Training motorcycle racers is akin to trying to rein in wild stallions.
“These guys are very competitive,” said Riggs Klika, the director of the Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) Performance Center in Aspen. “They understand one thing – on and off. The hardest part is trying to put a governor on these guys. They are red line, full throttle all the time. And you can’t do that or you get fatigued. They’ve got to have a pretty good strategy.”
Josh Hayes, an AMA superbike racer who will compete this weekend at Pikes Peak International Raceway, saw a need to change his strategy after suffering a concussion last season in a crash at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. He turned to the team of professionals who train Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
People wondered if Hayes could return to the track because of post-concussion syndrome. To put any questions to rest, Hayes went to Aspen about nine months ago and underwent a battery of exams. While there, Klika convinced Hayes he needed to change his training habits to incorporate some down time.
“I already trained a lot,” said Hayes, 30. “But what I needed was structure and focus. Before I didn’t take my rest days. Some days I would be so exhausted … I decided (training with CTS) was an investment. The one thing that I have control of is me.”
Giving some control to Klika has dramatically changed Hayes’ body and mind-set.
“I’m in the best shape of my life, and I have the data to prove it,” said Hayes, who rides a Kawasaki for Attack Performance. “I enjoy training, and they’ve helped me train for motorcycle racing.”
His weekly training regimen includes about three to four hours in the weight room, less time running (because of previous ankle injuries) and more time on the bicycle.
The results are transferring to the track. In seven races this season, Hayes has four top-eight finishes – the other three races he didn’t finish because of mechanical problems. Last year, Hayes finished eighth in the standings with 12 top-10 finishes.
Hayes heads into PPIR with fifth- and eighth-place finishes last weekend at Infineon.
Time to prepare
AMA racer Miguel Duhamel and world superbike racer Ben Bostrom went to CTS to rekindle their enthusiasm and because of their advancing age in a young man’s sport.
Duhamel, who turns 37 next week, has been training with Dean Golich at the CTS Colorado Springs headquarters since 2001.
“I don’t want my physical condition to be a detriment to my results,” Duhamel said. “Since I’m getting older, I thought that I should train in a more professional manner.”
After training endurance athletes such as triathletes and cyclists, Klika wanted to become more familiar with the demands of wrestling a 400-plus-pound motorcycle traveling at speeds in excess of 150 mph around a track.
Last month, Klika traveled to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., to shadow Hayes and to figure out the intricacies of the sport.
One bugaboo is the large amount of downtime, especially if the rider is competing in only one of the four classes.
“They might be on the track 15 minutes, then they have nothing to do for two, three hours,” Golich said. “They would go from sleeping or watching TV to going 175 mph on the track.
“So we set up programs for them, to warm up, to hydrate, to help them focus on what they are about to undertake.”
Strength counts
Along with teaching the riders how to rest and focus on race day, the coaches attempted to increase their riders’ core strength and aerobic capacity.
“They need more strength than cyclists,” Golich said. “(Motorcycle racing) needs more instantaneous power production to stay with the lead pack, and if you make a mistake, you have to be able to muscle the machine. But it’s also an endurance sport.”
AMA Ducati rider Eric Bostrom, younger brother of Ben Bostrom, is reaping the benefits from incorporating his brother’s program into his workouts, and has ridden bicycles with coach Jim Lehman.
“My cardio is better than ever, I feel it in everyday life,” said Eric, a six-time winner at PPIR.
“Resting was the hardest part because Ben and I are doers. We continue to fight it. The biggest thing that it has helped me with is my mental preparation.
“My mind tends to wander a little less now. By taking a little time off, I’m fresher. A big part of racing is the mental side. And I seem to have more left on my plate during race weekends.”
Train like the pros
Elite athletes pay about $1,500 a month for specialized training at CTS that includes lab-based performance testing. But the center also trains recreational athletes and cancer survivors inspired by Lance Armstrong – and packages come at a much lower price. For more information, call 866-355-0645 or www.trainright.com.
AMA Superbike Championship
Where: Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain
When: Saturday, Sunday
TV: Sunday, Speed Channel, 2 p.m.
Saturday
8 a.m.: Gates open
8:30 a.m.-noon: Practice: supersport, superstock, formula xtreme, superbike
12:50-1:40 p.m.: Supersport qualifying
1:50-2:40 p.m.: Superstock qualifying
2:50-3:40 p.m.: Formula xtreme qualifying
3:50-5:20 p.m.: Superbike qualifying
Sunday
8 a.m.: Gates open
8:30-11 a.m.: Practice: supersport, superstock, formula xtreme, superbike
11:20 a.m.: Supersport race, 29 laps, 60 kilometers
1 p.m.: Superstock race, 29 laps
2 p.m.: Formula xtreme race, 29 laps
3 p.m.: Superbike race, 48 laps, 100k
Class descriptions
(From amasuperbike.com)
Supersport and superstock
These motorcycles are the closest to showroom stock. Supersport bikes are 0-600cc, four-stroke, four and twin cylinders. Superstock machines are 745cc-1,000cc.
Formula xtreme
Class allows the largest displacement engines and are based on four-stroke street cycles – 450cc-1,350ccs.
Superbike
1,000cc motorcycles that are modified versions of machines sold to consumers. Concept resembles NASCAR Nextel Cup series.
Eliza Marie Somers can be reached at 303-820-1629 or lsomers@denverpost.com.
