Darren sweetman

Hey Jeffrey, welcome to the world of cornering. I hope you are ready for the adventure.

Hi Vaibhav It's great to see that you are on the forum and seeking to improve your riding. As Cobie mentioned earlier the school is coming to India, Chennai to be exact in the last week of January 2011. Keith himself along with the country heads from the UK, Australia and coaches from the USA, UK and New Zealand will be there. If you are interested in doing this you can get more info at www.preethi.in . Yes that is Preethi the appliance company. If you do make it to the schools please make sure that you introduce yourself to me as I will be there. Cheers Darren

I didn't hear the after race comments but IMHO it was Jorge that was being overly aggressive with his moves. When he ran wide on exit he moved across into Vale and then when he tried to go around Vale on the outside, he simply turned straight on top of him. Valentino was clean but determined and Jorge was truly beaten. I am abig Vale fan so there is some bias but I am also a realist. Sounds like Jorge did a Stoner in the after race chat. I hope that is not a sign for the future, we don't need two moaners

I would be very sceptical about beating it back into place as aluminium is likely to break if you bend it back again without the proper precedures etc. My 2cents, if it is all working ok etc. I would leave it.

Hey Ozzy Welcome to the forum and please feel free to ask any questions that you may have. Hey maybe someone even has a child minding service for you Cheers Darren

OK, fill us Yanks in on L & P. CF It is quite simply a brand of soft drink or soda that is available here in NZ. It is called Lemon and Paeroa and is a Kiwi icon.

Hi Mike I like the tag of L&P. Totally meaningless in the rest of the world but it's world famous in NZ. See you in November. Cheers Darren

Hey Aaron and Luke I'm glad that you enjoyed the experience that is the "California Superbike School". It was a pleasure to host you all. Down here in NZ we don't run as many schools as other countries but when we do they are as good as anywhere in the world. If you have any questions about your riding or anything that you have covered at the school, please ask them here or you can give me a call in the office as I am happy to chat any time. See you next time. Darren

Hey Kai The beers need to go to all the coaches around the world. Not just the Brits.

Hi Luke Darren Sweetman here, I run the school here in NZ. When you come up to Hampton Downs at the end of September I will make sure that I hook you up with one of our coaches that has race experience so that we can work on this problem for you. What will be great is that it is a new circuit and you will need a whole new set of RPs and this should help you focus on the problem at hand. If you have any questions etc please feel free to call me in the office or to keep up the posts here on the forum. Cheers Darren

We use Tech Spec on all of the bikes, both coach and student, at the school here in NZ and I would highly recommend it. The adhesive on the Tech Spec is super sticky and yet removable and reusable. It will not come off without you wanting to take it off. Awesome product for road or track.

G'day, My advise to you is quite simple. Ride within your limits. You don't have to be the fastest guy out there and you will be at the track with people who have a lot more experience so don't get sucked in to riding their lap instead of yours. You are there to learn and you cannot learn if you are spending all your time riding at or above your ability. We all started where you are at right now so just build up steadily and you will be fine. Andy and the team will look after you on the day so head there with an open mind and a willingness to learn and you will have the best day of your life. Cheers Darren

This is a very difficult question. I have a tendency to like elements of tracks rather that the whole thing. Some circuits have an expectation before you get there and riders feel obliged to like it, for example, Laguna Seca, Catalunya or Brands Hatch. Each of these have some great elements but they are not necessarily my favorite track. The Spaniards have some good ones and I really enjoyed Almeria for its elevation changes, blind corners and the combination of turns. There is no hiding from any of the drills at that track, you need them all. In Norway there is a small track called Rudskogen that was great fun. 1.1 miles with 11 turns, elevation changes and a huge amount of fun. Thunder Hill in California has a couple of great corners that keep on your toes every time you go through them as well. I do have a soft spot for my home track here in New Zealand. Hampton Downs is very special to me as I watched it being built and I was the very first person to do laps on a motorcycle. Having said that I agree with Brouggy about the elevation changes and the levels of grip being awesome as well. If I had to pick one track I think I would go with Catalunya. The facilities are really impressive from the minute you drive down the entry road all the way to the restaurant on top of the pit garages. The food is awesome and the track is just a pleasure to ride. It is an awesome environment to ride in and just riding there makes you feel like a top level racer due to the surroundings. Just give me a track, I don't care where, there is always something that is to like. Even if it is the road that leaves it.

Hi and welcome to the forum. I am sure that you will learn stuff here and then you can go and practice at that wonderful track you have up the road. I love Catalunya, what a track.