I was blessed enough to be in 2 different races at the Grand Nationals with people like Knapp, Jensen, Batey, Caylor, West, Lynn etc. There is nothing more humbling than to be riding your ass off, thinking you are really "doing it" only to be passed by Matt Lynn and after he gives you a knod and thumbsup, proceeds to nail the throttle and bring the back end around...on purpose...only to give it more throttle and "flat track" it all the way around the corner with smoke pouring off the back tire. :shock: ...then as you are still in awe but trying to concentrate on your riding...Jensen comes by you with the front wheel in the air. ...then once he passes and you are coming into the new T12 thinking "there is no way i could carry my speed deeper and brake any harder"...Opie stuffs you on the brakes. If you don't try to do anything silly, keep your head about you and pay attention (while you can), you can really learn alot from guys like that. But it is pretty damn humbling at the same time. One thing that is really cool is that all of those guys are really willing to help. I spoke to Taylor Knapp for about 15min discussion his braking markers and line through T1 and T7 (Road Atlanta). Not that i could actually use his braking markers :lol: ...but it was cool that he gave me the time and i actually did pick up some time in T1. When i was walking away he said "come back after this race and let me know how that worked and if you have any more questions". I can't speak for Geoff May, i have never met him. But im sure he is the same way. All of those guys started at some point just like we did and truly love the sport just like we do.
Boy...sounds familiar...happens to me all the time!! Jensen came aound me one time so fast and into the next corner I thought..."he's gonna wreck"!! guess what..he didn't.Ya think your pushing the bike to it's limits and you find out you're at your limits....and yes,you can learn alot and most of those guys are willing to help you out.
Exactly. That is why we always stress "just turn the bike" in our classroom sessions. No matter how "hot" somebody thinks they are coming into the turn, 95% of the time the turn CAN be made if they will simply let off the brakes, countersteer, look through the turn, lean the bike and believe in modern tire technology. As you and I have both seen, even when you think there is no way the turn could be handled any faster...somebody else can do it. So if they can do it, obviously the bike has the potential to do it...it is just a matter of having the confidence to make yourself do it.
Well,leaning is one thing,too much lean angle is another,I've been trying to work on less lean angle,better body position and trail braking...funny,I remember when we were just street riders,first thing you wanted to do is get the wear in the rear tires to the end...I thought that was cool shit and was an "indicator" of your prowess!! Now I'm trying to use less....Still can't ride for shit but I have alot of fun!!
My body positioning has improved, still working on my trail-braking, trying to build up my corner speeds.... This is going to be my 6th track day, 2nd at Barber, and first time at Barber in Int..........so I'm still a newb........but enjoying every second of it..... Sorry about the thread-jack... 8)
I had Kevin Swantz pass me in T10a/b at RA once (with his blinker on), he actually went thru 10b looking back at me, with his knee buried, giving me the come the hell on wave!
Yeah a couple years ago at Road Atlanta I was following a buddy going into Turn one on my 600.. We were doing good and running a quick pace.. I thought to myself what a perfect entry.. (no ones gonna get by me here... ever!) And just as I put my knee down some Crazy Guy comes in on the inside on a Tuono and humbled me real quick and rumbled away acroiss the horizon..... Never figured out who it was... Hmmmmmmm
That was a FUN weekend! Isn't it funny that itty bitty PJ was the fastest that weekend on his 250? I mean 16's on a 250?!? Jebus Christos. Geoff is really awesome to watch ride up close. If he gets a lot of spectators in a corner (or just a big camera) he'll put his elbow sparkies on the ground without much effort.
Tim Hill did that to me at CMP when I was test driving a Buell. Came out of 7 passing everyone in sight, and he came blowing by me on the inside.
Well the good news is for the passers and passees,the track is 45' wide,with a few line options....I wouldn't mind riding it well one day!!
I was a credentialed photographer at road america the past few years and Geoff is one of my favorite riders to photograph. He is always wheeling over a curb on exits and has his elbow skimming the pavement on a regular basis. Cant beleive I will be on track with this guy sat, Im really in deep now! They are the home team for us WI guys and I know a few of the guys at the shop, should make for an even cooler weekend then expeceted.
My thanks to a total class guy. He passed me every session and while it was fun to watch him (he disappeared quick) there was some that amazed me on the HUGE amount of extra space he gave me and everyone else (while wading through like we weren't there). I think 100% of the people enjoyed him coming by for the day and I hope he enjoyed it as much.
i agree and i just wanted to think you again joe. i was the one you were following on the blue and yellow 600RR. helped me out a lot. looking forward to next year at barber