Cobie Fair

Tire looks OK, it will not fail tech. Any question in your mind, consider the tire deal the school offers on the new Q2's, we love 'em. Will also will mount for about half what most shops charge. CF

Hi Paul, Highly biased opinion from me, so here you go: The techniques absolutely apply to rain riding, and what we often see is very nice improvements on wet days. Granted, it's not as ideal as the dry, but often if the student can keep himself warm and dry, then just work on the techniques at a skill/speed level he is comfortable at, we get a great result. I hope other students do chime in, get a less biased view. CF

Don't know the Redline stands, but we have been using Pit Bull for years, and still have the original stands, we love 'em. CF

There is a very technical book by Tony Foale, that might nor might not be exactly what you are looking for. One of my guys has worked for Dave, that could be a good place to start. There is a video on youtube where Keith explains the first part of the suspension tuning process, adjusting the spring sag. You might start there. Best, CF

I have a little different view on this than Bullet. The first day for most riders is a huge change, a big adjustment: for many it's the first time on track. Then getting used to the way the school works, interacting with your coach, getting to know the track itself--all pretty big changes. Doing 2 days back to back here are some of the things we've seen: 1. The student is not in a hurry. This can really be a factor--they know they have another day, they don't push themselves too hard, don't "try and get it all in one day." 2. Sometimes we learn a bit about the student, and how we can interact with that student better, maybe one coach will go a little better with a certain kind of person. This is not often an issue, but can happen where we find a better way to work with him, use a different coach. 3. It's intensive training (really) and they students are kept immersed in it for 2 days. Rather than go away, come back and have to re-learn some of the material from the first day again, they are really IN it, if you know what I mean. In my opinion we get a better overall result with 2 back to back days, but this might not be the case with everyone. Sometimes it's a bit too much information, but if the student stays in good communication with the coach, that can get tailored and worked out nicely. Best, Cobie

The books and DVD's are great references, we review them frequently CF

Front brakes are the single most powerful item on the bike, and create a lot of force. We often see riders over braking, scrub off too much speed.

They only showed a piece of it, couldn't get the whole thing. What pissed me off was no after race commentary from the racers! Great to see Nicky back up there, hope he keeps it up. Honda---motor! CF

I'll bet 98% of the guys there are nervous! CF

Honestly, it's not me. The R1 clutch is horrible. Nothing, nothing, nothing, grab... It even groans as you let the thing out as well. OK, I may have possibly exagerated 4 times a day, but I reckon I do it once a day, and I'm not on my own either! Bullet So, let me see if I have this straight--you stall the bike and now it groans at you? Just taking the piss out of you mate CF

Hi JT, We do get students that bring their own cameras, and most of the time it is fine. Here are some guidelines on this: 1. If you are using your own bike, no problem. Using ours, not likely going to work as the bike will be in use in the other groups (other riders using it). There won't be time to take it on/off, etc. 2. The camera must not interfere with the training. By this I mean, it can't get in the rider's way while riding, he can't go out of his way to film his buddies, he can't do goofy stuff "for the camera." All of the above has happened. 3. It can't interfere with the coaching. If your coach wants to work with you (he/she has very limited time and wants to make the most of it) and you are busy messing around with the camera, then that won't go either. 4. The tech briefings can't be filmed. Does that give you a good idea on this? Best, Cobie

And looking down at the speedo or the tach when entering a corner (which some people really do!) not a good plan. CF

No problem, I think you English is better than my Spanish. I worked there for part of a summer in 1980, fixing a house. On the way back, stopped in Barcelona, but only for a day or 2. Like to get back there--I'll be seeing a MOTOGP race there is something! CF

There is some info on this in Twist 2 on this, anyone know where it is? CF

Hi Luiz, and welcome! What tracks do you ride at? We had been down to Brazil, and rode a few tracks: the track and Rio (Nelson Piquet, and one in Curitiba--don't recall the name of that one). Best, Cobie

Hi Djm, Mate, if you weren't a little nervous, you'd be a cyborg! As for the rest (being slow and learing), not to worry, as Bullet pointed out, a little willing to learn some new stuff attitude and you will do very well. I guess we'll have to work on Bullet and his clutch skills though Best, Cobie

I don't understand where you guy saw this... the only coverage available here (US) was on the MotoGP website but their coverage didn't have the crash. It was really annoying but I just figured they didn't get any video of it? Did you see the race on Speed? It was on Sunday. CF

I'll call a fault on that "trivia" - we have a braking force (deaccelleration) measurement box* and we see just under 1.0G on normal asphalt (heck, we just saw a 'Busa do 10.1m/s^2 on average, which is >1.0G this weekend). *) http://www.bikeview.de/ Cheers, Kai Cool to know. I'm assuming the bigger/longer bikes (Busa, ZX-14) have excellent braking numbers/distances, due to longer wheelbase and weight--any data on that, say compared to a 600? CF

Hi Federico, Bullet is a nice guy, but can't spell. The rest of us are a bunch of bastards! I would love to go to Spain and ride, been many years since I worked in Mallorca, and didn't do any riding Best, Cobie

Not for some years. Keith originally invented (with an engineer's help) the devices that were used to train guys to wheelie. Then the school was sold, and it's not up and running any more. CF

OK--this got my interest, and I shot Keith a note on this, here is his comment: But he didn't mention if he was on the brakes or not, just that there wasn't enough weight on the front. From what Rossi says, the Bridgestones need a lot of weight on them so perhaps he didn't have the bike set up to transfer the weight forward enough to maintain his braking, if he was braking. Stoner's comment brings up more questions than it answers. KC

If the front is too light, it can slide (Keith covers this in Twist 2). Not letting it move back and forth as needed, can also make it slide. Where did you find this quote? Best, CF

Harnois made some good points. C/steering is the way to get the bike turned aggressively, and push/pull can work well. CF

Brakding and downshifting is a good skill to have, for sure can be mastered with some practice. More info on that in the books. Here is one pointer: do the lion's share of the braking first, then the engine doesn't have to be blipped as high (and it's loads easier on the machine). Keep us posted on how it goes! CF

An important skill to have when you win a race and cross the finish line CF