How do you establish your braking points? Esp. when it's at a new track? I will be at NCM in a few weeks & have zero reference points to go on... What works for you?
Just ride at 80% or less. As long as you are keeping your line, the fast guys will safely go around you. I seem to do a lot of coasting into the breaking zone when i get to a new track. Once you figure out your way around a track, then you can start pushing your brake markers. Also, getting a coach to tow you around a couple laps always hastens the process.
Find reference points at each corner. Whether a number board, seams on the track, a tree .. something that won't move/change. Whether you brake at the RP, before it, after it, etc. Establishing those RP's and gradually pushing them/finding new RP's will help you improve in a controlled manner.
some of the brake markers can be disregarded entirely, some are going to save your ass. that track will bite you hard and quickly if you don't know it well. follow someone you trust who knows the track. it will take some time to learn it; even then, it's pretty intense given the high speeds available. the grip is very good. you'll see that agressive trail braking is not only warranted, but pretty safe. a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Xet7cvWrw many turns can be straightened out (less swooping than you see in above vid) as my speed increased, I got more and more aware of the armco trackside. in the end, it's a car track. getting off in certain turns on a bike could be very bad. have fun.
Watching onboard videos of bikes with similar displacement to my own usually helps me. Finding one with good audio is a bonus. If you've done the novice program with STT then you already know of a few drills to try. The single-gear and no-brake drills will help you establish a way to work backwards from the apex. It's not just about when to get ON the brakes, but also when to let OFF and crack open the throttle ymmv
eventually, I felt I was really hauling through there. def have to commit to turn before visual confirmation. and immediately hit that left under full throttle! and then tabletop! and then more speed into another blind turn! etc. overall, a very physical track. the only track ever to induce arm pump in me. i love it.
