Club MX

ClubMX is out in Chesterfield, South Carolina, and it is a massive 200-acre complex that basically sets the standard for what a training facility should look like. Most of the guys you see on TV during the Supercross season are spinning laps here during the week. It feels like a small city built entirely for dirt bikes. It is one of those spots that every serious racer talks about in the pits, so finally getting it on the schedule feels like a huge step for the program.

The dirt is that classic South Carolina clay mix that gets some serious ruts. Since there are eight different tracks, you get everything from high-speed outdoor national style layouts to tight Supercross rhythm sections. I know the main track is going to be technical based on everything I have seen on film. The transitions are big and the faces are peaked. The dirt holds enough moisture to get those deep grooves that test your balance. You have to be precise because the margins for error are pretty slim when the ruts get that long.

If Kyle Swanson is out here with us, he is definitely going to be on our cases about intensity and line choice. At a place like this, you cannot just cruise. He would have us focusing on maintaining corner speed through the rough stuff and finding those creative lines that most people miss when they get tired. It is about the mental side too. When you are surrounded by fast guys, it is easy to get tight (which just leads to arm pump), so Kyle would probably push us to stay loose and keep our lap times consistent even when the track starts breaking down.

This place is built for the riders who are actually trying to move up or the guys who want to see where they stack up against the best. It is not exactly a beginner playground. If you are going to make the trip, make sure your bike is fresh and your fitness is actually where it needs to be. You should check their schedule before you load up because they run a tight ship with their riding, fitness, nutrition, and mental programs. Bring extra sets of gear because the red dirt stays with you, and honestly, bring a notebook because you are going to learn more in a weekend here than a month at your local track.