I couldn't agree with this more. Time on the dirt teaches all sorts of traction control that pure street riders have a hard time mastering on pavement alone.
99% of the top tier racers started riding on the dirt, and racing there years before they got to pavement.
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Like this rider? You think this rider spent some time on the dirt?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srMakWD6Jaw&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Almost Motorcycle Crash Very Funny[/ame]