I turn in with my back tire bouncing around all the time, race tires don't sequel but they slide around and skip when you dump the clutch on a last second downshift. Fact remains well after whatever drama you claim you had going on you still ran straight off the track when it could have been an easy corner. You need to accept what really happened, you got freaked out and target fixated on the grass, then road straight into it. You need to slow down until you've learned to control your vision and make good decisions. Let's put out a hypothetical: Lets say you ran great the session before and got bumped to A group. On your first A group session that corner happened and you gave up on the corner and went straight exactly like in the videos but this time a faster rider was on your outside and was planning a pass there but you never turned in, guess what, he just ran off the track too or t-boned you. What you have going on is a really bad habit and you need to accept it for what it is - poor riding - and correct it, so that you become a better rider. I've been doing this for a pretty long time and I've blown a corner and run off the track ONE time, ever. I got a tank slapper and couldn't get the bike under control and went off the track. Now lets talk crashes, I have crashed on a dry track ONE time also, but that wasn't from loosing grip, it was from being T-boned by another rider that was behind me and decided he couldn't make the corner and stood it up. 8 years on race tracks, I've been in that situation you found yourself in countless times, but you need to make the correct decisions and learn from the mistakes.
If something happens that freaks someone out, why would you people tell him he should have tried to make the corner? If he's freaked out (for whatever reason) I say its better to run off than risk crashing with your abilities compromized by your emotions. If you ask me, aniolpl did the right thing by taking the safer route in the grass.
The point it appears they are trying to make is for one ) make sure you are riding at a pace where you aren't freaking out and two ) learn to not get mentally freaked out when unplanned events happen. As they mentioned, if he wasn't fixating on the grass he more than likely would have been able to make the corner.
Agreed; don't let confidence get in the way of intuition, they should work together. aniolpl: Easiest thing you can do is brake one or two markers earlier (one might be "imaginary", like an "8" or "9" marker). Become smooth without locking the rear. Once you can gauge where to safely let off the brakes (you might coast 10 feet or so before turn-in) then marginally move your braking point earlier. That's the simplest, safest way to gauge your skill level in comparison to the corner. Corny pun, but sometimes you need to take a step back to get two steps forward.
I know everyone is different and uses different techniques to ride at the track... but the big one to me is why use the rear brake anyway? The only time I ever use the rear brake is when I'm making the tight corner from the entry road to hot pit so I can line up for a session, lol. There's a few riders that successfully use the rear brake in track riding but imo, and proved by your vid, it's an unnecessary option that can cause FAR more problems than the minute advantages it offers on track. Literbikes are scary fast, we all know that. Remember this: you don't have to use ALL the throttle... . I know I personally have gotten faster through my progression of bikes I've taken to the track and guess what.. the bikes themselves are slower. Started out with a cbr1000, rode my 625smc and 690smc at a few trackdays, and finally have settled on an older 600 and can't be happier. Slowing that speed on the straights down a little bit will make you focus on corner entry, and more importantly overall cornerspeed. Not to mention not being weary to really get on the gas at corner exit. aniolpl, next time you're at the track only go maybe 60% throttle on the straights. Get that corner entry speed down and get used to carrying more speed into the turn... you'll be surprised at the results! PS I'm incredibly bummed I had to miss this event. I freakin love riding ACC south and have NEVER had the chance to ride full. *sigh* There's always next year!
Ive had to ditch into the grass once too. But that's why im in novice....because i dont know what the hell im doing. :lmao: That being said, Jeremy has been my CR before and he never steered me wrong (haha bad pun) so i'd listen to what the man has to say. I've also had a coach tell me to slow it down a bit, and smooth everything out. It felt slower, but my lap times came down and i didnt feel as "pants on fire" that way. Anyhow, the good news is that everyone made it out unscathed. :thumb: and thats why we all come here right? To get better!
I agree that the rear brake on the track is mostly unnecessary. From the Rider Safety classes I took many years ago we were taught to use ALL of the brakes, including the rear, to stop. For this reason I used the rear brake even on the track for many years. It is only recently that I quit using it and the only difference is that I am less likely to lock up the rear tire now. I'm riding faster than ever. The way the rear tire unloads when you're on the front brakes the rear brake does nearly nothing and it becomes very easy to lock up the tires. Another thing I was taught, both at Riders Safety and the STT classroom, is never give up! If you think you're too hot in a turn, you're probably not. Don't give up, keep looking where you want to go, not where you're going, and keep leaning the bike until you've made the turn. In over 10 years of track days I've crashed twice. One was a stupid downshift decision and one was a cold and old front tire.
