PRO MOTO TACTICS: CORNERING WITH BOBBY BONDS
THE MAIN KEY IN DIRT BIKE SPEED
When you watch any pro, be it James Stewart, Russell Bobbitt or Bobby Bonds, they all carry tremendous speed through the turns. Cornering is a critical factor in dirt bike speed. Be it on a motocross track, through the trees, or carving between boulders in the desert, the ability to get out of the turn quickly allows you to attack the section, jump, or straightaway with momentum. This makes for more relaxed suspension, less transfer of track hack to the pilot, and most importantly, more speed.
Here’s Team Valli’s Bobby Bonds talking you through a normal hard packed corner.
“The entry into this right-handed corner is pretty fast. It’s extremely hard packed throughout most of the corner, except for the top, where all the soft dirt has been pushed. I’m entering the corner fairly straight, staying very centered on the bike so I don’t lose traction, aiming directly for the soft stuff on top.
“Now I’m into the soft stuff and I’m already getting back on the gas. All of my braking was done before this moment. As deep as this dirt is at this point in the turn, you have to get on the gas early; if you don’t the front tire will dig in too much and leave you lying in the corner. I’m still staying in the center of the bike, keeping my head over the bars and not leaning too much.”
“Now I’m fully on the gas, trying to blast my way through the corner. I’ve made my way around the majority of the corner, so now it’s time to exit with as much speed as possible. I’ve stayed off of the hard pack and did all of my turning in the softer stuff, squaring the corner off just a little bit.”
“The corner is over and done. My head and upper body are forward and arms relaxed with the throttle on the stop. I’m still looking ahead and preparing to hit another corner, and another…”
“Now, I’m fully focused on what’s ahead of me and I’m already looking as far ahead as possible. I am centered on the bike again since I’m back on the hard pack. I’m full throttle, lining up for the next jump.
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