I have placed 1st and 3rd in two of the 4 shows Ive entered. I've never cleaned the bike prior. I really don't care for the competition, so I never really cared to win or not. I won the 1st place at the 1st show it entered, that's enough for me. It was loaded with brake dust and water and dirt from the few hundred or so miles I put on it that week. Don't kill yourself and just get the main enjoyment from watching others looking at you bike ..... and wishing they had one...