This type of driving school has probably been the subject of Spanish motocross talents’ dreams for some time: at Red Bull X-Ray MX-Clinic Dany Torres, Marc Coma, Nani Roma and Jonathan Barragan acted as driving instructors to 11-to-15-year-old junior pilots.
Customarily, the topics dealt with in conventional driving schools won’t exactly stimulate the adrenaline: Who has right of way when a street car and an emergency vehicle meet down a one-way street? How many extra meters do you need to calculate to brake if you’re driving at 53 km/h instead of 50? And what are you supposed to do if you find yourself in an unlit tunnel, have run out of gas and your hazard lights don’t work – all at the same time? At Red Bull X-Ray MX-Clinic, a driving school of an advanced kind, all this was a bit different.Champions for trainers
For here, twelve of Spain’s most talented junior drivers received first-hand motocross instruction. A Red Bull X-Fighters winner, two Dakar victors and a three-time Spanish champion disclosed tricks and ruses to 11-to-15-year-old driving students; showed them correct driving techniques for all kinds of racing situations – and offered healthy role models for the I’m-a-serious-athlete-but-can-also-let-my-hair-down attitude of true champions.
Spring board for future careers
In Spain’s regional and national championships the youngsters who took part in the MX-Clinic are already well-known faces. But on a specially designed course in Valdemorillo near Madrid they were able to learn an awful lot from their heroes. “It’s such great fun to train with these kids,” said Dany Torres. “Because their level is already so high that, with a bit of fine-tuning, you can turn them into genuine champions.”
Increased success with insider tricks
To learn from the idols, whose posters they have pinned up above their beds, was an inspiring experience for the kids in more ways than one. “I like the things Jonathan has been explaining on how to tackle the jumps; ‘squatting down’ on the rear suspension to pick up a nice strong impulse,” raved Marc Sans, second in the Catalonian Junior championship, and at 11 years of age, the youngest protégé of the event. “And, then, there’s his advice on how to start the race: keep your grill nice and clean and lean right over the handlebars to load the weight onto the front wheel.” And Carlos Sánchez, 12 and two-time regional champion, was sure that he’d benefit from what he learned as early as his next race: “Jonathan showed me how I give away time at the start. That won’t happen any more.”
Red Bull X-Ray MX-Clinic
Red Bull X-Ray MX-Clinic
Nani Roma, Jonathan Barragan and Marc Coma
Red Bull X-Ray MX-Clinic