I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating this particular topic, and it’s become all that much more significant as I am now seriously considering doing a 2-day event at a bucket-list location 2000 miles away (Laguna) that requires that I rent a motorcycle for said track day. The core of my dilemma is my belief that to go FAST a rider needs to approach a threshold of control/grip that tells him that any faster would result in the bike crashing. In my mind, for a half dozen MotoGP riders to qualify within a half second of each other requires that they are pushing their bikes/tires to a tangible REAL limit. It’s not arbitrary or a gray area, it is known (and felt) by each of those top riders who dance on that tightrope of control. Riders that exceed that limit either tuck or highside. Everyone else, from the bottom of the grid to the weekend trackday warriors, is either suffering from an inferior setup or machine, or is pussy-footing around the track because of their fear of falling (damaged bike, end of trackday or race, or injury).
So, for me I’m looking at forking out a good amount of money to run an iconic track, on a rented motorcycle, with top notch instruction. The presumption is that a part of that money will going towards teaching me skills that will make me faster. If I was riding my own bike (dedicated trackbike) I could easily envision a fruitful experience. However, put me on a $15,000 motorcycle with a $2500 damage waiver, and my riding attitude and tolerance for risk will be much different. Will I be willing to tip toe towards that limit on somebody else’s bike? Not likely. (oh, and btw where exactly IS that limit...)
Which brings me back to the fundamental question – if the fastest way around the track is at the edge of control, how do you teach that? (I know there’s a “slider bike”) Is that “limit” zone wide enough that skillful riders can approach it, enter it, and with the bike sliding through the turn, maintain control throughout? For an intermediate level, or even advanced level rider, that doesn’t really occur. We build speed, one trackday at a time, and just about the time we’re feeling pretty damn confident – yikes! and we have a little ‘moment’, or actually drop the bike.
For me I think getting faster means being able to be comfortable with the idea that those moments MIGHT occur, and having the skills and reaction to catch it before it goes wrong. I’m not trying to become at racer, but wondering if that sort of thing is teachable and how it can persist (finding the limit on a special BMW slider bike is one thing, but what about your own bike, on a different track???).