Rd4-A character building exercise!

[KS34]

I'll be frank, (On saturday I certainly didn't want anyone to know my real name). 2 last placings in the superbike races were SHITE!

After opening the book of excuses I have found 2 that help a fragile ego.
1) I have not raced for a year
2) I have not been on a bike for 3 months.

To be honest I was fizzing at the bung about this race meeting, I had sold my old race bike and have been slowly changing my road bike into a race bike. RT and the team at CKT did a great job revalving and shiming the forks and shock and the support and advise I have received has been fantastic. But after along time away from the track I had slipped straight back to what seems to be my default setting. In qualifing I set my fastest time of the day and the harder I tried the slower I became! Sounds a bit grim but I have learnt more about myself and racing than I ever have. I have got to thank Robert Taylor, he was busy on saturday with some big customers there yet he still had the time for me and tweaked the bike and even checked in later to see how it went, what a guy. It was also great to catch up with guys i hadnt seen for a long time.
Now for the things I learnt from the day.

1) When choosing tyres dont be so excited by the price you completely forget to check the profile.
2) When things arent going right focus on whats going to make you faster not why you are slow.
3) First look at the way you are riding the bike not the bike itself.
4) Try to make sure it doent take till the 2nd last lap of your last race to work out what you are doing wrong.
And most importantly.....
5) Once you have had the epiphany and things are starting to work dont get over excited and go off track!!

A big thank you to the Vic club and the people that make these meetings happen, where else in the world can you turn up to a club meet and see your countries number 1 thrilling the crowd, Andrew the wheelie over the line in the LG race nearly made me pee with excitment.

See you guys and girls at round six! Once bitten twice as quick!

[KS34]

You would think I would have the intelligence to get this thread in the right place!

[sinfull]

You would think I would have the intelligence to get this thread in the right place!
Don't be too hard on ya self bro, i have spelt intelligence wrong before too !

And by the way your times in race one are pretty much the same as my PB at the moment so why the hell aint ya coming to round 5 ? We could have a heap of fun racing one another and getting in everyones way in the ten lap races !!

[KS34]

sounds like a great idea bro, to race I have to make my lovely wife happy so we are off to melbourne in September.

[steveyb]

Bah humbug!!!!!
There are shops in Palmy too y'know.
<_<

[KS34]

Bah humbug!!!!!
There are shops in Palmy too y'know.
<_<

Hmmm not sure if its worth my life to suggest that one mate.:eek5:

[Pussy]

What about Halcombe then, Ken? :whistle:

[sinfull]

Hmmm not sure if its worth my life to suggest that one mate.:eek5:
Surprise for you honey !!! Were going to Melbourne a week earlier cause i soooo knew you were excited about going !!!

[KS34]

What about Halcombe then, Ken? :whistle:

Ha ha we have to sit down for a beer one day.

[KS34]

Surprise for you honey !!! Were going to Melbourne a week earlier cause i soooo knew you were excited about going !!!

Now that is good, I'm thinking you have been married for some time cause that sort of gold doesnt come without practise:yes:

[sinfull]

Now that is good, I'm thinking you have been married for some time cause that sort of gold doesnt come without practise:yes:haha see ya in september then, with a suntan !

[Deano]

Good to see you back out there Ken. You'll get you mojo back, don't worry.

[KS34]

Good to see you back out there Ken. You'll get you mojo back, don't worry.
Cheers mate! But we dont use the "M" word at Ripe.:rockon:

[Clivoris]

sounds like a great idea bro, to race I have to make my lovely wife happy so we are off to melbourne in September.

For a small bag of coffee I am prepared to attempt to bring a smile to your wife's face. I can even get a reference from my wife. She'll say whatever is necessary to get me out of her way.:crybaby:

Anyway, back on topic. I so feel your pain mate. The long track has been destroying egos since ages ago. My first time out there I came last as well. Sucked. The only solution is the track time as you know. Enjoy Melbourne and try not to think of the rest of us getting fasterer.

[Duke girl]

sounds like a great idea bro, to race I have to make my lovely wife happy so we are off to melbourne in September.

Gotta keep those brownie points up Hey Ken with the misses otherwise we would never see you out there on the track.

[Drew]

Anyway, back on topic. I so feel your pain mate. The long track has been destroying egos since ages ago. My first time out there I came last as well. Sucked. The only solution is the track time as you know. Enjoy Melbourne and try not to think of the rest of us getting fasterer.

The long track is just a bit more technical I've found. Biggest gains I made there were riding more tracks. The whole thing makes heaps more sense after ya do some time at Ruapuna.

[KS34]

Gotta keep those brownie points up Hey Ken with the misses otherwise we would never see you out there on the track.
Hmmm the amount of time that I get at the track at the moment I should maybe pass the bag of coffee to Clive:shit:

For a small bag of coffee I am prepared to attempt to bring a smile to your wife's face. I can even get a reference from my wife. She'll say whatever is necessary to get me out of her way.:crybaby:

Anyway, back on topic. I so feel your pain mate. The long track has been destroying egos since ages ago. My first time out there I came last as well. Sucked. The only solution is the track time as you know. Enjoy Melbourne and try not to think of the rest of us getting fasterer.
Ha Ha I'll pass it on! As above it may get me to the track more!!!

The long track is just a bit more technical I've found. Biggest gains I made there were riding more tracks. The whole thing makes heaps more sense after ya do some time at Ruapuna.

