Looking through the turn question

[DucDave]

I think we need a racing rule, you can no longer ever use Rossi or Jeff Wood as an example of anything. These people are not men. They're machines

Agreed...

(Rossi also said he doesn't like loud exhaust...for whatever thats worth!)

[Paul_E_D]

The comment is taken out of context. They were comparing his head turn to other GP riders. His comment of "I know where the track goes" lends to my theory that he has more reference points than anyone else out there.

And yes, once you have a track dialed, you don't need to turn your head as much. You can ride by the timing of your actions. This is what the GP guys refer to as rythym IMO. It's muscle memory so accurate that you do everything at the proper time without thinking about it.

We're talking about learners here though. LOOK FURTHER AHEAD!

[hammadown]

Great insight/ thread. Gave me a bit to think about at my next track venture. Thanks for all the input!

[Pittenger5]

Great insight/ thread. Gave me a bit to think about at my next track venture. Thanks for all the input!

I see a trackwalk in my future.

[palanon]

I think we need a racing rule, you can no longer ever use Rossi or Jeff Wood as an example of anything. These people are not men. They're machines

Hence forth, the "Dash for Cash" shall be know as "The Wood Family Benevolent Fund"

[butcher bergs]

Practice using your peripheral and look no less than 20 feet out.

[zx1012r]

For what it's worth, this is something that plagues me to this day.

At Loudon, I have a big problem with turn 2 and 12. If I don't tell myself everytime through those corners not to, then I find myself doing it. DON"T LOOK AT THE WALLS!

I find myself guaging my exit by watching how close I am going to drift toward the walls. This has one obvious effect. I don't get on the gas early enough or hard enough! I literally have to tell myself every lap to look further down track. For 2 I try to look at the cones coming into 3. For 12 I try to find the middle of the track by start finish.

This seems obvious with the "look where you want to go" mantra, but of course I don't want to be going at the wall! Duh! I don't know why I find myself relapsing, but I do.

Also, if you find yourself right behind someone, especially going through 8, try to get to one side or the other of the rider in front of you. Then you can look past them and not stare at the back of their tire.

Mark Dages

[NeverlosT]

a big problem I used to have was losing reference points when getting passed. In yellow group I will be looking ahead and then someone goes around me in a corner and Im like "Oh hey look, another motorcycle" and stare at them = instantly go wide and f-everything up. I try my hardest not to do it any more, since I know it is not just dangerous for me, but for others trying to pass me. So that is a bad habit I tried to nip right in the bud.

[Doc]

more reference points is what you need. just looking far ahead at nothing serves no purpose. talk to some of the fast guys about how many reference points they have, it's crazy. maybe paul or scott will chime in with some of their examples. you should be adding to your reference points as you get more laps. you'll know you have plenty of points when you are with in inches of the same line at any point in a corner lap after lap. having more reference points to use as you look through the corner is how you get rid of the lost feeling by looking too far ahead.

Good reason to have that 10 race minimum as a novice.

I strive to look ahead and find more reference points.

I feel I spot my big ones and move to the next one before I am past the first one.

Brake marker into 1, turn in point (paint line), apex, black patch of asphalt between 1 and 1a (stay to the left of it), 1a apex, apex of 2, nascar lights before 3, cones in to 3, 2nd to last cone turn in, rumble strips, transition, 4 apex cone... you get the idea.

[GixerJockey]

pardon my stupid drawing, but it gets the job done. if you were to connect the reference points in each example, which one makes the smoother corner?

Attachment 14834

Be careful how you answer. It's a trick question.

Pittengers original post about running wide when looking far ahead indicates a technique problem. I can't really say what without watching him do it though...

I have the same issue in T6. When I'm headed to the apex, I can only see to about the turn in point of T7. When I look around the corner, I drift wide on 6 (and get passed on the inside... twice this weekend). I end up blowing 6 but get a good run through 7 and 8. When I stare at the apex of 6 for an extra second, I nail the line through 6, but then look up and focus on the entrance of 7. This makes me drive right were I'm looking and end up kissing the rumble strip on the outside of the track. I know the answer to that is looking deeper into 7, but I can't find a reference point and find it difficult to turn my head that far while on the exit of 6.

So Paul... Come to the races weekend after next, sit in the grandstands, and tell Richie and I what we're doing wrong. You can take all the credit for our success.

[BMFR6]

you guys gone out and done a track walk?? that may help with finding some reference points. additionally, one of the drills they have you do at the code school is do a full lap at the extreme left edge of the track, a full lap at the extreme right edge and a full lap in the very middle (not at speed of course). i found this helped me a lot at loudon when i did it (not so much at laguna simply because that track is HUGE compared to NH, stevie wonder can see how much room you have there). you'll notice a lot more reference points out there and you will also see how much room you have. knowing what is out there for space will really help with you rooks when it comes time to start passing people.

[Pittenger5]

you guys gone out and done a track walk??

Yes. They're fantastic, I need to do another this year before it gets dark so I can see the backside of the track better. But they do help quite a bit.