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#1 |
Motorbike Obsessed
Name: Me
Location: SoCal
Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133
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Track days and when to change groups.
Coming off another great track day this weekend at Chuckwalla, my mind is full of thoughts and ideas.
The ideas are whether to keep spending time and money to continue developing my pregen track bike or to get something different like a middleweight twin or a super sport. My main question and the one I’m posting to the ninjette board is, when do you know when to change session groups? Mainly to move up. This weekend was the 5th time I’ve taken the Ninja to a big track. I’ve also taken it to the kart track a few times when I was first getting it prepped. It was my third time to Chuckwalla and the first time doing the same track in the same direction. All of my track days have been in C group. I still get lapped like I’m standing still by most of the grid. I’d get get a few passes in of my own. I can’t tell if people choose C group because B group is sold out or they are just slow like me. I record lap times and have seen my times drop 40 seconds over the lap three track days. When you faster, more experienced riders changed groups, when did you know it was time to do so?
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My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions |
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#2 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: john
Location: placerville
Join Date: Apr 2016 Motorcycle(s): ninja 300 Posts: 386
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when everybodys in your way, and you cant take how slow there going.
track days up north have suggested lap times for each group. have staff follow you and ask them. |
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#3 |
Private Joker
Name: Ben
Location: Towson, MD
Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '14
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Do you have any video of your track riding?
Focus on continuing to develop your riding and you'll feel when you are ready to move up. Groups are split with safety in mind, relative pace and control per each group. What this means is that when your pace starts becoming unsafe in comparison to the other riders it is time to move up.
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#4 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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don't worry about the other guys, worry about yourself and being more precise and faster. Maybe keep the bike, move up to B-group and monitor your laptimes. When you're no longer improving, maybe it's time to get some professional help, CSS, Yamaha ChampSchool, Ken Hill, etc. Perhaps when you can do 5-laps in row within 0.25s of each other and do back-to-back days with those times, you're at the limit of the bike?
I've chopped off 10-20s off my times this year at various tracks and I still have another 10 to go before reaching group-ave. limit of 250 racing class. It's so much fun! Especially passing up pretty much everyone in B-group, except for instructors. When I beat Dave Moss in 250 Superbike class, I think I'll be ready for bigger bike! ![]() I think you should try B-group. |
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#5 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Hi AchyGrappler and great question!
When to consider moving up a group at a track day? - 101 1. Have you got a good understanding and execution of the basics; throttle control, steering, vision skills, braking, body position, ect... ect... ? 2. Have you "really" learned the preferred line at "that" track. Yes, you can be a B group rider at one track and a C group rider at another. 3. Can you hold that preferred line at "that" track? Even if you get passed mid-corner? 4. Do you have control over your mind and competitiveness enough to keep the "red mist" in check? Knowing when to NOT ride or pull back a little is MORE important than most things. 5. Do you find yourself having to roll off or brake mid-corner to not hit other riders? 6. Do you find yourself having to constantly take alternate lines through corners while making/setting up a pass on another rider? 7. Have you got a second opinion? Friends don't count!!! Get a CR or coach to follow you for a few laps. 8. Can you recognize negative feedback from the bike? Can you recognize negative feedback from YOU... the rider? 9. Are you NOT afraid to ask questions instead of just "giving it a try and guessing what will happen?" 10. Can you recognize and understand that "the mix" of riders present at the track "that day" will be different than the next day, so... your pace and safety is relative to "the mix, that day." 11. Are you willing to make "ANY" compromise to ensure your safety and the safety of others? Both on and off the track? 12. Do you spend most of your laps having fun or considering rolling hot pit to give yourself more clear track? Having helped many, many riders and a decent number of ninjette members move from C -> B or Novice -> Intermediate, these are my factors that tell me when a rider is ready. When in doubt, just ask a CR/Coach to do a few laps with you to give an eval. We love to be used and abused like that, it's why we are there. ![]() Good luck, have fun! Bonus: The bike must also be able to pass tech for the next group, so be sure and don't forget to check gear requirements. If the bike hardware is ready, then you can focus on getting that wrinkly gray matter inside your head ready.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#6 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 6
MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13
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Good advice above, especially about having an instructor follow you.
Archy, I was there about two seasons ago. My $0.02 for what it's worth: 1) Getting lapped on a small bike doesn't count. A chimpanzee can twist the throttle and go fast in a straight line, so OF COURSE everyone on a bigger bike is going to pass you, even if they're not as good as you. What matters is how you're doing in the corners relative to others in the group. Are you always catching up in the twisty bits? Are you braking later/carrying more speed into corners than those around you? Are you getting on it earlier at the exits? 2) A concern that hasn't been mentioned is being a good track citizen. I really didn't want to move up if I felt I was going to become a pain in the neck for those in the higher group. That's where independent confirmation (via an instructor/coach following you) comes in. They know what you don't; namely, the actual pace of the higher group. 3) Depending on what you happen to be working on, being the fastest rider in the slower group can be more fun than being the slowest rider in the faster group. Passing (safely) is a hoot and an important skill even if you're not a racer. If you're faster than the other riders in your group, it's a target-rich environment. If you're unable to make those passes in the corners where horsepower doesn't matter as much... well, then you're not really the faster rider, are you? 4) My own personal gauge regarding comfort with moving up wasn't lap times. It was whether I felt that I was ready. If I'm riding near the limit of my ability (getting out of the comfort zone and making mistakes) and still having other riders doing better/going faster than me, then it stands to reason that I don't belong in a faster group.
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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#7 |
Track Clown
Name: Chris
Location: Kingman, AZ
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '15
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first and foremost:
Consistency and predictability is the most important for track days. It does not matter how fast you are if you are going into a corner and changing your lines multiple times. We had that in May during racer practice, causing a crash on the guy trying to pass him. Grouping is also relative to the caliber of riders and sometimes even the available spots in each group. 40 seconds is a lot of time, but not that relevant yet. Grouping sometimes can depend on lap times, but rarely. If you are still being passed in "C" Group, it may be best to work in that group more. "B" is typically the largest variety of riders, and at times the most dangerous. by the way who was at Chuck this past weekend? |
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#8 |
Motorbike Obsessed
Name: Me
Location: SoCal
Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133
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Lots of great tips, thanks all. I asked the question because this year I was able to get out to the track 5 times of my 6 times goal. Part of my multi year plan that includes training to get me ready to start racing. After these 5 times I feel like while I’m not ready to move up yet, I can see that soon I may be.
Csmith12, that is a great list of questions. My answers were a mix of yes, no and kinda. The list also gives me things to work on over the next 6 trackdays. Thanks. Clinker, I was out with TrackXperience. I’ve ridden with them before at Streets of Willow. Big difference between TrackXper and TrakDaz. The paddock was half full and the speed of their C group was overall much more my speed. I imagined TrakDaz events would be faster with the racers in attendance.
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My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions |
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#9 | |
Track Clown
Name: Chris
Location: Kingman, AZ
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '15
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#10 | |
Motorbike Obsessed
Name: Me
Location: SoCal
Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133
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Quote:
January I’ll get back to the track if things work out right.
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My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions |
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#11 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: John
Location: Appleton, WI
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300 (race), Ninja 1000 (road) Posts: 504
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Stay in the group that feels like the most fun. I think a lot of riders chase a bump way too early because they think it's a badge of honor to get to the next level. Your frustration level will tell you if you are in the right group.
If you are plagued by slow traffic, move up. And I don't mean stuck behind a single rider because you aren't fast enough to get by. I mean if you're staring at a choo-choo train of slowness, taking 2 at a time in a corner and getting pissed because guy number 3 is now immediately in your way, it's time to move up. If you are frustrated with being only a tiny bit faster than everyone and therefore unable to make a single pass for an entire session, move down. When you are comfortably making several passes per session and having fun, you are in the right spot. Kinda sounds like I'm promoting sandbagging but it's not like that. I'm just saying make it about fun, not the group. Personally, I let a CR bump me up to A way too soon. I had more fun in B. Then after a few years when you get tired of trying to get away from unpredictable idiots and listening to overbearing CR's who act like the policemen of the racetrack, it's time to start racing. That's probably going to offend someone but I gotta be honest - I never had more fun than when I quit track days and started racing. I got 4 years of track days in and the seat time was valuable, but then I had enough. Put your time in and then get ready for the real fun of racing!
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Ninja 300 - CCS Ultralight Thunderbike Racing I want to "like" your post but I can't due to forum rules. Sorry. |
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#12 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Chris
Location: Bristol, UK
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): ZZR250, VFR800 Posts: 478
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I'd use this as a rough gauge, in the UK the groups are as follows;-
USA A = UK Advanced USA B = UK Intermediate USA C = UK Novice/Beginner These names mean something, as opposed to Letters ! Here if you have never ridden on Track before you MUST start in Novice group & trust me I have seen some guys rock up with teh greatest kit & NO ability. Talking to them, gives no sense of their capabilities as most people over estimate their own abilities, humility is your friend ! The instructors/organisers will move people between groups if they are to fast or to slow, so be realistic. You say you have knocked 40's off your lap times, but don't share your lap time, so that really means nothing. I can knock 40's of a lap on a new track from 1st - 2nd session ! Not sure if there are many other 250 riders in your sessions, they are quite rare here in the UK. But if there are, then how do you compare lap time wise to them ? If equal or faster, then between sessions, identify someone in the group above riding a 250 & time their laps & see how that compares to yours if similar then you can upgrade on that track. Once fully comfortable about pushing yourself & the bike & being able to find & keep to the racing line, then you should easily be able to ride in the B group, but remember to have a look around you at who & what is riding in that group. I remeber when most track days used to be road bikes, where as now they are often racers getting in cheap practise times. If your bike is a road bike, then check when you book that its restricted to road bikes only, or at least limiting race/track bikes to A group only. This has some advantages, sessions get stopped less often when road nike only, people aren't trying 101% ! Intermediates is where you want to be. I could ride A/Advanced group, but I'm not willing to push my expensive highly modified 800cc road bike that hard when wannabe racers are trying to commit suicide to get by ! I gave up track riding a few years ago after a serious of incidents with wannbe's falling off in front of me or throwing machines at me from behind having lost it on the brakes etc. Most of all ride in the group you are comfortable in & enjoy yourself the most in. |
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#13 | |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 6
MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13
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Quote:
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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#14 |
Motorbike Obsessed
Name: Me
Location: SoCal
Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133
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California, we are weirdly inverted. Track days in winter are the best since the weather is usually perfect. Summer however is another story. Chuckwalla doesn’t do much for bikes between June and August since you’ll get heat stroke walking over to registration. The other SoCal track day orgs are also light on events for the same reason. Chucking a bike around the course at 110 F in full leather ain’t much fun.
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My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions |
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#15 | |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Quote:
The hottest I have ridden in was 117f with 86% humidity. It was horrible. Nah... it was painful. Even the most hardcore riders got in only about 50% of the available track time. Us coaches were forcing people off the track (to the paddock) due to heat causing various riding issues. And this comes from a rider who loves to ride in 98f with 96% humidity...., seems there is a hard line somewhere for the most of us. Not recommended... it's near the human limits, good call. +1 to when knowing when to NOT ride.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#16 |
Track Clown
Name: Chris
Location: Kingman, AZ
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '15
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#17 | |
Track Clown
Name: Chris
Location: Kingman, AZ
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '15
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#18 |
Motorbike Obsessed
Name: Me
Location: SoCal
Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133
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Oh hell no! I'll take my dry heat anytime.
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My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions |
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#19 | |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 6
MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13
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Quote:
I often grab a couple of ice cubes out of my cooler, put 'em in my hand and rub them over my scalp as they melt. I'll also open the front of my suit and pour water over my chest. Other tricks, too... I wear a skull cap or balaclava when I ride and between sessions I'll put it in the cooler, below the water line. I put it on wet and ice water + evaporation keeps me cool for awhile.
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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#20 | ||
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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Quote:
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Anyway, all the best and I love to see people taking rider improvement and advancement seriously! I wish more people were as concerned with proper timing of moving up in track day groups and bettering themselves then in letting their egos dictate what group they end up in. ride safe!!
