The pros all use pit boards to convey messages to their riders. Lap times, motivational words, positioning, etc. are all tricks of the trade

Road bike. Check. Running shoes. Check. Heart rate monitor. Check. You think you have all the training tools you need to reach your goals as a motocross racer. You might be wrong if you don’t have one of the least expensive but most effective tools available: the pit board. The pit board can and should be used by every serious rider or anyone that wants to see improvement in their riding and racing. Unlike your expensive road bike or running shoes, your pit board can help you in the middle of that big race!

When utilizing the pit board during training sessions and races a few basics need to be covered. First, the person holding the pit board should know where to stand. At races “mechanic’s” areas are typically designated and give the best access to the track. However, on practice days you and the person whom you’ve recruited to hold the pit board need to decide on a safe area where you will be able to take the time to read the message. This place must be safe for the person with the pit board; it can at the end of a smooth straightaway or on a safe floating-style jump. You also need to determine the height you can most easily read the pit board. Some riders like their boards to be held low or high and this can vary depending on where on the track the board is being displayed.

The basics are easy but the messages written on the pit board need careful attention. The person you designate to run your pit board needs to have a thorough understanding of you as a racer as they are acting as your coach. They need to know whether you are motivated intrinsically or extrinsically. An intrinsically motivated person is someone who desires to be good at something; in this case riding a dirt bike. In contrast an extrinsically motivated person is motivated by the results of an action. Knowing which category you fit into will help the person writing on your pit board write messages that motivate you. For instance an intrinsically motivated rider will respond better to seeing his or her lap times improve over the course of the race than seeing a message like “Get top 5.” The latter message could be appropriate for a rider who is extrinsically motivated by the contingency money awarded to the top finishers.

Not all messages written on a pit board are acceptable as this mechanic found out after being fined by the FIM for writing "Clean Him Out".

The actual content of the message isn’t very important as long as it is something you feel is helpful or motivating. There are a few caveats. All messages should be phrased in a positive manner. For example, “race ahead” is much better than “don’t let them pass.” The negative message puts emphasis on a negative outcome. The positive message emphasizes something the rider has control over. Also, pit boards are great for addressing technique during practice, but they should not be used in that way during the race. The rider should be focused solely on racing. Racing is not a time for analysis

With careful planning, the right person with the pen and a little practice, a pit board may be what your program needs to reach the next level. If you have a solid training program and all the other training tools, it is time spend $30 on a pit board. The help you get from a pit board will get you closer to your goals.

About the Author: Seiji Ishii is the head coach of www.coachseiji.com. Coachseiji.com provides online coaching and personal training services to motorsports athletes. Coach Seiji has worked with both pros and elite amateurs including: Heath Voss, Ryan Clark, Austin Stroupe, PJ Larsen, Hunter Hewitt, Drew Yenerch, Rusty Potter, Jason Anderson, and Andrew Short. Learn more at coachseiji.com or contact Coach Seiji directly.

That's it for now, until next time, good luck with your training and remember, if you have a question, log on to the Virtual Trainer Expert Forum and have your question answered by a panel of experts. In addition, be sure and check out the Racer X Virtual Trainer archive section. Your complete one-stop information zone for motocross fitness.