I'm also going to relate a story about riding into the weeds. I was at a track day in New Haven (forget which track that is). For some reason the track coaches were paying extra attention to me. I wasn't the slowest guy out there by far but they kept asking me if I was "Okay" and how I was feeling. Not sure what was up, must have been looking stiff and riding crappy. So, a control rider comes up to me after one of the sessions and says, "how you feeling out there?" I said fine, why. He said that it looked like I was having some issues with the lines. I told him it was my first time at that track and there were a few turns I was still working out but I didn't think I was doing all that bad. He said, okay, if you want though you can follow me next session and I'll show you how to ride this track. My reply was, "that'd be great!" The next session comes and he leads me out. He's showing me the lines, which were pretty much what I thought I was already riding, but okay, that's cool. We com around the last turn and start heading up the straight to turn one. I'm right behind following his line. As we approached the turn I though, were the heck is he going. I thought, maybe that is the line, but it sure isn't the one I'm taking! Just as I started to drop the bike in, out of my periphery, I see him stand the bike up and ride straight off the track! I made the turn, shook my head, and rode my ride. Fortunately for me I think one of my best riding skills is to look where I want to go and disregard everything else. Not that I don't see it, it's just that it is in my periphery and not my main line of sight. Where I want to go is what I'm always focused on. Had I of been watching him more closely, I'd have been in the grass with him. My main point here, really, is that no matter how good we think we are, we all make mistakes. Knowing what to do and doing it are two different things. It's great to give and take advice but there are plenty and top racers and advanced riders that crash. Most advice is just what the right thing to do would have been. Getting yourself to make that your instinct is the hard part! B
Overall I think he rides pretty good, working on breaks and making sure to be smooth and hit the apex is what I would suggest. Keep at it brother, you will get there sooner than you know it!
Jeremy I must admit I'm a little taken aback by this. I think that trying it live up to this expectation(of essentially never running off) isn't something many riders can aspire to. I know I've already shit the bed on that front. Been off twice this year alone. Does the number of times I've been off make me a squid/shit rider? At the end I thought I was making the safest decision for me and everyone. This absolutely.
Here's my video from ACC Full Course on Labor Day - afternoon session Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! [YOUTUBE]fQI-G7NmJ7Q[/YOUTUBE]
Well I dont agree with this. Not everyone has the skill set to handle the unexpected like a pro and we have mixed skill sets out there riding together in every group. We are all out there pushing the limits and telling someone to try make a corner when mentally they don't think they can is stupid.
I'm not suggesting handling it like a pro, but at the same time not handling it like someone who's never had anything unexpected happen to them on a motorcycle before. It's kind of like learning to get used to other riders buzzing passed you in corners when you move up to I group. Doesn't take a pro to learn how to handle that kind of stuff, but it stuff that you have to adjust to to progress.
whoa.. whad i miss for this situation (rather both times) id say the correct decision was made, however, there comes a time where you take your own self off to the side and slow it down a little bit. I've done it, hell i did it this past wera weekend from being flustered, luckily myself nor anyone else landed on their head. but that next race i was on point every time. In my opinion slow YOURSELF down & it will benefit you greatly. I do agree with Jeremy that going off twice in one session is a bit much, but you bailed yourself out. The grass at ACC isn't very forgiving (at least on the north side) I think the point that everyone is trying to make is that, they want you to become a better rider. Rob, Jeremy & many of the others have experience. I've crashed my brains out learning the hard way (4 times in one season UGH) just be safe
Running off track is not that big of a deal. I've done it many many times. Give this guy a break and allow him his space to progress, just like your example of moving into the I group. At first it freaks you out getting passed but as your skills develop you learn to deal with it. Unexpected shit happens. We all have to learn to deal with it.
I for one would agree that running off the track isn't a big deal (as long as you dont crash or hit someone). I actually made a point to say he rides rather well. What I will say, & I think we all agree that he needs to work on braking and slowing down to go fast. I think what's missed here is that we are saying he COULD'VE made the turn and to avoid target fixation. If you see in the video his speed was low enough (before running off track) that he could have corrected given his experience he has on the track already, he should have the capacity to do that.... and the dude has an R1!! :wheel: What most are trying to do here is help him learn how to deal with it for his benefit. We've all been coached to be better at this.
Work on getting off the bike more. Put your go-pro on the back of the bike and film your body position, rather than just the track. Learn from everyone's advice, but don't take any of it personally.
1. Don't take the race line when exiting the track. Someone's going to run into you. You missed seeing the checkered flag waving in 6. So did the Panigale guy by the looks of it. 2. Clutchless upshifting. :thumb: