Slump busters

[Pittenger5]

Serious question. How do you guys break out of a slump that you get in at the races? I crashed 2 weeks ago, rode like shit last week, 1/2 mental, 1/2 bike related. And for like the first time ever in my racing career I'm not even looking forward to this weekend. Most of you know I'm pretty hard on myself when it comes to competition so I'm sure that has something to do with it, but is it a matter of putting my head down and knowing it will be better one of these weekends, or having sex with a fat chick, or what. Man this sucks, I've never felt this way before a race weekend, almost dreading it. I was thinking about taking a weekend off, but I know that once saturday rolled around if I wasnt at the races Id be even more miserable. I guess I just need to stop crashing or drop into the 1:26s again somehow.

[RyanNicholson]

Stop thinking about it...go golfing, fishing, or like you've already suggest....hoggin'....whatever. Get racing out of your head completely for a couple days until you go to the track, then get in race mode with a fresh start. Its very easy to over think things to the point where it works against you.

[Sheppo]

OK so I do know a little about racing slumps. I campaigned a stock car for a few years and crewed on a few others for longer than that. Best bet, skip this weekend and take time for yourself. Close the garage door and don't set foot in there for a bit. Get your head right and the rest will follow. Don't sit at home all weekend moping. Golf, beach, amusment park, get laid, get drunk, anything to remove your head from your racing ass. Put the $$ aside you would have spent racing and go back the next time with a vengance. Don't think you'll be OK if you go to the track to watch friends, that doesn't work at all. This is what helped my slumps. Now if you can turn your head around in 3 days bonus. If not enjoy the weekend with a bottle of the new Schlitz

[OreoGaborio]

I bought a new race bike & took 7 seconds off

If every weekend was a race weekend I'd take a weekend off... but there's only 8 events a year.... stoke up the fire, get pumped up & race the hell outta that bike.

[Paul_E_D]

That's definitely one of the challenges of racing. For me, I eventually decided that either I'm in 100 percent, or I'm out. That really eliminated a lot of mixed feelings and waffling. Even if I felt some dread, I knew I was going, so I just gave it my best. I had to recognize my own limits, and that can be an eye opener. But I was happier with racing after I did that.

[Pittenger5]

Im leaning towards taking this weekend off, but I have a feeling if I do that, Ill just be in the same situation at the end of august anyway.

[Sheppo]

Im leaning towards taking this weekend off, but I have a feeling if I do that, Ill just be in the same situation at the end of august anyway.

OK so figure out why your head isn't into it.. then decide what needs to be done to change that? new bike? new class? help on your bike on the off weeks? Set up? obviously a good finish helps the mental pyche.

[Pittenger5]

More "real life" stuff thats just dominating my mind. Racing used to be an escape, but it doesnt seem to. Maybe a new bike would help, but I dont have the money and theres not one around that Id want. Proper set up, maybe, I've never touched anything on the bike since Ive bought it, but then again, I dont know what Im doing.
Probably didnt help I think I had more fun at the track day I did than the last 2 weekends of racing, mostly because of performance, but still.

[scottieducati]

Surprised nobody mentioned this... but go back to your best race, best practice and relive it. Where your brake markers were, who you battled with, what sections you *nailed* and what ones you didn't.

Get up there friday for practice if you can, take it easy... don't look at your lap times, focus on being smooth and fixing the areas you struggle with. Literally "crusie" around to your problem spots and work on nailing them lap after nap, then string in the next corner, and the next....

Racing is all about finding, and maintaining a rhythm, but you can't force it. You have to ease into it and keep it going... the best way to do that is to start slow(ish) and be SMOOTH. Your fastest laps come when you're relaxed.

Try and get out for a Fri or Thurs practice and not worry about anything except working on a few areas and then do a long run and try and hit the same markers, apexes, etc. time after time. Only seat time will cure the slump, you'll have that "moment" of the perfect lap, or perfect corner you've always sucked at before and it will start coming together.

I always try and relive some of the best racing moments before going out for a session... mental imagery is a powerful thing.

If you aren't good at doing a mental picture, find some onboard video of a fast and smooth guy to get you in the mindset, and go from there.

It'll come around man, but if you skip the weekend, it's all that much of a longer wait to build the rust up before you gotta dust it off...

PS: There's not much "setup" to be done on an EX, but I'm working with a couple guys to try and get the Pirellis to handle well, so perhaps we can have an EX pow-wow at the BMoto pit on Friday eve to discuss some different experiences... feel free to come by, we'll help if we can!

[Sheppo]

More "real life" stuff thats just dominating my mind. Racing used to be an escape, but it doesnt seem to. Maybe a new bike would help, but I dont have the money and theres not one around that Id want. Proper set up, maybe, I've never touched anything on the bike since Ive bought it, but then again, I dont know what Im doing.
Probably didnt help I think I had more fun at the track day I did than the last 2 weekends of racing, mostly because of performance, but still.

