Motorcycles Information

Trackdays - Get the Maximum Enjoyment from Your Time on the Track


Many motorcyclists want to take their bikes onto the track and trackdays are the ideal environment. If you have never been on a track before the experience can feel daunting so here are a number of tips to help make your trackday enjoyable. Use a van or a trailer to get your bike to the track

This has a number of advantages. If the worst happens and the bike gets damaged you can get it home without waiting for a recovery service. You can prepare the bike the night before by removing anything that can be damaged in a spill. Removal is far better than taping something up. If cost is an issue hire a van with a friend or two. One advantage that is often overlooked is what happens after a trackday. You've been out on the track for 8 sessions, you're tired (trust me, you will be!!), your leathers are soaked with sweat, your tyres are way past their best, you have to ride home and your perception of speed is screwed up. It's a recipe for disaster. With a van or trailer you can get changed into fresh clothes load the bike up and unwind with some good sounds. If it's a hot track day you can change out of your leathers between sessions.

Food

Don't eat junk food and drink Coke or other fizzy drinks: the sugar levels dull your concentration. If you don't believe me have a look at the first session after lunch at your next trackday. Drink bottled water and eat fruit or pasta.

The 3 Sessions to be aware of!!

There are 3 sessions you have to take extra care in. I would advise you to run at 75% in these sessions for various reasons:

1. The first session of the day

You are new to the track. Even if you have been around it before and it's dry, the grip levels will be different from last time and heavy rain might have washed some of the rubber deposits away. The track will be colder than before and other riders may not have ridden the track before. If you have done any work on your bike you will surely discover that you failed to tighten a caliper bolt in the first few laps.

2. The first session after lunch

Tyres have cooled, concentration levels are lower. Use this session to get back into the groove and gradually build your speed up again.

3. The last session of the day

Simple bit of advice here, don't go out in the last session: confidence is up and will invariably exceed ability, tiredness will start to play a part and tyres wil be nearing the end of their life. It's just not worth it. Pack up when you are ahead.

Find someone slightly faster than you

Once you have settled into a rhythm, know the track and are confident with your bike's handling and braking, find someone who is about 5-10 % quicker than you. Follow their lines, use their braking points and soon you will find that extra bit of speed.

Pick your group wisely

Fast Group: lots of fast road riders and racers, this is probably the safest group of the lot as fast riders know what they are doing. If you aren't sure whether you should go intermediate or fast, pick the fast group: you can always ask to go down a group later.

Intermediate Group: Try to avoid this group like the plague, its got fast guys who don't like to finish mid pack, slow guys who don't want to go in the slow group. The broad spread of riders is a recipe for disaster.

Slow Group: this is the ideal group for Novices and people who want to build their confidence. You won't be the slowest rider here, you are not expected to ride like a GP god and apart form a few intermediate riders who like to lap people and so choose this group you will be given lots of room. Once you have lapped 3/4 of the field and are confident of your ability then its time to move up. Take some lap time of riders in the other groups from the front, middle and back of the group, compare them with your lap times and if you can make it in the fast group, do it!

Mark Thompson has spent the past 20 years racing motorcycles and managing race teams and riders. He now runs the Trackbikes website.


MORE RESOURCES:

The San Francisco Appeal

SF motorcycle cops collide during training exercise
San Jose Mercury News
SAN FRANCISCO — Two San Francisco Police Department motorcycle officers who were hospitalized after crashing during a training exercise this afternoon are ...
Two SF motorcycle officers hurt in crashSan Francisco Chronicle

all 16 news articles »


Reuters

Harley-Davidson Rises on Buyout Chatter
New York Times (blog)
Harley-Davidson shares rose sharply on spiked Tuesday on speculation that the motorcycle maker was the target of a buyout bid, Reuters reported. ...
Harley party gives ladies a leg up on bikesMontreal Gazette
Heavyweight Motorbikes, RVs -- Biting the Bullet: 2010 ScenarioCNNMoney.com (press release)
Harley-Davidson dealership closes in Pompano BeachSun-Sentinel
York Daily Record -AllAboutBikes -MotorcycleUSA.com (blog)
all 105 news articles »


4 motorcyclists killed in crash identified
MiamiHerald.com
Authorities have identified the names of the four motorcyclists killed following a collision on a central Florida road. The Florida Highway Patrol says the ...
4 on 2 motorcycles killed in Fla. collisionThe Associated Press
Four motorcyclists killed in Sumter accidentTampabay.com
4 killed in Sumter motorcycle crashOrlando Sentinel
Tampa Tribune -WFTV Orlando -WESH Orlando
all 228 news articles »


Aztec club hopes ticket sales continue in motorcycle raffle
Farmington Daily Times
Rebecca Craig/The Daily Times General Manager of Four Corners Harley Davidson sits with 5 of the 7 motorcycles that are up for raffle to benefit the boys ...

and more »


Campaign targets motorbike rider safety
Sydney Morning Herald
The number of Victorians riding motorcycles has increased by almost 50 per cent in the past five years. The spike in motorcycle users will see highway ...

and more »


1 person killed in Friday night motorcycle accident
Dayton Daily News
Jan Underwood Escorted by Dayton Police officers away from the scene of a motorcycle and car crash on Danner Avenue, a woman comforts a man who was involved ...

and more »


MotorcycleUSA.com

Harley-Davidson pulls out of North Myrtle Beach motorcycle event
Myrtle Beach Sun News
Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company along with the local Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson dealer have pulled out of the planned North Myrtle Beach motorcycle ...
Harley-Davidson extends trade-in offerMotorcycle News

all 14 news articles »


Spring Motorcycle Safety Courses Offered
Hometownlife.com
The motorcycle safety program offers a variety of courses from the Basic Rider Course for someone who has minimal experience and wants to get a motorcycle ...



CBC.ca

It's motorcycle season; be careful out there
HeraldNet
MARYSVILLE — Clear skies and warm temperatures forecast for today should make it a perfect day to rev up a motorcycle for the first time ...
Motorcycle riders may be sent to driver schoolVancouver Sun
BC to change motorcycle licensingCBC.ca
BC plans tougher motorcycle lawsGlobe and Mail
North Shore News -HQPrinceGeorge.com -CKNW News Talk 980
all 16 news articles »


Mobil 1 Motorcycle Built by Orange County Choppers Awarded to Lucky Enthusiast
MarketWatch (press release)
--As part of the grand prize, he also won a free trip to the 2010 Daytona Bike Week celebration, where he received his new custom motorcycle from Paul ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006