JeF4y

What??? No Road America? So I'm in the midwest and haven't been to many coastal tracks (other than summit pt), so in the midwest, here's my pics... 1. Road America 2. Gingerman 3. Blackhawk Farms Then it would go into Gateway, Summit, etc... Blackhawk is my home track, and I only live about an hour away from it (well, that puts me an hour from Road A too). Since they repaved it, it has DEFINITELY went up HIGH on the list. But Gingerman is just so damned fun, and 2 years in a row now, I've placed top 5 in EVERY race I enter there. If I could ride *any* track in the world? I don't know... Probably Monza. I like the layout...

So to weigh in... My braking into/through a corner is very progressive. I'll get on the brakes and steadily while quickly, apply more and more brake until I'm at my max braking power for that corner (which is still only about 75-80% of what could actually be achieved by the brakes before catapulting me off). Anyhow, once I've shaved off most of my speed, I begin releasing the brake as I go INTO the corner. I'm still braking but decreasing the amount of braking up to the apex of the turn. At that point, the bike feels 'neutral' and I get back on the gas in an almost seamless transition. Releasing the brakes in the turn helps me maintain some compliance in the front end, while getting more and more weight on the back in preparation for getting on the gas. So there... That's my corner (in the ideal situation). A mentor once told me that trail braking to the apex was the fastest way around the track, and to learn it required a lot of patience and a good set of leathers...

Mick Doohan. Without a doubt, Doohan is *THE* man. I'll give it to you, Rossi, Schwantz, Rainey, etc are all absolutely incredible, but Mick's my hero...