How I Won the Championship by Not Trying to Win Every Race

There’s an old saying in motor racing: “To finish first, first you have to finish.”

It’s not as glamorous as spraying champagne on the podium, but it’s true. Winning a championship isn’t about being the fastest in every single race—it’s about being the smartest over the season. That might sound counterintuitive. Don’t champions go all out, all the time? Not if they want to stay on the bike.

Racing has always been a passion of mine. Last year was a standout, with my winning the British Motorcycle Racing Club’s rookie class known as the RMT Championship, as well as being awarded the 500cc Shield for best newcomer. Rewind five years, and I hadn’t even sat on a motorcycle. It’s safe to say I am quite pleased with this result. How did I do this? Consistency and coaching.

It wasn’t because I won every race—I didn’t. It was because I consistently finished near the top, avoided costly mistakes and knew when to push and when to hold back. In short: I played the long game. It wasn’t because I had all the answers. I definitely didn’t. I sought the advice and guidance of professionals from the start.

And if that sounds familiar to anyone who builds investment portfolios or works with clients on financial plans, it should.

On the track, there is always the temptation to overtake on every corner, to brake a fraction later than the next rider, or to push the tyres beyond their limit. But that’s how you end up crashing. The reality is that riders who try to win every race tend to DNF (“Did Not Finish”) a lot. And in a championship series, a DNF costs far more than a second- or third-place finish. Consistency beats heroics.

The investing parallel is obvious. Chasing short-term outperformance, loading up on high-risk positions or reacting emotionally to market movements can lead to big drawdowns. A portfolio that avoids major setbacks will often outperform one that takes too many swings.

Early in the season, my race strategy shifted. Instead of asking, “How do I win this race?” I started asking: “What’s the maximum number of points for the minimum amount of risk?”

That didn’t mean playing it safe or sandbagging. It meant thinking in terms of probability and risk versus reward. Sometimes I pushed for the win. Other times, I settled for a solid finish, knowing my main rivals were behind me or had crashed out.

In investing, we do the same. Long-term success doesn’t come from predicting the next hot stock or timing the market perfectly. It comes from building resilient portfolios, managing downside and keeping clients focused on their goals—not the scoreboard—after every quarter.

A rider who tries to win every time puts themselves under maximum stress—mentally, physically, mechanically. That pressure leads to mistakes, misjudgements and, sometimes, a blown engine. Likewise, investors who chase returns or panic in a downturn often end up stepping out of the market at precisely the wrong time. They’re not in the game when it matters most. 

One of an adviser’s most valuable roles is to help their clients stay in the race. That means having a clear plan, setting realistic expectations and creating space for clients to endure short-term volatility without abandoning the long-term goal.

At Cadwell Park Circuit in Lincolnshire, I started from a poor grid position on a damp track. Instead of forcing moves and risking a crash, I focused on clean laps, avoiding incidents and banking valuable points. I swapped thrills for consistency—and that kept me in contention.

By contrast, at Brands Hatch earlier in the season, I saw a chance to take the win against a close championship rival despite poor conditions. That day, it made sense to go all out—and it paid off.

The key is knowing when to hold position and when to seize the opportunity.

Portfolio management is no different. Sometimes it’s right to lean into risk, whereas other times, capital preservation is the priority. Context is everything.

Most riders can win a race on their day. But winning a championship takes a different mindset. It’s about discipline, consistency and thinking beyond the next corner.

Investing is the same. Advisers aren’t helping clients win the day—they’re playing the long game. And that means focusing less on today’s leaderboard and more on where their clients will be in five, 10 or 20 years’ time.

The paradox of racing—and investing—is that you often win not by going faster, but by going smarter. That’s what wins championships. And that’s what delivers lasting financial outcomes.