| Some wise words on Racing by Andy Ibbott
Just found this in a pdf copy of Pronto from some time ago !!!
Seems very timely somehow....enjoy:
Racing By Andy Ibbott
As you guys have set up the 2 valve race series I thought it might be wiseto give those of you who are thinking about it an insight from behind the racer's handlebars.
Let just cover off some basic facts about racing:
1. It isn't cheap in either money or time
2. It isn't a track day
3. It isn't about the most powerful bike
4. It will make you faster
5. It is the best rush - ever
6.It is about technique and some bravery
Beware; racing is very, very addictive.
Some riders spend thousands of pounds racing and this is just at Club level, and the more you do it the more you will want to do it. And heck, if you get even slightly good at it then the
addiction is even worse. It's brilliant!
There is no other experience riding a bike that will get you even close to that feeling of waiting for race day.
Waiting for scruntineering.
Waiting for your race to be called.
Waiting inthe collecting area.
Waiting on the grid.
It's a never-ending kick after
kick after kick of adrenaline and if it's
not - quit now, you are doing it for the
wrong reasons.
It is the ultimate test of your riding skills.
Everyone out there thinks that they have a chance of winning.
Anyone who tells me that it doesn't even cross their minds, that they are doing it just for fun is a liar, pure and
simple. Those of you that have entered already feel you are fast enough. If all you have done before is a fast
group track day and you run near the front then you are going to have a bit of a shock, come that first corner.
You see on a Track Day you are let out in a staggered fashion. It's all very gentlemanly, "No, you first", you might say; " No, no, no after you I insist." And even if you have been a
little aggressive with your overtaking just think how that is going to pan out with 30 of you all wanting that same
piece of Tarmac up there in turn one?
Have I put you off yet? I hope not. It really is the ultimate, dicing with someone, or several of you to the line.
So, despite the advice and technique I'm about to offer you, it will all go to pot in that first hectic, exciting lap.
But not to worry, once you have sorted yourself out from the first lap you will have 3 or 4 maybe even 5 to settle in and get your tech working for you.
So, preparation, I doubt if you will eat much on the day so a good supply of chocolate and water will be all you might manage until after the last race of your day.
Get signed in and check your race times and then get the bike and your kit checked over. Now you can relax a little until your first practice sessions. This will be a short 3 to 4 lap affair so you need to take a good look at the track; it's condition and
ideally, work out some turn in markers.
Remember, this is a race so not too deep, not too far to the
outside of the track but not a low line either.
Once you return, check the bike over and get your times (either from race control, or ya mate, girlfriend who has
been silly enough to offer help. Silly because you will be so wound up you are likely to rip their heads off at the
slightest little thing - ALL DAY!)
Find somewhere quiet with a stopwatch and close your eyes and do a lap in your head. As you go over the start finish line start the stopwatch and compare a lap in your head with
what you really did. If your head lap is miles faster or slower that reality you will see that there are parts of
the track that are unclear to you.
These are your weakest points.
But this is club racing so you won't get to work on those until the race!
Time to prepare for the start.
No matter where you are on the grid a good start is vital in a club race dash. There is no time to fluff it and work your way through the field so you need to be one it from the off.
Here are the key points to getting off the line well:
1. Watch the lights or flag really well.
If it's a flag watch the officials elbow, not the flag. His elbow will move first.
2. Keep the revs just inside the start of the torque curve of your bike and keep them constant, don't rev it makes the timing harder.
3. Keep the clutch just on the biting point, not all the way in.
4. As the flag drops increase revs and dial out the clutch together
5. Get your feet on the pegs ASAP to stop wheelies.
And the first corner is rushing
towards you?
Now, on a full on lap did you have to brake for the first turn? More than likely. But from a standing start are you carrying the same speed into that first turn? No? Then forget braking, or
light at best. A common mistake is people brake out of habit and get mugged!
And now the second turn is coming up, you will have spread out a little now but beware the throttle, the second corner is prime for a crash, as the heat of the moment doesn't match
the heat in the tyres. Even with tyre warmers the chances are you have sat in the collecting area long enoughto cool them off a little too much for the throttle you want to use.
Aggressive caution is the name-ofthe-game here.
By the end of the first lap the chances are you will be having a little play with someone and this is really what it is all about. You maybe in 1st or 21st but as long as there is someone to
catch or someone to stay ahead of, then you are really really racing.
Hmm, think I might come and have a go too; it's got me reet fired up writing this!  | 
28-Feb-2006, 02:36 
domski
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