If you are in a rut, don’t fight it. Go with the flow. Many riders will go around a rut if possible because they just don’t like ruts. This is because they fight the rut and they simply can’t ride them. There are two kinds of ruts: those on a straight and those in a turn. But, no matter which kind, you must keep the power on while you are in the rut.

The power is a must, because it keeps the front wheel out of trouble. With the power on, the front wheel stays a little light. But, if you back out of the power, the front wheel starts to stay in the bottom of the rut too much and it will start to drag on the sides of the rut making the front end start to wash out. Then, as soon as you feel the front end start to wash out, you tighten up and start to fight the bike. Instead, you should remember the old saying, “when in doubt apply power” and apply power and relax.

Here is a good way to start getting comfortable with ruts whether in a turn or on the straight. Come in slow; don’t go for speed at first. Go a speed that you are okay with; then, as you get to the rut start to apply power.

It is best to apply power using both the throttle and the clutch. The reason the clutch is so important is that you can control your power and your speed better. If you apply power using only the throttle and you don’t like what is happening, you are going to turn the throttle off and that is going to be a problem. But, if you apply power using both the throttle and the clutch, you can adjust your speed by pulling the clutch in a little. As long as you do not pull the clutch in all the way, you are still going forward. Some power is better than no power and will help avoid the front end washing out.

I suggest you work on the straight ruts first. Find a straight rut and come in slow and slip the clutch all the way through the rut. Then, use the clutch as more of a feed all the way through. Remember, without the clutch you have no back up plan.

So let’s go to what it should look like when it is done right. And for comparison, let’s also look at a few not so rights.

For more information on how Gary can help make you faster, check out his for personal and group riding classes. You can go to the Mountain or the Mountain will come to you!

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.