 VIVA OH MX Racers Photo: Janine Younkins Joel YounkinsHigh Performance Coach Everyone wants the trophy, but very few want to become the person capable of earning it. I want to let you in on a little secret...You don’t have to be holding a #1 plate to be a champion.
In fact, long before you ever touch that trophy, you’ve already become one. The trophy is nothing more than the after-effect of the person you’ve already been living as. You don't get the trophy and suddenly start acting like a champion, the person you were all season long, is what produced that result. Champions conduct themselves differently, and that’s what separates them from everyone else. While other racers, even the fast, talented ones, act and participate like the average human being, a true champion operates on a different level, day in and day out. That’s what shows up when things get tough, when the pressure spikes, and when everyone is riding their edge. Let’s get into a few things, all of which are 100% in your control, that make someone a champion, whether you're on a factory ride with a salary or an amateur grinding it out on your own. A champion isn't about how many trophies you get or what place you're finishing, it's how you push and dedicate yourself to improve. Have a Positive, Winning Attitude Champions can’t wait to get better. They can’t wait to compete. They thrive on going up against the best. They don’t shy away from hard work, pressure, or competition. They embrace it, chase it, and come alive in it. No matter what their personality is, serious, showman, or happy go lucky type of individual, their attitude is positive towards their goals. A positive attitude isn’t about pretending everything is sunshine. It’s about reframing every obstacle as something to push through or rise above. While everyone else is complaining about the track, gate picks, or how they “don’t feel like training,” you block out the noise and refuse to let negativity take up space in your head. Negativity is cheap. Anyone can do it. Some people even make a living out of it. But nobody has ever achieved anything great through negativity. No matter where you are, race track, practice track, gym, or home, the more you’re focused on improvement and executing your plan, the more your energy and actions align with where you want to go. Believe in yourself, stay excited about what's possible, and let negative thoughts float in one ear and out the other. The Power Is Within Champions don't look externally for power, belief, or confidence. They’re not waiting for someone to save them. Yes, they build a strong team, but they know that when it counts, they are the ones who must deliver. The team exists so the champion can focus internally. The team handles noise, logistics, and variables so the rider can stay locked in on improving what's already inside of them. Too many athletes look outside for something magical that’s going to change everything:
These stories do absolutely nothing to make you better. If that’s your mindset at the starting line, you may as well stay home and go play ride. I once told a high-level 85cc rider that he needed to believe he could beat his competition on a stock 110 pit bike. Obviously, that’s not realistic, it’s like bringing a knife to nuclear warfare, but that was the point. His mindset needed to reach a level where he truly believed he already had everything he needed inside of him. Champions Don’t Focus on Outcomes. They Focus on What Works and What Needs Improvement. Champions don’t obsess over winning. They obsess over getting better. They master the basics. While non-championship athletes chase "Insta-Bangers" and trying to be the “cool guy” at the track, champions lock in on fundamentals and execute them better than anyone else. They’re in the gym doing the simple, proven exercises, not circus tricks from TikTok. They're focused on getting better and they don't have time to be playing games. When they're around people who have knowledge and true insight, they listen, they ask questions, and they learn. They don't act like they know everything. They understand to learn and grow, you must be the student and be willing to listen and apply. When they roll up to the gate, they’re thinking about how they need to perform, not what place they might get. Meanwhile, everyone else is busy sizing up the competition and placing themselves in some fabricated pecking order. Champions focus only on the things that lead to winning. They know that if they do those things relentlessly, they’ll put themselves in position to get the results they’re chasing. They Have Discipline Champions have a level of discipline others don’t. They do what needs to be done whether they're in the mood or not. Discipline isn’t an on/off switch, it’s always on for champions. They know when to lock in, and they know when to relax. They have the discipline to work hard and the discipline to rest. Everything is intentional. Some people think discipline “takes the fun out of it.” But for champions, winning is fun. Doing the hard things is fun. Dominating is fun. That’s what fills their soul. They really give a shit about racing so when they do it right, it gets to be even more fun! Take that away and it’s like taking away their oxygen. Stop the Temper Tantrums Somewhere along the way, motocross normalized temper tantrums. Bad race? Get taken out? Make a mistake? Suddenly the pit becomes a war zone:
I get it. It sucks when things don’t go your way, especially when you pour everything into it. You’re allowed to feel what you feel. But acting like that, it's not cool and it's not how champions conduct themselves. Champions control their emotions. They control their response. They fix the problem and rally. And here’s the truth people overlook... Your competitors are always nearby, on the track and in the pits. Word travels fast. As an athlete, if I saw one of my competitors melting down, I’d feel great. I’d know I was close to breaking them. Do you really want to give your competition that confidence and edge over you? Be Free Champions are free in battle. Maybe not always in training. Not always in practice. But when it matters most, they become free from everything, pressure, fear, and expectations. That’s when they become their best selves. Their true selves. They don't have to worry about trying to fit in with the status quo of the crowd. They get to have full permission to become who they truly are out there on the track during competition. When you line up at the gate, are you free?
The best athletes don’t need big pep talks. They don’t need strict objectives. They need a couple different game plan options, maybe a small reminder of who they are...And then you let them go. Champions need to be set free. Winning Is Normal Some athletes win and act shocked. Some act like they haven’t tasted victory in years. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating, in fact, you should. But there’s a difference between winning like you've been there before and acting like you stumbled into a miracle. For winners, winning is normal. It’s expected. It’s the plan. They enjoy it, they appreciate it, but they also understand that it’s simply what they do. When they win (or hit their goals) their universe is in alignment. Final Thoughts Champions are some of the most misunderstood people on earth. When people see how they think, act, and carry themselves, the crowd doesn’t get it. But here’s the truth, you don’t need to be a title contender to carry yourself like a champion. You don’t even need to be an athlete. But you must learn to become a champion, long before you’re ever crowned one. Everything I’ve talked about takes zero talent, zero genetics, zero money, and zero special resources. It’s an identity shift. A change in your standards. Something you can take action on right this second. So ask yourself… How badly do you want to be a champion? Because the keys to becoming one are all right here, it's closer than you think.
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