Too true!:yes:

[Biggles08]

1) When choosing tyres dont be so excited by the price you completely forget to check the profile.
2) When things arent going right focus on whats going to make you faster not why you are slow.
3) First look at the way you are riding the bike not the bike itself.
4) Try to make sure it doent take till the 2nd last lap of your last race to work out what you are doing wrong.
And most importantly.....
5) Once you have had the epiphany and things are starting to work dont get over excited and go off track!!

Bloody brilliant KS34....very insightfull actually....especially #2! Well done brother!

[scuzeme]

..no wonder you looked so glum in the office, i know what it feels like to come back round to the start/finish dead last, it doesnt matter what anyone says you feel like shyte.
And lets not forget the importance of keeping the misses happy i know i wouldnt be racing if i didnt have the support of my family.
End of the day Ken you are actually quite fast when you got it together, put this one down to experience and crank it up for the last round dude, cheers.

[NinjaBoy]

1) When choosing tyres dont be so excited by the price you completely forget to check the profile.
2) When things arent going right focus on whats going to make you faster not why you are slow.
3) First look at the way you are riding the bike not the bike itself.
4) Try to make sure it doent take till the 2nd last lap of your last race to work out what you are doing wrong.
And most importantly.....
5) Once you have had the epiphany and things are starting to work dont get over excited and go off track!!




This really sums it quite well. As Biggles has already mentioned #2 is all important. Focussing on what is going right and make it better.

I know from riding with you at trackdays you can hold you own quite well but you'll probably have to put this one down to experience. Don't get disheartened and turn up for the next round. :devil2:

[KS34]

..no wonder you looked so glum in the office, i know what it feels like to come back round to the start/finish dead last, it doesnt matter what anyone says you feel like shyte.
And lets not forget the importance of keeping the misses happy i know i wouldnt be racing if i didnt have the support of my family.
End of the day Ken you are actually quite fast when you got it together, put this one down to experience and crank it up for the last round dude, cheers.


This really sums it quite well. As Biggles has already mentioned #2 is all important. Focussing on what is going right and make it better.

I know from riding with you at trackdays you can hold you own quite well but you'll probably have to put this one down to experience. Don't get disheartened and turn up for the next round. :devil2:

Cheers Boys very much appreciated!:rockon:

[scrivy]

BOLLOCKS!!!

Do what sidecarbob does. Go out really hard at the start, have a near death experience in the first lap, go back to the pits, have a smoke, go have a wank, then you're ready for lap 2!!!!

Seems to work for him..................:clap:

[Clivoris]

BOLLOCKS!!!

Do what sidecarbob does. Go out really hard at the start, have a near death experience in the first lap, go back to the pits, have a smoke, go have a wank, then you're ready for lap 2!!!!

Seems to work for him..................:clap:

:gob:I really do have so much to learn.

[scrivy]

:gob:I really do have so much to learn.

Well yeah, but he also suffers from RSI!!! :lol:

Also, he has no need to pay for sex!! :first::rolleyes:

[Drew]

:gob:I really do have so much to learn.

No ya dont mate. There's only two lessons.

NO1. "See god, then brake.

NO2, "To win, ya just gotta brake a bit later than the next guy, tip in a bit faster than him, and get on the gas quicker than he does."

See, racing is easy:cool:

[Clivoris]

No ya dont mate. There's only two lessons.

NO1. "See god, then brake.

NO2, "To win, ya just gotta brake a bit later than the next guy, tip in a bit faster than him, and get on the gas quicker than he does."

See, racing is easy:cool:

I love the way that racing advice invariably boils down to this.

[zxr400#150]

hey ken, best adivse that was given to me to go faster was.
#1 Relax on the bike, no death grip on the bars. just relax ur body.
and Second. Be smooth, every thing you do be smooth, smooth on the brakes, smooth on tip in and smooth on the gas on the way out.

[KS34]

No ya dont mate. There's only two lessons.

NO1. "See god, then brake.

NO2, "To win, ya just gotta brake a bit later than the next guy, tip in a bit faster than him, and get on the gas quicker than he does."

See, racing is easy:cool:

There is sooo much truth in that!


hey ken, best adivse that was given to me to go faster was.
#1 Relax on the bike, no death grip on the bars. just relax ur body.
and Second. Be smooth, every thing you do be smooth, smooth on the brakes, smooth on tip in and smooth on the gas on the way out.
Cheers mate!

[KS34]

BOLLOCKS!!!

Do what sidecarbob does. Go out really hard at the start, have a near death experience in the first lap, go back to the pits, have a smoke, go have a wank, then you're ready for lap 2!!!!

Seems to work for him..................:clap:

I'll give anything a go!

[Drew]

I love the way that racing advice invariably boils down to this.


There is sooo much truth in that!

No doubt. It's not something one should just do blindly though, they 'll end up on their arse a lot. I know a guy that tried it for a while.

[gixerracer]

No ya dont mate. There's only two lessons.

NO1. "See god, then brake.

NO2, "To win, ya just gotta brake a bit later than the next guy, tip in a bit faster than him, and get on the gas quicker than he does."

See, racing is easy:cool:

Well if thats what you done last weekend that is the worst advice ever I would say :girlfight::beer:

[Drew]

Well if thats what you done last weekend that is the worst advice ever I would say :girlfight::beer:

LOL, I was waiting for someone to point out this obvious flaw in me giving advice.

I think you are qualified to say it though bro.