T1, slow bike guys, how do you do it?

[Doc]

Based on my class Friday, the only real difference between small bikes and big bikes in T1 seems to be the available line margin, smaller bikes can safely get away with being a bit shallower coming in. On the way out of T2, we can aim a bit further back along the wall as we can again, get away with a bit more final correction to aim for the T3 chute, so go for a harder initial drive. Other than that, small bike, big bike, the technique and advice is all the same, so to hell with the others, I want your opinion Ryan! : )

I think part of it for me is mental, I have no problem making the bike scream when I drop a gear for T9, but for some reason when I end my downshifts for T1/T3 I end up being in the low to mid RPM range like on the street... I'll definitely have to work on that.

So you are still racing!!?

[BMFR6]

Kurlon - Again i'm not a small bike guy so I'm just venturing a guess from my experience... so take this with a grain of salt... but if your down shifts into T1 feel like they are slowing you down when you hit them maybe you have more braking power than your giving the bike credit for? Its not easy to move your brake marker up and make those 2 downshifts, esp when you're already having trouble doing so though. Theres definitely an art to blipping the throttle, downshifting, and braking all at the same time... but its a necessary one to learn. Making quick smooth downshifts while hard on the brakes also helps keep the rear of the bike in check when done smoothly...

I would definitely work on practicing that and getting those 2 downshifts in every time... you'll be able to go into T1 deeper and faster, and charge through T1A like a bat out of hell like you said.

i think rev matching is one of those skills we think we do pretty well and we get by on it.... then you get it right and realize how poorly you have been doing it.

[Kurlon]

So you are still racing!!?

No, but that doesn't mean I won't be turning laps in my head for years to come. : )

[Fitz]

Wonder how much this will change things.....



Fitz

[OreoGaborio]

I don't have any experience on the smaller bikes... but you definitely want to do a preturn around the 4 board. Wide open going past the 4 board turn toward T1 a little and take a tighter line into it. Its a VERY entry focused corner so the idea is to go deep and fast into it, since there isn't anywhere to get a good drive out of it. On my 600 I was WOT until just past the 3 board... then came down and went by the pink box about a foot to the left of it... as you go past the apex theres a patch of pavement and I'd clip the corner of it hard back on the gas to T1A, roll of just enough to make 1A then another HARD blip on the throttle before going fairly tight into T2.

Since you've got 2 tightish corners after T1 theres no need to go wide at all on the way in... you're not setting up for a drive. Carry as much speed in there as you can and brake late... if you over shoot it the track is really wide anyway so you've got some room for error.

Yup, that's pretty much what I do.

Pre-turn at 4 board
Get the bike pointed at the "T" that the pavement patches make.
Brake as late as I can (usually a hair after the 3 board)
Grab two downshifts
Throw it in harder just after the "T"
Knee over the box
Knee over the pothole
Roll to full throttle
Keep to the left of the black patch between 1 and 1a
Pitch it in for 1a & put my knee on the curb
Roll back on the gas
Flip hard for 2 & put my knee on the curb again
Drive out of 2 towards the "stop" lights that are up on the fence.

[Doc]

Yup, that's pretty much what I do.

Pre-turn at 4 board
Get the bike pointed at the "T" that the pavement patches make.
Brake as late as I can (usually a hair after the 3 board)
Grab two downshifts
Throw it in harder just after the "T"
Knee over the box
Knee over the pothole
Roll to full throttle
Keep to the left of the black patch between 1 and 1a
Pitch it in for 1a & put my knee on the curb
Roll back on the gas
Flip hard for 2 & put my knee on the curb again
Drive out of 2 towards the "stop" lights that are up on the fence.

Except without the knee down and full throttle stuff and I only grab one downshift.

Hey Pete can you show me how to do that?

[OreoGaborio]

I was hoping YOU could show ME

[SVRACER01]

pffft! pre-turn...

[SVRACER01]

all of your reference points arent there anymore.