MotoGB

Bugger! I tried 3 practice starts on the TZ and cooked the clutch! I've learned more about them since, never had the balls to hold it wide open at the starts though, but am gonna try next time, hell, I need all the launch I can get against those damned superbikes!

Thanks for all your replies guys, I have a few track days coming up where I can practice these skills and hopefully set myself up for the race that follows. Unfortunatley in the class I am racing in at the moment there are guys on superbikes, with a lot more power and torque than me (250 GP bike) so they will get me on the drive out as well, but I am beating some of them! But it's certainly sound advice and I'll let you all know how I get on. Long live the 250's!

Hi all, In Twist II, Keith and Doug talk about not charging turns in order to set up for the turn and regulate turn in speed etc. and ultimately bring down lap times, keeping it smooth and controlled. Its not that I don't agree with this, I do, but in a race situation, when you are approaching a turn and going in smooth and controlled, how would this stop a competitor taking your position, by charging and out braking you to the turn? Even if he/she did stuff up their entry speed and actually "slowed" you down, they still end up in front! (providing they managed to hold their line and not run wide) How do you keep this controlled technique in a racing situation and still defend or even attack other riders? You see a high number of pro riders on TV who look to be charging turns in order to gain positions. Once again, I am NOT disputing the technique, I just want to improve my racing and follow the 'Twist way' without losing or not gaining positions. Thanks in advance.

I had an awesome weekend. I put lots into practice including quicker turn ins, using the pegs more to shift weight instead of trying to slide. Had a great race on sunday with some great battles with other bikes and even managed to knock 4 secs of my previous best lap time. But the best lesson from the weekend was that I learned to relax more and above all......breathe! it works wonders! Oh and a I got on the throttle earlier and stronger. Need more track time, roll on the next session.

It's finally here, the weekend I've been waiting for ages. Ruapuna Raceway in Christchurch, on New Zealands beautiful South Island. I'm quite new to this forum, but have been reading Keith's words of wisdom for some time in his books, DVD and on this forum. It's now time to take stock and try to string some of the things I have learned together. Unfortunately I won't have the luxury of having Keith there to guide me and tell me what I am doing wrong, but I can, at least take it step by step, some things that I feel I need to work on in order to bring down those lap times and gain more self confidence. I have made a priority list for myself for reference, to try to follow a sort of plan. 1. Don't charge the turns 2. Set your corner speed earlier 3.Try to get on the throttle earlier...etc, etc. Day one fri: Is an open track day, no format, just go out and get some laps in. Saturday is a formal training day run by Motorcycling Canterbury, instructed by some of the top NZ guys. Sunday is a club race, where I will be competing in the "Clubmans" class. Thanks to all of you (especially Racer)who have offered some solutions to some of my hang ups and took the time and patience to reply. Hopefully one day I will get the chance to take part in a Superbike School. I'll let you know how I get on next week. Thanks all.

Mr Bayliss may have an unorthodox style, going against some of the reasons to hang off, seems to work for him though and interestingly he doesn't ride on the balls of his feet, check out the photo of him in an earlier post. I guess thats why you see the sparks fly from his titanium toe sliders

Again on the rear squat v rear rise issue: Today at work I had a discussion about this with 2 colleagues ( I work at a Triumph dealership) they thought I was raving mad to think that a bike rises on acceleration As it happened we had a bike on the dyno machine being put through its paces .......and guess what....the bike was clearly rising as it was accelerating! They both looked at me in disbelief...... I, on the other hand.....looked at them with a smug grin!! Bill I printed out your theory for them to read, it made sense to them to, kinda

Hey James, I was thinking about this yesterday as I was putting some finishing touches to my bike before I go to the track. I have been having trouble getting "behind the bubble" on the straights, I saw a photo of myself on the straight and I looked like I was touring! but could never get right down as it was killing me! My bars on the TZ were set about an inch and a half below the top triple clamp (or yoke for the Brits like me!) this bike is far from comfortable, but its where it was when I bought it, so I didn't really question it, so I pulled them up as far as they would go to meet the clamp, sat on the bike in race crouch and this immediately felt better and much more comfortable (although the throttle housing does rub a little on the top fairing at full lock). I also wondered how this may affect steering ability, whether good or bad, so I will have to see. Surely being more comfortable has to be an advantage? Just because it is a race bike, doesn't mean you have to be a contorsionist (never had to spell that word before, so my appologies if it's incorrect) to ride it? Will be interesting to see any replies.

Wow! Ummm, I'm gonna have ta print that and sit down with a coffee (or a cold beer) and study that reply. That reply was quite amazing and I think the bike rises? that's what I'd been led to believe. Can you mimick this by puttting your front wheel against a wall and then letting the clutch out? (I will read it again) Why do commentators (including ex pro racers) talk about rear squat when accelerating from a turn. Bill, we need you in NZ for some coaching. Actually next weekend when I go to the track there is a training day on the saturday. We are practicing all day friday, training day sat and racing on sunday. Time for new pistons soon after that lot! Cheers Bill.

BMW are becoming legendary in technology for technology sake! They produce mainly large capacity machines which, I would say, are for experienced riders. Traction control, servo assisted linked brakes (some of which are bloody lethal, R1150RT, I've ridden one, they're the worst bike on the planet), ABS. (I suppose ABS is useful in an emergency in slippery conditions) They are making these bikes nearly uncrashable, soon very little will be left for the rider to do apart from sit there and listen to his stereo and admire the view, beyond his "heads up" display. There, that's much better!

That's about what I thought, I guess the faster you can turn, the entry speed can increase? I am a very lazy turner! need to work on that too. I will have a very busy day on the track in a couple of weeks, but I'm listing the things that I want to work on, then them out one at a time. 1. Quicker turn in 2. Increase throttle sooner on exit. 3. etc etc etc..... Oh, off subject I know, but my buddies and I are in constant conflict over when accelerating out of a corner, does the rear rise, or squat?? any thoughts? Sorry it's off subject.

Thanks Bill, that's kind of reasurring, I think! lol. This is another (so many) area I need to work on and will experiment soon. Wish me luck!

How quick (or how hard) can you countersteer, without losing the front? I deliberately countersteer, but too, would like to turn in faster. In Twist II, Keith talks about the average roadrider versus the pro racer, in terms of how long it takes them to go from upright to full lean angle, I don't have the book with me right now, but I know its about a second for the pro's. Just how hard are they pushing that inside bar? What are the limits? when you crash?

Thanks for all your replies, I have some things to think about now and I'll let you know how I get on at the end of the month. I'll definately monitor how much pressure I'm putting on the bars and try to put more weight further back and on the footpegs. I read recently in BIKE (UK) magazine that John Hopkins puts a great deal of force on his footpegs, so there must be something in it! Keep the rubber side down! Thanks again.