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Progression

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  • Have you attended a California Superbike School school?
    Yes L1 & L2

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    Wirral, UK
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    Bikes, Trackdays, Motogp, Snowboarding, Muay thai

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  1. Thought this thread was worthy of a bump up, Talan is racing this weekend! Link to article http://www.bikesportnews.com/news-detail.cfm?newstitle=Paralysed-racer-to-compete-with-Thundersport-this-weekend&newsid=7304 best of luck fella!
  2. Hey everyone, Thanks for your help, we had a great time in california but I didnt make it onto track. I did drop into Laguna to check out the track, corkscrew pretty cool to see in person but blind turn 1 wow puts the mega rossi stoner battle of old into perspective. I'll be back to california with a bit more planning next time, to keep me busy in the meantime I have picked up a Ducati 1098 and will probably finish off the last levels of the school best, Andy
  3. Thanks both Cobie - yes I know, bad timing hey? my friend adam has done a couple of schools out there and some coaching with you guys and only has good things to say. yogatriathelete - thanks for the links, ill contact them and see if they have bikes available
  4. Hi all, I'm on honeymoon this year in May (8th to 23rd), planning to fly into San Francisco and drive around that area and down to LA and San Diego where we fly home from. Can anyone give me any info on trackday companies who also hire bikes at Laguna, Infineon or Streets of Willow please? Ive tried general internet searches and also looking on the circuit's website but there is not a great amount of information available. I'm thinking there will not be any days available or it will be massively expensive but if anyone could provide any info it would help Thanks guys Andy
  5. from memory - far left one big bump in the track, right hand side 2 bumps second one bigger as Bullet says, best way is down the middle could try to keep the bike stable and put the power down after the crest? Having watched a good few trackday sessions there a common theme is a big handful of throttle in the last section of the uphil leading to this problem. by contrast those riders who are more progressive with the throttle, keep the bike and the suspension as stable as possible are able to get the power down much more efficently from the crest onwards unless you are josh brooks and can get that much power down in the uphill you jump a huge section of the track, its not the best way for us non pro riders. Have a look at the riding comparisons on last year's bsb race with kiyo and brooks (i remember brooks doing a jump overtake and almost landing on kiyo cant find it on youtube anywhere) For anyone reading this thread, dont try this but its great to see the pro's doing it...
  6. Just go fully rested, arrive on time, with a fully working bike, take an open mind and you dont need any other advice
  7. Hi Troy, Dont know the track but are you saying you need to open the gas, hold it steady then open it again?
  8. I've done L1 and L2 but by no means am an expert.... But one of the in class seminars at my L2 covered this point which might help. The L1 crosses you used as turn points are an average which will allow a large amount of riders at slightly different speeds to turn in and use good throttle control and practice the other L1 drills. They are (I think I am right in saying) not a point which will work for all riders at all speeds as there are a lot of other factors, namely how quickly and how much you turn the bike, your entry speed and your apex. When/If you do L2 you will get to experiment with turn points and this really makes what I am saying sink in
  9. I'm presuming from your last post you did L1 of CSS with turn points marked on the track?
  10. Thanks all, thought it might help a few see what happens after L1. Just need some track time to cement these drills in now
  11. Hi Talan, Saw you doing your L4 while I was doing L2 but didnt get chance to come over and say hi. Like all the above points I think it is great what you are doing and you will for sure be inspiring a whole lot of people. I can imagine if I was in your position right now that I would be going crazy with the response but cant help thinking that you will get a better result if you keep your cool for the time being, might be worth asking the ACU for the regs under which the motorcycle sidecar guy can race and comparing them with the bike ones. Like Jason has mentioned a well set out proposal if they remain in the position that you are not allowed would be hard to turn down, if like Jason suggested the risk elements were minimised, I.e assisted start or whatever they have issue with. Keep going friend, they are bound to cave in eventually! Andy
