Lance Smail premiers in new training video
Tom Konicke

(Federal Way, WA) – MotoSport Training is pleased to announce that 3 time National Four-Stroke Champion, Lance Smail just completed filming for a new training video to be released in January of 1999. MotoSport Training has been working with Lance since August of 1998 to implement a sport specific training program to prepare him for the upcoming 1999 Supercross season.

The new video, which is scheduled to be released in time for the Seattle Supercross, will be available as part of MotoSport Training’s Fundamental Conditioning for Motocross Package. The package retails for $69.99 and besides the video includes a training planner, "Virtual Trainer" access via a personalized access code for the MST website, nutritional guidelines, flexibility exercises for staying injury free, sticker kit and a subscription to the quarterly newsletter.

The training program itself lays out the three phases of training that combine to form a solid basis for sport specific conditioning that is so crucial to succeeding in the sport of Motocross and off-road motorcycle racing.

"Motocross is a total body sport, we use every aspect of the body when we race. MotoSport Training’s Fundamental Conditioning Program applies techniques which target all four limbs making the work we do in the gym match what we are doing on the bike" said Lance Smail.

Lance premiers in the video to demonstrate the training techniques that form the basis of the Fundamental Conditioning package. Jeff MacDonald, President of MotoSport Training, also appears in the video presenting other training highlights and techniques.

When competing in any sport there are movements (mechanics) of the body that are specific to that sport.

Riding practice is certainly the most sport specific movements for motocross. However, we must train the body’s physical ability, reaction time, coordination and cardiovascular conditioning beyond what practicing can offer. Why? There are many reasons:

•Performing sport specific exercises through a full range of motion are necessary to maintain flexibility and prevent injury. Riding does not offer this.

•Practice riding does not facilitate the same training effect as riding at race pace (therefore the only time you’re truly training is when you’re racing).

•Sport specific conditioning "overloads" the cardiovascular and muscular system allowing much higher levels of physical fitness.

Reflexes and reaction time are only trained while racing if one needs to respond to a situation. Sport specific conditioning of the neuromuscular system speeds reflexes and the ability to react on the track.

Remember that practice riding improves riding "skills". Whereas, sport specific conditioning for motocross is about training the body’s physical ability; the ability to ride as fast on the last lap as the first lap of a race.

Practice isn’t the only area of misconception when it comes to training. Ask yourself this question: "How much time and money do I put into preparing my bike before I race?" The answer most of us will give is nothing short of: "A Lot!"

There is no question that competition level motorcycle maintenance is a key component to winning races. But what about competition level body maintenance?

An area often overlooked in favor of bike modifications, are body modifications. Training the body to perform to its highest level of physical ability, shortest reaction time, superior coordination and unstoppable cardiovascular conditioning are all instrumental in providing the equivalent of maintaining your body to the same level of your bike.

Don’t sell your body short by ignoring sport specific conditioning. These may be the mod’s that count the most on the last lap of race day!

Train hard, but most of all, train smart!

MotoSport Training "booth's" the nationals

Nothing can compare to the sights and sounds of an outdoor national motocross race. The atmosphere is second to none. For MotoSport Training, there was an event in 1998 that proved especially gratifying.

The 1998 Washougal national outdoor motocross event was the debut of MotoSport Training’s Physical Conditioning for motocross package.

Jeff started riding motorcycles at age 9. He began racing motocross in 1975 at the age of 13. In 1983 he won the Alaska State Motocross Championship in the 500 cc pro class. At the Florida Winter Series in 1984 he finished 8th overall in the 500 cc pro class. In 1985 he contested the California Golden State Nationals and finished a respectable 11th overall in the 500's. In the 250 cc pro class of the 1986 Pacific Northwest Series (PAC West), he placed 5th overall. After competing at the Hangtown and Washougal Nationals in 86', Jeff took time off to pursue a Bachelor's Degree.

After graduating from Oregon State University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science, Jeff worked as the Assistant Conditioning Coach at O.S.U., designing and implementing conditioning programs for all intercollegiate sports.

Jeff is also a YMCA certified Fitness Specialist and is the founder and president of MotoSport Training.