Simon if you see this can you please elaborate on track vision? How far ahead to look, when to look at the next reference point etc. I can’t really afford a coach but you’re the closest thing I have to one so I’m extremely grateful for your teachings. Thanks for giving knowledge back to the community 🙏🏽
If Simon doesn't get back to you, hears my 2 cents form my own race/track experience. At the minimum and only occasionally 1 reference point ahead, but preferably ~ 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 reference points ahead. Let me explain: as you're ripping down a straight your looking for your track position and initial braking marker, so that's equals the first up coming point or 1 reference point (for a long straight that requires a lot of braking). As you hit that initial brake point your looking for your turn in point, but you have a lot to do, move your butt, body position, continue your braking and down shifting, so you divide your time with the tasks at had with small glances and referencing the next point, your turn it point; but you don't what to fixate on that point, because as soon as you get there your passed it. [something I found helpful to avoid fixation and develop confidence to look futher ahead, was to treat the track turn similar to any street turn. What I'm referring to is the safe thing to do is "look twice" before you turn. So as you approach the turn in point, look at turn in, look at apex, look at turn in, look at apex, make the turn]. So as you approach it, you rely on your instinct and peripheral vision to observe that turn in point as you look passed it to the apex and start turn in. So in this case you are looking at the apex prior to turn in so it's like a 1 1/4 point ahead. Similar thing as you approach the apex, you already got the bike turned in the radius you think is should be so trust that and look for the exit point prior to hitting the apex, pick up the apex with you peripheral. So. again we're looking 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 points ahead. Same as you approach your exit point. you should already be looking down the straight and lining up where you want to be for the run down the straight, again 1 1/2 points further down the track. As you practice this it becomes second nature and you really don't have to give it that much attention. You now have the basics to build on and develop other skills that help you go faster. as you get faster lap times you will see the these points vary a bit and you adjust your marks accordingly. Same as you learn to pass others you have to adjust your line and marks. The cool thing thou is as these skills become second nature, you keep building on them and learning new ones. to the point where you're thinking alot about feel and traction. Another option: although you may not be able to afford hiring a coach for the day, try feeling out other riders who are faster than you in the paddock. See if you can get them to follow you around for a lap or two and give you some feed back when the session's over. The offer of a cold beer, at the end of the day, or free lunch just might be enough to convince them. Just keep it light and don't use the opening to be a pest. Cheers.
ray Nic nice explanation thanks man I’m gonna try that my next time out. Sometimes it gets overwhelming because there’s a lot to focus on in a short period of time but when you break it down like that it makes sense. I just have to find a medium because my first couple times out I was looking too close in & the next couple times too far out to where I was missing my reference points. Anyway thanks a lot!
Great video Simon. I never wore ear plugs while racing but I raced only 2 strokes. That being said what bothered me more was the sound in the paddock of bike being revved or even worse was an event that had vintage motorcycles with straight exhausts they were painful to be near.
I totally agree with ear plugs, I’ve even got moulded ones that I got done at Phillip Island, it makes you concentrate so much more, relax more as well
In the beginning I didn't use earplugs at the track because I wanted to be able to hear the engine and the revs. When I finally started using earplugs, I had NO TROUBLE hearing the revs.
How do you compare your Gsxr to the gp bikes that you rode when you racing, in terms of speed, handling etc and which one do you think you could the best lap time on now if you were to do a back to back test?
Your ability to understand the techniques and then explain point by point is impressive, thanks a lot!! best articulated explanation I've ever had!!
YOU ROCK SIMON..... Muchas Gracias!!
Simon if you see this can you please elaborate on track vision? How far ahead to look, when to look at the next reference point etc. I can’t really afford a coach but you’re the closest thing I have to one so I’m extremely grateful for your teachings. Thanks for giving knowledge back to the community 🙏🏽
If Simon doesn't get back to you, hears my 2 cents form my own race/track experience. At the minimum and only occasionally 1 reference point ahead, but preferably ~ 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 reference points ahead. Let me explain: as you're ripping down a straight your looking for your track position and initial braking marker, so that's equals the first up coming point or 1 reference point (for a long straight that requires a lot of braking). As you hit that initial brake point your looking for your turn in point, but you have a lot to do, move your butt, body position, continue your braking and down shifting, so you divide your time with the tasks at had with small glances and referencing the next point, your turn it point; but you don't what to fixate on that point, because as soon as you get there your passed it. [something I found helpful to avoid fixation and develop confidence to look futher ahead, was to treat the track turn similar to any street turn. What I'm referring to is the safe thing to do is "look twice" before you turn. So as you approach the turn in point, look at turn in, look at apex, look at turn in, look at apex, make the turn]. So as you approach it, you rely on your instinct and peripheral vision to observe that turn in point as you look passed it to the apex and start turn in. So in this case you are looking at the apex prior to turn in so it's like a 1 1/4 point ahead. Similar thing as you approach the apex, you already got the bike turned in the radius you think is should be so trust that and look for the exit point prior to hitting the apex, pick up the apex with you peripheral. So. again we're looking 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 points ahead. Same as you approach your exit point. you should already be looking down the straight and lining up where you want to be for the run down the straight, again 1 1/2 points further down the track.
As you practice this it becomes second nature and you really don't have to give it that much attention. You now have the basics to build on and develop other skills that help you go faster. as you get faster lap times you will see the these points vary a bit and you adjust your marks accordingly. Same as you learn to pass others you have to adjust your line and marks. The cool thing thou is as these skills become second nature, you keep building on them and learning new ones. to the point where you're thinking alot about feel and traction.
Another option: although you may not be able to afford hiring a coach for the day, try feeling out other riders who are faster than you in the paddock. See if you can get them to follow you around for a lap or two and give you some feed back when the session's over. The offer of a cold beer, at the end of the day, or free lunch just might be enough to convince them. Just keep it light and don't use the opening to be a pest. Cheers.
ray Nic nice explanation thanks man I’m gonna try that my next time out. Sometimes it gets overwhelming because there’s a lot to focus on in a short period of time but when you break it down like that it makes sense. I just have to find a medium because my first couple times out I was looking too close in & the next couple times too far out to where I was missing my reference points. Anyway thanks a lot!
Thanks Simon. Need to practice these wise words!
Great video Simon. I never wore ear plugs while racing but I raced only 2 strokes. That being said what bothered me more was the sound in the paddock of bike being revved or even worse was an event that had vintage motorcycles with straight exhausts they were painful to be near.
Thanks Simon for the inspiration!
I totally agree with ear plugs, I’ve even got moulded ones that I got done at Phillip Island, it makes you concentrate so much more, relax more as well
In the beginning I didn't use earplugs at the track because I wanted to be able to hear the engine and the revs. When I finally started using earplugs, I had NO TROUBLE hearing the revs.
Thank you my friend.
How do you compare your Gsxr to the gp bikes that you rode when you racing, in terms of speed, handling etc and which one do you think you could the best lap time on now if you were to do a back to back test?
how and when do you use rear brake?
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼💪🏼🙏🏼
i got a important question, how do i handle a loss in a race without becoming mad and riding the next race even worse
you need a Snickers bar!