So, here are some pointers from the Big Dogs.
Gary Semics suggests, "Don't race the track by every ten feet. Race it one section at a time and blend the sections together with a purpose." He says, "Your vision should always be scanning the track in front of you, focusing on the most important things, then scanning and focusing on the next most important thing, and so on. If you can't see it yet, remember what's there."
Semics also adds, "Always be ready for what's coming up well before you get there. Set your self up so you're going to be on the right line well in advance. And, if you're trying to pass someone, look beyond them, not at them. You can't win races by following people."
Nick Wey (#27)has some great pointers as well. He said, "One of the most important places of all to look well ahead is in big sets of whoops or other tricky obstacles like them. I've found that if I look ahead and don't focus on the sketchy stuff, like a crooked or grooved whoop, then I'm better off. If I look long enough to concentrate on a jacked-up whoop, it makes me want to let off and not charge through the section."
#27 also said, "Rutted corners are tough, but they're a whole lot tougher if you look down and stare at the ruts! It's like walking on a tightrope; you never want to look directly down in front of you, because you'll lose your balance and fall off. Instead, look forward to where you want to go, not where you are, and you will keep better balance. You body will follow your head, so if you look straight down at the rut, you'll end up on the ground, but if you look well ahead to the next section, you'll be there before you know it."
On those long, fast, sweeping sand turns where he carrys so much speed, Nick Wey suggests looking ahead even farther than usual. He says that just past the halfway point in the turn, he is already looking ahead down the next straight to pick his lines for what's coming up next.