PRO-RIDER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

RPS PRO-DEVELOPMENT RIDERS

2005 - SHEA FOUCHEK

2006 - DANNY KELSEY

2007 - DUSTIN DOUCET

History

RPS Owner Marcus McBain had reviewed his school he ran in 2002 and 2003 and realized that it was very successful. In addition, they suspension business was going very well! With many of Marcus's sponsored riders, and customers winning in tremendous numbers in 2003-2004. Marcus then developed curriculum and structure to start training riders to become "professionals". McBain had been working to find a way to introduce a riding style he had developed in 1992. The core of the skillset(s) revolved around the techniques used in the endurance racing efforts when Marcus and his teammate (Jeb Bridgeman) would fill the tires to 40lbs-42lbs in an effort to get the tires to last all 6 hours of an endurance race. The result was that despite riding the larger Suzuki GSXR-750, tire life was equivalent to racing an FZR-400. This was unheard of at the time. The downside was that tires offered little grip and the only remedy was to adopt a riding style required several key components of dirt riding that incorporated lower body foot techniques generally only found mostly in dirt riding. 

McBain had been teaching techniques that focused on driving a race bike through the turns with distribution of the outside peg/weight as the primary focus in 2002 despite the (at the time) prevailing teachings of several "big names" that focused on inside weight distribution. Ironically, after several MOTO GP riders were seen not even putting their inside foot on foot pegs in 2004 and onward...many teaching techniques switched utilizing the outside peg/weight distribution around 2007 and onwards. Marcus had been teaching these techniques for years and he then incorporated those riding techniques into the "Pro-Rider Development" program around this philosophy as well as the other "critical success skills" that were additionally introduced to the riders of the Pro-Rider Development program(s).

Marcus provided bike preparation, developed a focused classroom curriculum (much of which focused on how to "learn and ride a track"), mentored the riders, and lastly custom built all suspension for the riders. In addition, McBain constantly worked with the parents to make sure a "realistic plan" was put in place for each rider. There have been three goals that the program focused on for the selcted riders: (1) would immediately win in their division once initial training began, (2) that upon moving to the expert ranks, that would be able to turn the lap times necessary to win in their first (expert) year of competition within the premier classes, and (3) they would not crash on a regular basis (less than 1 race a year) in any level of "club" competition. The program did hold up to all these covenants and it has been successful on all counts.  Ultimately, Marcus has only been able to take in three students up to this point (program ended in 2008 due to schedule constraints) and enclosed is the unique and very well documented success of his efforts for the Pro-Rider Development program(s).

Lastly, McBain had all "Pro-Rider Development" program participants compete on 600cc machinery to ensure that they realized "speed" is attained through riding and bike setup...not rear wheel horsepower. Program participants were not allowed to "build motors" and had to run mostly stock motorcycles to underscore this. The only team directed aftermarket "upgrades" were (1) Aftermarket Exhaust and Power Commander, (2) Penske Shock, (3) re-valved stock "pistoned" forks (they were allowed to upgrade to Penske 20mm pistons when they showed the appropriate speed), and (4) basic/safety rules required modifications such as steel braided brake lines. This "humble build" provided that any success for the program riders was due to their riding, not technology or horsepower.