An overview of important vision skills for Motocross

Core Visual Skills

Elite racers rely on elite visual performance that extends far beyond 20/20 vision. While there are a number of vision skills that are important for motocross riders, some are more crucial to performance than others. 

Core vision skills for motocross riders include:

• Eye-Hand-Foot Coordination: As with other sports which take place at high speeds, motocross requires the ability to react extremely quickly to visual input. A racer needs to be able to steer  the wheel accurately and timely as well as braking or stepping on the gas with precision. Enhanced eye-hand-foot coordination is a key visual skill that is needed both in order to win and to avoid potentially dangerous crashes.
• Peripheral Awareness:  Especially while moving at high speeds, it is very important to be aware of where other riders around you are. Improving peripheral awareness can pay off greatly both when it comes to a rider being able to better position himself based on the movements of others, and to avoid potentially dangerous collisions.
• Dynamic Visual Acuity: Dynamic visual acuity enables one to effectively and quickly see, interpret, and react to a fast moving object, while also being in motion. As with several other vision skills for motocross riders, improving this provides enhanced ability to track other riders as they move around at high speeds while the rider is himself moving.
• Visual Reaction Time: This is another skill which helps a rider react quickly to new visual input, and can also significantly improve performance in high-pressure races.