At the age of six, pro motocross racer Johnny Lewis competed in a flat track race on his first Yamaha. After that race, his dad knew it was time to get a faster bike.
Within 10 years, Johnny won hundreds of regional and national flat track races. After finishing his amateur career, Johnny made a jump to the pro circuit. It was during this time he discovered the TRX Suspension Trainer and began integrating it into his workouts. Two seasons later, Johnny had eight podiums and one pro career win under his belt.
"Straight off the bat, I realized the TRX is one of the best things I've ever used to build core strength," says Johnny. "The core is a big thing with motorcycle racing. You don't really ride a motorcycle with your hands; a lot of it is core, lower body. The more you hold on, the more you're fighting the bike. These bikes are designed to go pretty much by themselves. When people jump on and force them to do things, that when you get out of control."
This is a lesson Johnny learned the hard way. In a 2009 pro race in Las Vegas, Johnny and the race leader collided, resulting in a torn ACL for Johnny, which ended his season.
Johnny's sports medicine therapist had never heard of the TRX before, but his immediate reaction upon seeing it was "Wow" and with his blessing, Johnny started incorporating it into his rehabilitation. "With my knee, he didn't want me doing a squat wrong, but with the TRX, I was able to do the exercise with control and use the TRX to stabilize myself. It helped me to advance my rehab significantly. My therapist was amazed with how quickly I recovered, considering the extent of my injury. After he saw what it could do, he decided to order some TRXs for his clinic."
Johnny credits the TRX with not just fast-tracking his rehab but giving him a competitive advantage. In addition to the core stability gains he's made and maintained with the TRX, Johnny also relies on the TRX to develop balance, flexibility, durability and endurance, crucial when you consider his race season consists of approximately 20-22 rides in nine months. He works out on the TRX four to five days a week, interspersed with outdoor rides when the weather cooperates in his native Pennsylvania.
Without the aid of a trainer, Johnny relies on the information he finds on TRXtraining.com. "There's no reason to have a personal trainer," he says, "I just find new things on the site and come up with my own workout plan."
Johnny will be able to put his program design skills to use in his new endeavor, the recently formed Ride Academy for riders of all ages and all ability levels. "I want to provide young riders a place where they can learn everything and give these kids an edge." He hopes to introduce the TRX into the training mix at the Academy soon because he considers it the most effective tool any rider could use.
"I can make people almost cry on the TRX," says Johnny, "even the people who generally spend a lot of time in the gym. A few minutes on this thing, and they're whupped!"
With two second place finishes at Daytona, Florida’s “Bike Week” in mid March, Johnny's second pro flat track season if off with flying colors. "It was a great way to start the season off. I plan to keep the momentum building this year.”
Check out the video above to get a taste of Johnny's life, including the TRX moves he relies on (TRX Mountain Climber, TRX Mid Row and TRX Seated Figure-four Stretch) to keep him ready for race day.
Are you a motocross racer using the TRX in your training? Tell us about it below.