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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#21 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 6
MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13
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We heart ya, @Misti.
It's threads like this one that keep me coming back years after selling my Ninjette.
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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#22 | ||
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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Quote:
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![]() ![]() I haven't done many track days that weren't part of a race weekend or CSS but I did get to do an awesome track day in Germany at Sachsenring. The organization ran it crisp and clean and during lunch break they re-arranged all the groups according to lap times. So, for example there was one guy in our group that started himself in the B group (he may have been bragging)- I started in B group as well and at lunch time he got moved DOWN to C group ![]() ![]() I don't know how other organizations do this but it seemed to work in Germany ![]() Sometimes taking ego out of the equation is the best way of doing it, lol.
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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#23 | ||
ninjette.org guru
Name: Al
Location: Orange County, CA
Join Date: Dec 2015 Motorcycle(s): Thruxton R, R6 450 triple, EX300 (sold) Posts: 263
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Quote:
Instead, every time you go to a trackday, ask to link up with a coach/instructor/control rider/whatever-they-call-themselves (ideally someone on a similar bike) and play some lead and follow. If you ride with a good organization that has attentive coaches, when you are ready, I guarantee you they will tell you to move up. Plus, you'll know cool, knowledgeable people for when you return and/or if you run into an issue with your bike or riding. Spend the time in your current group working on reference points, corner entry speed, and making clean passes. If your trackday organization allows outside passing in C group, I would say practice it and see if you're able to clear away from most of the big bikes in C over the course of a lap. I don't know Chuckwalla, so I can't comment on that specific track for big versus small bikes and these are just my anecdotal thoughts. In C group, you should be able to find yourself gaining a ton on corner entry to mid-corner on pretty much everyone if you want to move to B/Intermediate. I'm not saying you have to be passing folks, but you should definitely be gaining ground to the point where you feel held up. The biggest difference in moving to Intermediate for me was the amount of clear track that I had in front of me. The 600s and 1000s will all clear out on the straights, and I found myself running up the backsides of people a lot less frequently than in Novice. Quote:
Definitely, the best way is to take the ego out of the equation. One of the worst offenders in my mind was a guy on a CBR600RR that just couldn't handle being passed around the outside by an SV650 and a Ninja 300 mid-corner. What does he do? Roll on the throttle mid-corner and push out wide into us every single time... ![]() |
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#24 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Topaz
Location: South Florida
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 / Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM Posts: 214
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I'd love to see track days groups based on bike power, as in racing groups, instead of rider skills.
The difference in speed among small bikes wouldn't be that bad. And expert riders are usually more respectful of slow/beginner riders, so probably safer. Big bike riders, especially if beginners, would be on their own sharing the track with the big guys. And many would quickly understand that speed is a consequence of skills and not engine power. It would be more fun as well, as even if not racing, it would be easier to find riders to compare with and or follow for fun. |
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#25 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: John
Location: Appleton, WI
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300 (race), Ninja 1000 (road) Posts: 504
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Quote:
I'd like to see liter bikes only allowed at the expert level and 600's only allowed in the upper intermediate, after reaching a minimum lap time specific to ultralight class (300) or lightweight class (650 twin). I ran that concept by one of the managers of an org in the midwest and he laughed. He said he would lose 75% of his business. The track day crowd is too full of total newbies on 600's and literbikes. But I can dream of the day we can keep the slow riders off the fast bikes until they get good enough. Slow riders on fast bikes is the number one frustration with track days. I know a couple of orgs in the states made rules in the right direction - If you get passed in a corner by a slower bike, you are not allowed to re-pass on the following straight. I like that rule and wish more orgs would use it.
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Ninja 300 - CCS Ultralight Thunderbike Racing I want to "like" your post but I can't due to forum rules. Sorry. |
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#26 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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When we coach I or A at Mid-O, we tell our riders this; "If you get passed mid-corner by a slower bike, don't be in a hurry to pass them back in the straight. Hang out behind them for a lap or two and try to learn why you got passed."
