One of my favourite moves in supercross is the berm drift. It can be used to block pass another rider or to let  you carry more speed into a corner and flow better around the track. But, it’s not quite as easy to master as the freaks racing supercross make it look. Here are the basics for drifting through that vertical while bouncing off your competition.

1 SET IT UP

The berm drift is completely different to a flat-turn drift. Unlike the flat turn, where you are using power to drift the bike, the berm drift uses rear brake. In order to ensure your drift doesn’t stop short of where you want to be you need to carry loads of speed before the berm. Judging the amount of speed you need is an art form and just takes practice.

2 FORCE THOSE KNOBS

You need the inside knobs to bite into the ground to allow you to push hard into the corner. Sit on the outside of the seat, your arse crack should be on the edge of the seat, your weight in the front third of it and your outside elbow pointing up. Keep your fingers over the controls and the throttle steady.

3 JUMP ON IT

As you approach the berm, get ready to hit the rear brake and unweight the rear wheel. In order to get the rear to slide up the berm and not over it you can use the front anchor to control the length of the slide. You will also need to shift your weight to the middle of the bike so the rear can slide.

4 SICK SKIDS

About a metre or two before the berm, jump on the brake and lock up the rear wheel. You will need to start turning the front in the direction you want to exit the corner so the bike begins to throw the rear wheel through the berm sideways. You can let the skid go as high as you need to go to ensure your mate winds up in the nose-bled section by entering with more speed, braking later and measuring your front brake application.

5 AIM OUT

It can sometimes help to have your inside leg out as you skid to balance the bike. Once the bike has reached the pocket of the berm it is likely the skid will end so you’ll need to be powering on before the skid stops. The reason for this is to ensure your drift is smooth and doesn’t come to a sudden stop and unbalance you. You should be looking towards the exit at all times and, by now, be powering out of the berm with your mate in the bleachers.

WHERE TO SKID?

START If you’re drifting into the berm to perform a bowl turn you’re probably not trying to take your mate out, you’re probably trying to counter the pass he just made by getting under him in the corner.

MIDDLE Drifting through the middle of the berm is the quickest drift in the berm as it is the shortest line and allows you the most direct exit. Be warned, drifting through this area leaves you prone to passes.

END If you’re drifting towards the end of the berm it can only mean one thing: a block pass is about to happen! If you see your mate rail the corner, just aim for the end of the berm, perform the above technique and hope for the best.

This How To appeared in ADB #502