Take the Walk.The most underestimated Aspect of Racing, Walking the Track. This gives you insight into what lay ahead of you. Sharp Corners, Drops, Or even Wet Sections that can easily to into Ruts or Muck Pits. When in the heat of the race, its nice to know whats coming up, so you can concentrate on whats happening now.

If you are lucky enough to have a rider with more experience or simply has riden that track, get them to do the walk with you, for pointers.

Pre Race Briefing. If available at that track, go to it! There is a reason for them and it will explain the starting procedure and quite often will inform the riders of a last minute change to the race order. It would be harsh to have brought your bike, done your practice and got all geared up to please them fans, and then miss the race because the schedule changed. 

Safety Checks. Some track officials check your ride, and your safety gear to make sure it's safe and passes certain inspections. Rules and regulations vary from track to track, so make sure you're up to date on what's allowed and what's not for your bike.

They may check wheel bearings, spoke tightness, functioning brakes and that handlebar ends are plugged etc. So follow these MX tips and give your bike another quick check before you get it inspected. Don't want to be packing up early cuz you were denied to ride.

Practice Makes perfect
(or at least as good as your gonna get)Practice sessions vary in length so find out how long your practice will be beforehand ( rider briefing!). Don't be and Idiot, No matter how hard you try, you will not Win the practice. So No need for all out track terror, save that for the race. 

Wait your turn to start and practice a couple of starts yourself. Decide what gear to start in and which gates look to have the best line into the first corner. Ride the first lap at a descent pace and check out the track. It wont seem the same on your bike, as it was when you walked it. Pay attention to lines leading into corners. On your second run, giver a little juice & put together a sequence of corners,jumps and whatever else you need. 

Remember spots you struggle with and next trip around try to get it just right, try alternate lines on corners, this will be the only chance you get without it being a high pressure race situation.

Starts
Get to the start line with time to spare, a lot of meetings will have a random draw to decide who gets first choice for a start gate at the first race. Techniques will also vary with dirt or cement start blocks.

Pick the best gate available that gives you a good line into that first corner. Check your box, Stamp down any loose dirt on your start pad and in front of your gate. If the rider before you left a rut that's not straight your rear wheel will follow it.

Breathe Man Breathe. When in position make sure you've got your goggles and you're ready to go. Some riders close your eyes for a few seconds and visualise your start. It may sound Luke Skywalkeresk, but it works for some. 
I Said Breathe..relax, everyone gets nervous at the gate, even the pro's. 

5..Check your line 4..Position yourself  3..You git it in gear right? 2..Throttle up..1..Check your line & giver bullets..

Race Strategies
First priority after the start will be to get through the first corner alive and on your bike. Hopefully you've pulled off a good start and you're heading into the corner in a good position. There couldn't be a worse time to blow it than now when most of the field is eating your dirt. 

Hold your line, keeping an eye out for the suicidal jerk who goes flying into the corner willing to take as many people out with him as he can! 

Relax if a couple of riders pass you dont sweat it.  There are usually tangles in the pack in the first corner and you can pick up a few spots just by stearing clear.

If you're a pro then your plan is pretty simple, go as hard & as you can for the entire race. If you're like the rest of us then you need to ride smart, & get through the rest of the race in reasonable shape. Most crashes are caused by rider fatigue, so look for smooth and flowing lines that will allow you to conserve energy.

Use your legs to grip the bike, your leg muscles are the largest muscle group in your body and will take some of the strain off your arms and shoulders.

Put some distance between you and the rider behind as soon as possible, then he can think less about catching you and more about the guy that's chasing him. Resist the temptation to ride over your limits, especially when you're under pressure. This is where bad things cna happen. Stay smooth and focused on your braking into corners, you'll expend a heap of energy unnecessarily trying to correct your line if you run wide in a turn. 

Good braking technique can allow you to make up lots of ground on the rider in front of you. Good braking techniques and cornering skills will help you make up positions during a race but, many riders aren't able to capitalize using their brakes to their full potential.

The front brake provides about 70% of your stopping power but riders get nervous about the front end washing out. The rear brake doesn't provide as much stopping power but is effective in keeping the bike stable whilst braking.

When braking you should be in the attack position gripping the bike with your knees, particularly when the braking area is rough, to allow you to keep control and take some strain off your arms and shoulders.

When approaching a smooth corner under brakes, weight should be back on the bike to stop the rear wheel from lifting. If the corner has large braking bumps (usually the case on sandy motocross tracks) then center your weight to allow the bike to rock underneath you over the bumps. If the corner is off camber, move your weight forward to weight the front wheel to prevent it from washing out.

Practice
Here are a couple of exercises to help you practise your braking techniques.

Pick a flat area with consistent traction and while moving slowly in first gear gradually apply the front brake until the front wheel starts to lock. You will need to increase the throttle to stop the bike from stalling. As the front wheel starts to lock, release the brake then repeat the exercise. This will get you familiar with the feeling of the front wheel locking so you can brake to the point of maximum traction without locking the wheel and washing the front out.

Another exercise is to get four witchs hats or markers and lay out a large rectangle. As you approach the end of the rectangle, lock the rear wheel and skid steer the bike around without putting your feet down. Use good clutch control to avoid stalling the bike and as the rear end of the bike comes around smoothly release the clutch and move up to the other end of the rectangle to repeat the exercise.

With regular practice you will greatly improve your braking techniques and combined with good cornering skills you'll be much faster overall. 

After the RaceAfter you finish your race, get your breath back and hopefully hear the cheers from your adoring fans. Get your bike and your gear ready for your next race.

Give the bike a once over, lube and adjust the chain and check whether the air filter needs cleaning or replacing. Clean your goggles and fit new tear offs if you need them. Refuel if necessary and if it's muddy clean your number plates so the lap scorers know who you are. It's a good idea if you don't have access to a bike wash between races to just scrape as much mud as you can off your bike, it's amazing just how much weight mud can add.

Get yourself a drink and a bit of fruit if you feel like eating, steer clear of the Hotdogs, regardless of how hot Attendant may be. One of the more important tips is check how the fast guys are riding the track. Track conditions can change dramatically from race to race and you may see some lines that you didn't see when you were racing. Remember, the line only has to be a tires width wide.

Watch how more experienced riders tackle difficult sections of the track. Talk to other riders as they come in after their race, ask them how they went and how the track is, everyone loves talking about themselves and you may pick up a couple of handy motocross racing tips from the fast guys.

If you're particularly keen and want to get onto the infield, explain to a corner marshall that you threw your goggles away and can you please go and find them. It doesn't always work but sometimes it does.