How well do you know your competiton?

[a13x]

Well?

When you line up on the grid, do you know the average laptimes for you immediate competition? Where they finished last weekend? What bike they are on? How 'hot' the bike is? If they do better during the first part or later half of the race? etc etc.

Some people will find certain information more pertinent than others of course.

By competition I mean the people directly in front or behind you normally in the sheets, along with the top 3 cats in the class.


For myself. All of the above. The one weekend I didn't do my homework (first weekend as a Amateur) I got burned by it. Never again. Personally I like to know the Name, Number, Bike, Apperance (leathers and paintjob on bike) and average laptimes of my immediate competition. Also I'll watch them like a hawk (har har) during other races, to see where they are strong, weak, and make passes. I like knowing what and who I'm dealing with when I come up behind them.

As I said, already gotten burned by lack of that information once. Still feel like a jackass about it.

[OreoGaborio]

werd...

[a13x]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
werd...

Very informative and enlightening answer Young Jackassawan

[GMAN226]

I know all the top runners in my important race. In the others that I do I don't know all the people but the real fast guys I know to follow in certian spots. You will notice the faster guys in ULSB are normally in the same positions every race.


G-man

[OreoGaborio]

it's "Jackovasaur"... "DOOO-WOOOOOOP!!!!"

I'm w/ Gerard... i know the guys in the PTwin race I gotta watch out for & what kinda times they're doing (at least what they did the first race weekend), but that's about it.

[Paul_E_D]

Ha! They are some of my best friends. In fact, I just served em brunch at my place on Sunday.

Put your head down and race hard every lap no matter who is around. All that will matter are YOUR laptimes. I have found that worrying about someone elses program is a waste of energy and represents a loss of focus.

As you move up, there will always be someone there to zap you if you let off.

I understand the tendency though

[gmdboston]

Originally posted by a13x
Well?

When you line up on the grid, do you know the average laptimes for you immediate competition? Where they finished last weekend? What bike they are on? How 'hot' the bike is? If they do better during the first part or later half of the race? etc etc.

Some people will find certain information more pertinent than others of course.

By competition I mean the people directly in front or behind you normally in the sheets, along with the top 3 cats in the class.


For myself. All of the above. The one weekend I didn't do my homework (first weekend as a Amateur) I got burned by it. Never again. Personally I like to know the Name, Number, Bike, Apperance (leathers and paintjob on bike) and average laptimes of my immediate competition. Also I'll watch them like a hawk (har har) during other races, to see where they are strong, weak, and make passes. I like knowing what and who I'm dealing with when I come up behind them.

As I said, already gotten burned by lack of that information once. Still feel like a jackass about it.

No preparing, just go......

[Awesome]

I know my competition well enough to help eachother, talk about who's faster where, and be friendly and re-cap the racing over a few beers or dinner. How fast I go and what place I get is up to me, and how fast other people are going shouldn't make a difference to how hard I push. Having friends on the grid next to you just assures that noone pulls cheap or dangerous moves.

[Nazo]

Originally posted by hessogood
I know my competition well enough to help eachother, talk about who's faster where, and be friendly and re-cap the racing over a few beers or dinner. How fast I go and what place I get is up to me, and how fast other people are going shouldn't make a difference to how hard I push. Having friends on the grid next to you just assures that noone pulls cheap or dangerous moves.

I agree with Jay.
I try to push myself and "race the track" as they say.
I think I'm a little faster when I have an open track in front of me and not looking at another racer and I can focus on my riding alone.

[OreoGaborio]

although everyone has different techniques, i think we can all agree that the key is finding what works for you & stickin w/ it.... too much of anything can usually be a bad thing so the trick is to find a happy medium.

take it from me, i stayed at a Holliday Inn Express one time... maybe.... coulda been

[a13x]

Interesting replies from different levels scattered throughout the various classes.

[Dave B]

You mean there are other people out there besides me? Get out.

[WebCrush]

Since I've been racing with the same crew of riders for past 7 years, I'd say I know em well.

Same old names, same old game.

[Paul_E_D]

I should say, if you're trying to win a championship (or a race), it's important to understand what it will take to do it. Laptimes might be important, but RACE times are even more important. That's what it really comes down to.

Other important factors would be rain times, starts/first lap times, not crashing, bike reliability, etc.

So I do know a lot about the competition. To clarify what I meant, I have found that if I'm checking other people's time DURING the weekend, I have lost focus on my program. I can't control their times, only my own. For me, confidence grows out of systematically working to improve my program. It takes 100 percent of my focus. ANY time I'm checking up on others reduces that 100 percent.

It's a big change for me, as the first thing I used to do after practice was check everybody else's times. The only thing it did was convince me that I'm NOT going to win if someone was faster in practice.

[a13x]

Yea nah, I never check anyone else's times at the track, as you said, waste of time / worry at that point.

Good stuff.

[SVRACER01]

i just look at their tires and maybe suspension but definatly tires.

DOTs = not likely a threat
slicks= OK... ill be behind him most likely

in the rain its the same thing
DOTs= not likely
Rains= i might have a problem

maybe ill worry more when i move up......

i seem to go faster when im chasing some one... even if they arent in my class

[OreoGaborio]

...... this thread is primed & ready to turn into a desert w/ all the sand that's about to fly

[13]

Originally posted by SVRACER01
i just look at their tires and maybe suspension but definatly tires.

DOTs = not likely a threat
slicks= OK... ill be behind him most likely

in the rain its the same thing
DOTs= not likely
Rains= i might have a problem

maybe ill worry more when i move up......

i seem to go faster when im chasing some one... even if they arent in my class

Good thing you weren't in my class last event, I had street tires. What would you say then?