It's mentioned in podium speeches and press releases. It's talked about on the sidelines and witnessed at the races. It's usually called heart, and it's often the only thing that separates the winners from the also-rans.
We tried to get inside the minds of the sport's top racers as they launched into the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship to find out where that intangible element of drive and desire comes from. Whether it's built during the week preparing for the race, a mindset that can be adopted, or a natural talent only tapped into when it's needed. We also took an up-close look at the outdoor bike setup, showing that it's not only rider but machine that faces its ultimate test in the long motos under the hot sun on the brutal tracks of motocross.
"I don't do anything to make winning easier. I train and do everything everybody else does, but I guess I just have something to put it together."
-Ryan Villopoto
"I think winners are born, they're not built. Anybody that I've ever seen [who's winning], no matter what sport, they master the way of winning at a young age. Not very often do you see a mediocre guy suddenly turn into a guy who goes and wins week in and week out.... For me it's like my pride is on the line. You're the one who has to stand up to, whether it's your wife or your team manager or your friends or whatever, you're the one who looks them in the face when you come off the track, whether you did good or you did bad. Your pride's on the line and you just don't want to fail. Everybody, I don't care who you are, everybody's afraid of failing, so you give it all you've got. That's a good enough reason for me."
-Chad Reed
"It comes from within. The body and the mindset. I try to not focus on too much [of the negative] that's going on and just what I'm doing and worry about myself, and it usually works out pretty good.... You just gotta keep wanting it. When you give up on yourself you teach yourself to quit."
-Mike Alessi
"The mental side is a huge part of the sport. You have to be mentally strong to go through the motos and handle pressure, and to be able to focus on your lines and all that. Your desire has to be in it or you just won't win. That is definitely the biggest key to racing."
-Josh Grant
"It's really mental; racing's crazy, it plays a lot in your head when you don't think you did everything you could do the weeks before. It plays a big part in my mind to be ready before the season starts and go on that gate and be ready."
-Austin Stroupe
"I think a lot of times things like heart are developed when you are a kid. How you're brought up racing, how you're brought up in competition, things you have to go through to get where you're at today, I think those things stick with you. They have for me. Growing up, racing was a struggle always and I didn't get used to winning as a kid, so when I see defeat now it makes me want to try even harder. For me, it's all about giving 100 percent."
-Timmy Ferry