Starts are arguably the most important part of winning. It's a lot easier to win races from the front than to come from the back. Many riders think a good start means pinning the throttle, dumping the clutch and jamming through the gears as fast as possible-not quite. To get a good launch, you need to get the maximum amount of horsepower to the ground, and spinning the tires doesn't deliver the power; it simply wastes energy. The constantly changing conditions in off-road racing are tricky, so you must figure out how much traction is available and maximize the available power. You have three variables under your control to accomplish this: throttle position, clutch and body position. It takes practice to properly apply them so you consistently nail that holeshot.
Being a clutch dumper may earn you a holeshot at your local track now and then, but line up at a National and that'll get you left behind. It's all about using the clutch to get maximum power to the ground. A learned skill, the feel for what your machine is doing and how to control it takes practice to gain. Ideally, the best place to begin this learning process is on a patch of asphalt where you should get about 100 percent traction (if one is available at your track or riding area-not down your street). You don't need a lot of room to practice; 100 feet is sufficient.