as crushed vertebrae or
impending house foreclosure, seem like the lame excuses of a has-been. Remember their
perspective and don't let it sway you. Try to talk with other people who have quit
racing. Realize that it is OK to feel an emptiness on what used to be your race day,
or to look at old race photos every now and then. Knowing other people share your pain
is helpful. Don't let it turn into a constant bench racing session, however. Try to
focus on the positive aspects of your present life.
• Go Trail Riding - If you are physically able, try to continue riding. This
is a good financial compromise as well. The monetary requirements are much more modest
than they are for racing. This may call for an attitude adjustment. Many racers have a
contemptuous view of weekend trail riders or for bikes with such frivolous features as
lights or kick stands. Where's the adrenaline rush? How could that be fun? The thing to
remember is what got you into dirt bike riding to begin with. Not too many people
started racing. They did trail riding first. Think back to what got you started. You
can also rationalize it by thinking about how much more riding you get to do. When
racing (a single class), you get one crowded five minute practice and two 10-30 minute
races. You can trail ride for hours if you want to. Plus, you don't have to train all
week.
• Try Mountain Biking - If you can't find places to ride motorcycles or people
to ride with, you might want to start mountain biking. Many former (and current) racers
ride mountain bikes. It's a great way to stay in shape, and to retain some of your dirt
bike handling skills. You might even want to hit a mountain bike race every once in a
while. The uphills can be a real chore, but it sure is fun to show those wimpy
ex-roadracer bikers the fast way down the hills. They tend to think motocrossers are
somewhat kamikaze which can be a real boost for your self-esteem.
• Get New Hobbies and Goals - Try something completely unrelated to Motocross.
I've found Judo to be a challenging and rewarding sport. It doesn't even have to be a
sport. You could learn (or re-learn) to play a musical instrument, for example. The
important thing is to expand your horizons. If MX is still a constant theme in your
fantasies, you might want to reconsider your goals in life. Try to get passionate
about ones that don't involve racing. It's OK to dream occasionally. Married men
daydream about other women sometimes (of course, not me though dear), but if it becomes
a constant obsession, there can be problems.
• Turn MX Spectating into a Positive Experience - One danger in dirt biking
and mountain biking is that it can lead to thoughts of a comeback. You start thinking
that you're still in good enough shape and fast enough to do well. Maybe you might go
out to the races just to see how things are. With this in mind, I offer a few tips for
spectating.
* If there is a national in your area, go to it. Said one former racer, "When I
see that the guys getting lapped are going faster around the track then I ever did,
I realize I made the right career choice." Try your hardest to bring non-riders
with you. It might surprise you who ends up enjoying it. You'll also help promote the
sport you love and possibly earn some extra respect.
"Wow, you used to do this?"
"Not quite this well, but yes."
* Amateur races are another story. For some, at least initially, it is too painful.
It's like watching someone kiss your ex-girlfriend. You feel like an outsider; like
those ex- racers you used to see at the track back when you raced. It always made you
wonder why they were there. One thing you don't want to do is watch the class that you
would be racing in if you started again and figure how well you would do. Remember back
to when you first watched a race, particularly a novice class, and thought how slow
they were. It was a different story when you were racing against them. Those hacks
went pretty fast.
* Use trips to the races to reinforce your decision to quit. Look at the big double
jumps and some of the other risks that are necessary to do well. Would you really still
be willing to take those chances? Start pricing some of the bikes and gear. That will
slap you back to reality as well. You might also want to talk with some of the racers
about what they do during the week. Sunday is always the pinnacle of a motocrossers
life, the glory day. The rest of the week is often spent training, working on the bike
and giving up most social occasions. Remember the sacrifices, not just the fun parts.
• Put your Racing Days Behind You - A good first step is to display old trophies
less prominently. Try to think back to those old men talking about their glory days in
baseball or whatever and how pathetic they sounded. You don't have to forget that you
ever raced, but don't dwell on it. Look ahead. If you think of your racing days as the
peak of your life, then how can the rest be anything but downhill?
Fairly often, a racer will relapse and start racing again. This is not necessarily bad.
The conditions that lead to quitting may have changed so that it makes sense again to
race. Other times, the reasoning behind it is irrational. While there is certain amount
of irrationality necessary to race, you need to try to see if you are getting out of it
what you had envisioned or if you are ruining the rest of your life. Don't judge purely
on the results. Ask yourself if you are having fun.
Many former motocrossers have gone on to live productive lives. They use the dedication,
determination, and mental toughness learned from racing to be successful at other
aspects of life. Compared to trying to hold the lead in a hotly contested race, doing
well in school, running a successful business or whittling away at world hunger are
comparatively easy. When someone asks you how you do it, tell them proudly,
"I'm a motocrosser." They might not know what that means, but that'll be
their problem.
This was originally written somewhere in the "Racing Dormant Period", about 1992, and revised for web around 1998
Editor's Note from about 2005 - Since this was written (2000), the author has fallen off the wagon and has
started riding and racing again. Despite not riding dirt bikes for nine years and
frequent health problems, he insists that his return to racing is rational.
Editor's Note from 2016 - The author last raced in 2009.