It also helps if you have adrenaline-soaked nerves, according to Shepparton BMX Club rider Hayden Fletcher.
The 20-year-old has turned heads on the BMX circuit this year, collecting two podium finishes at the first and second stages of this year’s BMXA Bad Boy national series.
Fletcher recounted his remarkable experience at the first leg of the national series in Sydney, where he copped a rough fall in qualifying before gritting his teeth and winning the superclass series event.
‘‘I had a nasty fall in qualifying at Sydney and ended up with a swollen elbow and had not much skin left on my arm,’’ Fletcher said.
‘‘Once that adrenaline kicks in you just don’t feel that pain and I got back up and thought to myself ‘I’m not letting this injury ruin my chances here’.
‘‘I powered through to actually win the superclass series race which was unreal, I was pretty stoked with that,’’ Fletcher said.
The local rider is perched atop the superclass series leaderboard as the national series heads to stage three next month in Ipswich, Queensland.
He credits his ascension up the national ranks to his training regime, which involves strength and conditioning, track work and flexibility.
‘‘I head into the gym and work on strength and conditioning and keeping myself as fit as possible,’’ he said.
‘‘But I’m always out on the track practicing every aspect of racing such as, gate take-off, landing technique and gear changing.
‘‘I also do a fair bit of stretching because crashes are a regular thing, so it helps to have flexibility in your muscles.’’
Although he resides in the small town of Howqua — nestled on the banks of Lake Eildon near Mansfield — Fletcher’s home club is Shepparton, where he was back in action last weekend for the Shepparton BMX Open.
If you had been following the in-form rider’s year to date, you wouldn’t be surprised to know that Fletcher ended up winning the men’s superclass event.
‘‘I hadn’t actually raced in Shepparton for two years, so it was really cool to be back on the home track and picking up some success,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s (the track) become a pretty gnarly track with its big jumps and wide open corners, it makes for fun, fast racing.’’
Fletcher revealed that the next couple of weeks will be dedicated to preparing for the third stage of the national series, before he jets off overseas to tackle the world’s best at the European and Manchester cups.
‘‘The weekend after Ipswich I’ll fly out to Belgium for the European Cup and then the following weekend I’ll head to England for the Manchester Cup,’’ Fletcher said.
‘‘I’ve raced in America before, but it will be my first time over in Europe racing and I’m super excited, I can’t wait.’’
Once he touches back down in Australia after his assault on the European circuit, Fletcher will narrow his gaze on the BMXA Bad Boy national championships, which will be hosted by Shepparton BMX Club in May.
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