A visit to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) could be the turning point for the emerging careers of some of our most promising Motocross and Off-Road riders.

You only have to look to the recent achievements of young guns such as; Dean Ferris, Kirk Gibbs, Tom McCormack and Luka Bussa, who all spent valuable time at the AIS during the last three years taking their craft to new levels.

The 2010 AIS Motocross/Off Road Development Training Camp will provide aspiring riders with the chance to live breathe and learn the life of a professional athlete.

Motorcycling Australia (MA) in conjunction with the AIS are offering riders the chance to take part in the 10 day camp in Canberra from 7-16 December.

MA’s national development officer Asher Newton said the camp was a great first step into the elite environment for riders keen to accelerate their development.

“These riders will look at doing things the top level international riders are doing,” he said. “The camp will try to bring them up to speed with all the different advancements in nutrition, hydration, recovery, and injury prevention, assisting them to become better all-round athletes.”

Newton explains how developments in sports science can provide riders with the knowledge and information to give them that all important edge.

“In the last five years there has been a significant increase in the use of sports science in Motocross and Off Road racing,” he said. “You see ice baths and riders going through all different recovery and preparation programs at national events.

“That’s thanks largely to what the top level guys are doing and people are beginning to pick these things up.”

It’s not all off-bike training and education for these athletes, with riders hitting several local tracks under the tutelage of some of the country’s premier coaches.

Considered one of the most physically and mentally demanding programs available to Motocross and Off Road riders, Newton said despite the long days and hard training the riders enjoy the professional environment the AIS has to offer.

“I would say 99 per cent of riders want the camp to go for longer,” he said. “It’s a motivating environment and I believe the riders really respond to training and living alongside athletes who are preparing for national and world championships. It’s the type of thing that pushes them that little bit further to improve and achieve their goals.”

Dedication and desire are some major selection criteria when Newton is assessing the candidates for the limited number of places at the camp.

“Drive and motivation is important, and that’s consistent across all disciplines,” he said. “Often it’s the riders putting in that extra 10 per cent who show outstanding results in terms of their racing.”

Applications for the 2010 AIS Motocross/Off-Road Development Training Camp are available on the MA website at www.ma.org.au/forms and need to be submitted by Friday, 22 October.

Completed applications should be sent to:
Asher Newton
Motorcycling Australia
PO Box 134
South Melbourne VIC 3205
Ph: 03 9684 0502
Email: [email protected]