| Many motorcyclists want to take their bikes onto | | | | have cooled, concentration levels are lower. Use |
| the track and trackdays are the ideal | | | | this session |
| environment. If you have never been on a track | | | | to get back into the groove and gradually build |
| before the experience can feel daunting so here | | | | your speed up again.3. The last session of the |
| are a number of tips to help make your trackday | | | | daySimple bit of advice here, don't go out in the |
| enjoyable. | | | | last session: confidence |
| Use a van or a trailer to get your bike to the | | | | is up and will invariably exceed ability, tiredness |
| trackThis has a number of advantages. If the | | | | will start to play |
| worst happens and the bike gets | | | | a part and tyres wil be nearing the end of their |
| damaged you can get it home without waiting | | | | life. It's just not |
| for a recovery service. You | | | | worth it. Pack up when you are ahead.Find |
| can prepare the bike the night before by | | | | someone slightly faster than youOnce you have |
| removing anything that can be | | | | settled into a rhythm, know the track and are |
| damaged in a spill. Removal is far better than | | | | confident |
| taping something up. If | | | | with your bike's handling and braking, find |
| cost is an issue hire a van with a friend or two. | | | | someone who is about 5-10 % |
| One advantage that is | | | | quicker than you. Follow their lines, use their |
| often overlooked is what happens after a | | | | braking points and soon |
| trackday. You've been out on | | | | you will find that extra bit of speed.Pick your |
| the track for 8 sessions, you're tired (trust me, | | | | group wiselyFast Group: lots of fast road riders |
| you will be!!), your | | | | and racers, this is probably |
| leathers are soaked with sweat, your tyres are | | | | the safest group of the lot as fast riders know |
| way past their best, you have to ride | | | | what they are doing. If |
| home and your perception of speed is screwed | | | | you aren't sure whether you should go |
| up. It's a recipe for disaster. | | | | intermediate or fast, pick the fast |
| With a van or trailer you can get changed into | | | | group: you can always ask to go down a group |
| fresh clothes load the | | | | later.Intermediate Group: Try to avoid this group |
| bike up and unwind with some good sounds. If | | | | like |
| it's a hot track day you | | | | the plague, its got fast guys who don't like to |
| can change out of your leathers between | | | | finish mid pack, slow |
| sessions.FoodDon't eat junk food and drink Coke | | | | guys who don't want to go in the slow group. |
| or other fizzy drinks: the sugar levels | | | | The broad spread of riders |
| dull your concentration. If you don't believe me | | | | is a recipe for disaster.Slow Group: this is the |
| have a look at the first | | | | ideal group for Novices |
| session after lunch at your next trackday. Drink | | | | and people who want to build their confidence. |
| bottled water and eat | | | | You won't be the slowest |
| fruit or pasta.The 3 Sessions to be aware | | | | rider here, you are not expected to ride like a |
| of!!There are 3 sessions you have to take extra | | | | GP god and apart form |
| care in. I would advise you to run | | | | a few intermediate riders who like to lap people |
| at 75% in these sessions for various reasons:1. | | | | and so choose this group |
| The first session of the dayYou are new to the | | | | you will be given lots of room. Once you have |
| track. Even if you have been around it before and | | | | lapped 3/4 of the field |
| it's dry, the grip levels will be different from last | | | | and are confident of your ability then its time to |
| time and heavy | | | | move up. Take some |
| rain might have washed some of the rubber | | | | lap time of riders in the other groups from the |
| deposits away. The track will | | | | front, middle and back |
| be colder than before and other riders may not | | | | of the group, compare them with your lap times |
| have ridden the track | | | | and if you can make it |
| before. If you have done any work on your bike | | | | in the fast group, do it!Mark Thompson has spent |
| you will surely discover | | | | the past 20 years racing motorcycles and |
| that you failed to tighten a caliper bolt in the first | | | | managing race teams and riders. He now runs the |
| few laps.2. The first session after lunchTyres | | | | Trackbikes website. |