One thing became apparent to Bermuda pro motorcycle rider Antoine Richards after he competed in the Road Atlanta competition last weekend.

"I need to get fitter," said Richards.

And so he has decided to get on a different bike than his Suzuki GSX-R 600.

"All the professional riders out there work out on a pedal bike and so that is what I am going to do," he said after returning this week.

"My team-mate out there probably rides 150 miles a week and then he also rides a dirt bike six or seven days a week as a way of staying fit and training. I am going to be looking for a little 150 motocross bike as well to train on. I am going to do everything I can to get fitter."

Richards finished in 15th place on the first day on Saturday but crashed in the second race on the Sunday when he was taken out by another rider.

Of the track, he said: "The track in Atlanta took a lot more out of me than the track at the Daytone International Speedway (where he had his first pro race earlier this year).

"Last weekend showed me that I have to get more out of my training. We had the speed to be up there in the top 10 but my fitness let me down. The track had a lot of corners and left and right turns at different elevations. It was a hot day as well and it took a lot out of me. All that turning and (using) the brakes take it out of you. The track was so tough and it really opened my eyes on what I need to do.

"I have been going to the gym a lot and also running but after talking to the guys up there I think the pedal bike is the way to go. I am going to change my training regime and try to do about 100 miles week. I don't want fatigue to take away from my results. It is also a lot more dangerous riding if you start getting tired. I am doing 160 mph down the straightaways – fatigue can make you make errors and you do not want to make errors going at that speed. It can be so dangerous when you are tired. In Atlanta my muscles were sore and tight."

Of his crash he said: "I started the race really well – I made the jump on about four riders and stated to get a good line."

Then another rider passed him on the inside. "He took me out - hit my front wheel. I was not happy about that."

And while he said he wanted to pick up the bike and keep going, the handlebars were broken.

"Obviously I couldn't race after that.

"These things happen. There is a right way to pass someone and a wrong way to pass someone and the rider (who hit him) was bordering on the wrong way of doing it. But those things happen and I can honestly say it is not like I haven't done the same thing myself before. I didn't hurt myself – I walked away but the bike was pretty messed up. But that is the nature of the sport."

One thing he will remember about the weekend at Road Atlanta were the crowds and fans.

"I got to meet a lot of fans. Before the race they had a fan walk where they came down pit lane. I gave out about 100 posters and signed about 200 T-shirts. It was really good to meet the fans and they were happy to see a black Bermudian trying to make it on the big circuit."