now, i don't know nuttin' bout nuttin', but i've raced bicycles and xc skis for years and years, and when it's wet out, you're just gonna get wet. deal with it. gore-tex may be breathable for elderly volvo-driving hikers, but it might as well be impermeable if you're really sweating. heck, i get wet on a dry day, wearing clothes with holes in it.
here's what i do, adjust to fit:
1) buy a reasonably waterproof jacket and/or pants. buy the fancy gore-tex if it makes you feel better, but i have a closet full of leaky gore-tex jackets. i use a Stearns plastic jacket ($20 from costco, including pants).
2) Wear synthetic (or wool if you're desperate) long underwear, NOT cotton. in cold wet weather, i wear light polypro bottoms under my riding pants, polypro top, then fleece sweater, then rainjacket.
3) for god's sake, get heated grips. i don't have em on my ktm yet, but they're coming soon. the other choice is big thick gloves that keep you warm even when they're wet, but don't have much feel for the controls. i tried neoprene gloves, but the ones i used were too stiff and cramped up my hands. it wasn't that cold when i used them tho, so i might feel different if the other choice was having them go numb. jet-ski gloves might be the ticket. i've seen some that had a neoprene outer layer, but leather on the inside of the palm and fingers, so probably less work to close your hands around the bar. whatever you do, try it out for a day ride before the race.
4) pray for warmer, dryer weather on race day.
-mark
www.motosapiens.net