How to Conquer the Holeshot on a Dirt Bike

In every motocross race, there are two races to be won: the holeshot and the checkered flag. As the gate drops to start the race the track is designed so that there is “room” for only one rider at the end of the starting straightway and whoever gets there first gets the “holeshot”. A holeshot is a word used to describe a rider who has the fastest and or strongest start to get up to racing speed. Achieving the holeshot is just as important as crossing the finish line because your chances of winning the race greatly increase if you get the holeshot. Conquering the holeshot can be difficult because you have to fend off all the other riders trying to get in front. Here are our best tips to help you conquer the holeshot on a dirt bike.

Picking Your Gate:

One way to improve your chances of getting the holeshot is picking your gate. If you have the opportunity to pick your gate pick an inside gate that is straight and lined up with the first turn. Having a straight rut with the hardest base possible is the ideal platform to have. If the starting line is sloping, pick a gate with the most favorable elevation.

Insider Tip: Make sure your gate has good traction

Prepping Your Rut:

Aside from picking a good gate position, it is also important to pick the best rut. It is ideal to have fresh dirt behind the gate so you can have a nice flat area where the rear wheel will not spin. Make sure the rut is not moving off in the wrong direction. Usually, it either gets a big hole at the end of the gate or the rut gets squirrelly and is crooked. Make sure the rut on your gate is in the straightest, most perfect line.

Body Position:

Having the proper body position on your dirt bike is important to keep you from popping a wheelie and ending up on your back while the other riders pass you. A good starting body position to conquer the holeshot is to have your elbows out and your upper body nearly over the front of the handlebars. Having your body weight towards the front of the bike will help you when you hit the throttle out and the bike takes off. Being too far back on the bike will only cause a wheelie to occur because all your body weight is hanging on the back of the bike.

Insider Tip: Your feet will be anchoring you to the ground until the gate drops. Once the gate drops, your feet come up. The longer your feet dangle the more drag and less control you have on the bike.

Clutch and Throttle Control:

While waiting to take off, hold the throttle about three-quarters of the way open. Your left hand has two jobs; to hold the grip and release the clutch. Depending on your bike and gearing, you'll typically want to be in second gear on the start. Let the clutch out almost to engagement. If the bike creeps forward, hold it back with the front brake. When the gate drops, release the clutch and roll on the throttle at the same time. Starting this way, with your bike in gear and the throttle three-quarters of the way open, ensures your bike takes off as soon as you feed the clutch lever out and twist the throttle.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Conquering the holeshot is not easy when all the other riders in the race are trying to achieve the same thing. If getting the holeshot is a big part of winning a particular race then spend some time practicing your starts. Practice your gate drops over and over until you feel comfortable. Make sure you use your peripheral vision to see the gate drop instead of looking directly in front of you. It has been proven that peripheral vision notices things faster. The more you practice, the better you will be at the gate drops and eventually conquer the holeshot.

Holeshot Device:

As you start to get comfortable with conquering the holeshot, many riders take advantage of a holeshot device. This device locks in your forks after you compress them to lower the front of the bike. This is helpful because it reduces your chance of looping out or wheeling out of control and helps transfer weight after the bike takes off and puts power to the ground.

Conquer the Holeshot!

If you want to win the race, you need to make sure you get the holeshot before anything else. Getting the holeshot at the beginning of the race significantly increases your chances of winning the race so it is important that you conquer it. By picking your gate, prepping your rut, have the proper body position, and good clutch and throttle control, you will be able to increase your chances of getting the holeshot. Only one rider gets it so it is important to continuously practice until you get it. Getting the holeshot will eventually get you the checkered flag and win the race!

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