  12. Right then, it’s been a week since I did this so I better do this while it’s still at least relatively fresh I booked onto CSS level 2 at Silverstone, having done level 1 around a year ago. This time it was the south circuit. Pitched up to the track a bit late (crash on M6 caused by a dog running out of the services onto the motorway) but the staff went out of their way to help me out in time for the briefings. Note to add m6 crash time onto my journey and get up at 3am not 4am next time. Out on track for a few sighting laps and then the first session. First session of the day was to be devoted to finding reference points, having been fully briefed as to the what's and whys in a classroom session. And don’t think it’s a lecture, the classroom sessions are a discussion with the end result being all riders heading for the track knowing why they are about to try a certain drill and the benefits that might come from it, not a do this do that because I say so. I meet my coach for the day, a guy called chris sherring and get out on track for drill 1, we are given the task to find one reference point on one corner. From the classroom session I've decided to find one on an apex. Still learning where the track goes at this point and remembering to stick to my level one drills, but come in a lap early with a battery problem still having found 2 apex reference points. This then feeds into the next classroom session and forms the next discussion point. I got the bike sorted in the next break between classes with the help of a few of the CSS guys and the most enthusiastic bike mechanic’s from the nearest Suzuki dealer over the phone. Top guys. We moved on throughout the day to other drills, including using different parts of the track and different lines. This did make my whole riding world a lot bigger but still felt I was struggling with corner entry speed and drive on the exits. We moved on to extend one of our level one drills the 2 step, into a level 2 drill, the 3 step. Seems obvious right? Well try putting that into practice for the first time! I slowly started forcing myself to change my vision and it started to come very slowly throughout the day. One of the other drills, widening a rider’s vision when riding was an absolute revelation. Never have I run through a set of essess’s taking note of a helicopter flying across the track near my exit. I actually realised after this point that there we several huge markers around the track which I had failed to see in the morning sessions! Slowly my corner entry speed, lean angle but more importantly confidence started to increase. Last session of the day was a drill to get better drive out of corners, having a word with my coach we both agreed at this point I should concentrate more on my 3 step to help me re-train my brain but to give the pick up drill a go on a couple of identified corners. By the time we had geared up and assembled it was raining, off we went steadily and by the time I got to turn 3 I could see the track was 90% wet and the rain was getting much heavier. I had to crack my visor as my associated panic breathing was asking a bit much of my breath guard. Anyway, forced myself to calm down, work on my visual drills and concentrate on being smooth and consistent rather than passing people. I started to get a bit more flow with the 3 step and corners seems to merge into each other rather than be different sections of the track. A few laps in I decided to give the pick up drill a go and was a bit underwhelmed to start with. Next identified corner I gave it a second try, this time with a more confident body position and smoother drive on the exit. The feeling of this being so strange is quickly replaced with the feeling of much better drive and a huge grin inside my helmet. Must concentrate on 3 step I tell myself and force myself back into my other drills, allowing myself just the one corner for the pick up drill. By this point the rain is harder still, the track has developed standing water across most of the track width and yet I could have stayed out there all day! Trying the pick up drill for what is the last turn of the day onto hangar straight I look down the track and see my coach using the same drill in front of me, on a R1, with road tyres and is getting such good drive he has the front wheel in the air. I also notice at this point whilst still with the front in the air he has turned around to give me a thumbs up and a big nod of his head. Highlights of the day The 3 step Wide view The pick up drill on road tyres in the rain Lessons of the day I need more track time to work on these drills before level 3 I should have had more track time cementing level 1 drills When using a multimeter on your bike the night before remember just cause the battery shows 11.9 volts doesn’t mean it will hold that under cranking. A hotel the night before might be a worthwhile investment. Adding a 7 hour round trip onto the day is a bit much to ask, the concentration levels needed for this are much higher than a trackday.
  13. Also check this thread out http://forums.superbikeschool.com/index.php?showtopic=2216
  14. Get there in plenty of time, relax and enjoy it. As long as you go with an open mind, pay attention and apply the drills you will have a superb day out. Got more out of L1 than a years worth of trackdays Oh and let us all know how you get on Andy
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