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#27 | ||
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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![]() Ego, though. I don't see a lot of riders self-regulating themselves in that situation. Wish I could be at every track day, all the time with a crew of coaches helping everyone!! ![]() ![]() Best advice we can all keep preaching is to get some good quality instruction, work on the skills and try and get better! there is nothing more exhilarating than hopping on a little bike and railing by everyone, hehehehehe.
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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#28 |
Motorbike Obsessed
Name: Me
Location: SoCal
Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133
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Had a good day yesterday with TrakDaz at Chuckwalla. Got into a few slow bike/fast bike battles where I'd ride up on someone's behind in the corners, but couldn't make the pass as the C group only allowed outside passes. As soon as the corner was opening up I'd get out accelerated down the straight only to repeat for the next corner. I was able to beat a few on the brakes to get the inside line before the corner. It felt good to be able to think on the bike and be able to ride with strategy.
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My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions |
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#29 | |
Track Clown
Name: Chris
Location: Kingman, AZ
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '15
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#30 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: John
Location: Appleton, WI
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300 (race), Ninja 1000 (road) Posts: 504
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Quote:
IMHO, the 250/300 doesn't make a good track day bike mixed in with all the newbs on liters. Maybe it's good at some smaller tracks but at the big tracks it's annoying and the closing speeds can be dangerous. The 300 was a blast at the kart track though. I would understand that some may enjoy the challenge of riding a slow bike at a track day, but for me, when I pass someone slow I like to stay in front of them.
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Ninja 300 - CCS Ultralight Thunderbike Racing I want to "like" your post but I can't due to forum rules. Sorry. |
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#31 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 6
MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13
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Around here at least, group isn't based on lap times, it's based on skill. Those newbs on literbikes should be in novice group.
If you're skilled, you can ride a 300 in a higher group and not have that problem. A very fast rider (former owner of my track bike) was talking to me about this once. There's a lovely young woman who rides with our track day org. He said "She's not fast, but she's totally consistent, which is why we're happy to have her in the fast group. That's what it takes... it's not about speed."
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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#32 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: John
Location: Appleton, WI
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300 (race), Ninja 1000 (road) Posts: 504
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Next related subject. When I make complaints like this, there's always a contingent of posters who act like "Well well, look at mister super duper fast, who doesn't like all the many many slow people at the racetrack." It's not like that at all, it's just track day frustrations. And these frustrations aren't from a lack of skill, where a CR/coach can jump in and save the day. It's just the way most track days are organized and run. Most of my frustration went away when I started racing, where riders on similar bikes can let skill sort out the pecking order, no CR's needed. 2016 was the last year I raced before I had to retire due to medical issues, but man I had more fun than my first 4 years of track days combined. You also have to like where a bump from amateur to expert happens based on merit derived from statistics, rather than one CR's opinion which is not always always the best. Getting kinda off topic here, sorry. To the original poster: Don't worry about what group you're in and just focus on having fun.
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Ninja 300 - CCS Ultralight Thunderbike Racing I want to "like" your post but I can't due to forum rules. Sorry. |
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#33 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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#34 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Timm
Location: West Seneca, NY
Join Date: Oct 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2006 1050 Speed Triple, 2010 250 Ninja racebike, YZF320RR? Racebike Posts: 556
MOTM - Nov '15
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Quote:
So I get passed on straights a ton and I don't care. If someone tries to show me a wheel right before a turn, I keep right on going and make them work for it. As for coming on a fast bike/slow rider, I just have to work on strategic passing so that I get by them early in a set of turns and put enough distance on them before we get to the next straight so they can't pass me back. Endurance racing or trackdays, That's part of the game riding a smaller bike at the same time as bigger bikes. If you don't like it, the solution is simple: Just get a bigger bike. Skill is the best indicator of relative safety IMO, so groups should be organized that way. Making a bunch of passing rules for trakdays is not good because it complicates the things that a rider has to think about. This can cause focus issues which itself can be a safety concern. I also agree that sprint racing pretty much eliminates this issue due to similar bikes being on track at the same time and leveling the playing field somewhat. |
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