That's an issue. When your fun becomes not fun. Time to change something. More fun at track days? I see that as no pressure. Take the rest of the season off and do track day's exclusively. Maybe that's an answer.
I don't know sh*t about setting up a race bike, but I am sure there are little things that need to be done each and every time you run the bike, tire pressures, etc. Are you keeping records of before and after pressures? (is this even done in M/C racing?)
If it's the real life getting inthe way. Not much you can do until you solve that issue. Escaping for me now is a long 200 mile plus ride on my cruiser. Back roads through NH. Gets my head in the right place.
OK enough rambling from an old fat guy...

[wookie]

1. get the bike and gear straightened out.
2. come up on Saturday and sign up for one race.
3. get out for practice.

you will be physically prepared. If the mental stuff doesn't fall in line then don't race.

However, being at the track might remind you what you like about racing and get you pumped up. Worst case, you can hang out with everyone during your "weekend off."

[Pookie]

That's definitely one of the challenges of racing. For me, I eventually decided that either I'm in 100 percent, or I'm out. That really eliminated a lot of mixed feelings and waffling. Even if I felt some dread, I knew I was going, so I just gave it my best. I had to recognize my own limits, and that can be an eye opener. But I was happier with racing after I did that.

I have to agree. I crashed out first race of last season leading with 2 laps to go, running over a second faster than my previous season's best. Couldn't shake it and was running 3 seconds slower till August when I finally just told myself to "Shut up and Ride". Tuned everyone out and just focused on getting a good rythm again. Dropped 4 seconds from Saturday to Sunday and ran my fastest times all within a tenth.

Started this season in a slump again. This time 6 seconds slower. It wasn't until Round 4 when Jamie suggested that I man up and ride the bike more aggressivley. That weekend I went from struggling to get to 19's to comfortably dropping to 17's, including a 17.06 which was my fastest.

The only thing I know for sure is that on both occasions I just let go. Thought of nothing but the moment. The track slowed down and I was relaxed. Committed.

[Pittenger5]

I think Im gonna drop all my races, and if I cant deal with not racing saturday, Ill come up for sunday practice, and PTwins, which Im competative in, so maybe thatll give me a boost

[a13x]

Stop worrying about laptimes and just focus on becoming a better rider/racer and enjoying the experience. Sometimes you get too focused on 'gotta go faster gotta go faster' and it overrides the reason you do it. Learning, fun, comradere. etc.

[OreoGaborio]

or buy an SV

[Pittenger5]

or buy an SV

Or one of them fancy dirtbikes

[burnham]

What are you working on up there, besides going faster and not crashing?

[Kurlon]

Just remember, we do this because it's fun. If you're getting all pissy over lap times, etc, stop looking at them. You don't have a contract on the line, Stoner isn't waiting in the wings for your first mistake so he can steal your ride. Ride to ride, and if thats not fun, take a break. If it's feeling like a chore, take a break.

[Pittenger5]

What are you working on up there, besides going faster and not crashing?

Umm, isnt that the whole point of racing? I dont know what else I should be working on. I generally just try to brake deeper, get on the throttle earlier. I think I have the line down pretty well, and dont have all that much practice passing people, but thats another thing.

You don't have a contract on the line, Stoner isn't waiting in the wings for your first mistake so he can steal your ride.

I take it seriously, I always have. I know nothings on the line, but I dont see the point of doing it if youre just going to half ass things (I know no one really is). Im up there and I want to ride like I'll be offered Nicky's ride if I do well, and I get down on myself too easily. Its a character flaw, I know, but what can I do about it. Maybe thats why I had fun at the track day, no pressure to win, just out riding in circles.

[ThisBitch]

Well DB, knowing you....


I recommend butt secks.

And I recommend having a bum freestyle you a few bars about racing.

That should do the trick.

[Kurlon]

I take it seriously, I always have. I know nothings on the line, but I dont see the point of doing it if youre just going to half ass things (I know no one really is).

Yup, need to get you racing minis, suddenly racing just to half ass it has meaning. : )

I can see where you're coming from, and I agree to a certain extent, I'm not racing 'cause it's a cheap track day, I'm out there to compete, but I also make sure that I don't let myself get too worked up over it lest I beat myself up over nothing. I'm always faster on the minis when I stop mentally abusing myself and remember to have fun.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Yup, need to get you racing minis, suddenly racing just to half ass it has meaning. : )

I can see where you're coming from, and I agree to a certain extent, I'm not racing 'cause it's a cheap track day, I'm out there to compete, but I also make sure that I don't let myself get too worked up over it lest I beat myself up over nothing. I'm always faster on the minis when I stop mentally abusing myself and remember to have fun.

Have you raced yet?

[Pittenger5]

And I recommend having a bum freestyle you a few bars about racing.

He only liked my green bike

[Kurlon]

Have you raced yet?

Finally got back on the mini track last weekend. First heat was a little rough as my head wanted off the track the moment I hit the first turn, ended up pulling out of the main early from exhaustion, but I did get back on the track. I've got the GS on the trailer now, heading to NHMS for Carl's school tomorrow and barring another trip to Concord Urgent Care I'll be racing this weekend.

[Honclfibr]

Fuck this noise. You come race.