Race start technique?

[Pumba]

Ok I have been having a bit of a shit time with my starts, and as there are so many bike lapping at about the same pace at Mt Welly at the moment this is causing me some issues as any spots I lose off the start are just really hard work to make up durring the race.

Anyone got any advise. Not sure if it is just some slow arse reaction times on my part, or if I am just doing it wrong. I ride the clutch just short of the point of it grabing till the flagg drops and then let it out, surly there cant be much more to it?

[Monkeynz]

Ok I have been having a bit of a shit time with my starts, and as there are so many bike lapping at about the same pace at Mt Welly at the moment this is causing me some issues as any spots I lose off the start are just really hard work to make up durring the race.

Anyone got any advise. Not sure if it is just some slow arse reaction times on my part, or if I am just doing it wrong. I ride the clutch just short of the point of it grabing till the flagg drops and then let it out, surly there cant be much more to it?

Reaction time makes up a big part of getting off the line quick. I lean right forward and let the clutch out to a point where its starting to grab and have the revs moving between 7,000 and 10,000 rpm then wait for the lights to go out. Once off make a quick change into second gear and open the old girl up.
It's worked pretty well so far.
Good luck

[hmurphy]

Depends on your gearing too. I have an 11 tooth front sprocket on my FXR and a stock rear (47 or 49 or something) and I have to start in 2nd gear now, first is just too short. Also little dudes make it easier work on the motor. A good example is Dani Pedrosa in MotoGP. How often does that dude get mint starts? Pretty much every race. Depends on how much clutch you use, how high you can keep your revs and how low you can keep your front wheel. Some people do have a talent for good starts too, and some just don't. Cal Crutchlow from WSBK sucks ass most of the time. Haga from WSBK can hit top 3 from 11th on the grid (which he has done a few times). Practice practice practice haha. Oh and go hard on the brakes into turn 1 on cold tyres. I'm not a pro at all, just what I have noticed.

[Buckets4Me]

I slip the clutch all the way threw first gear till the frount touches the ground and slap it into second and hang on again :)

[speedpro]

Get over the front, give the clutch hell, and to help stop it wheelstanding make sure your front suspension actually has rebound damping. Use a higher gear if you can get away with it and save a change.

[TZ350]

In Buckets at Mt Welly, starting is everything

On my stroker I have found carb set up to be important for fast starts. It needs to be crisp and clean.

The technique at flag drop is to crack the throttle wide open and hold it there while limiting the rev’s with the clutch.

I start in first and have my foot resting on the gear leaver ready to select second (race shift, push down to change up) and usually only lurch forward two or three bike lengths in first at full rpm and major clutch slip before shifting into second.

Then it’s another big handful of throttle and more major clutch slip until I have some good speed on, then up shift to third and another caning on the clutch. I don’t usually let the clutch fully out in any gear until I am well under way in third.

By holding a nearly wide open throttle and slipping the clutch all the way in the first three gears I can hover the front wheel to the first corner and race shift makes changing up easier.

If the carburation is crisp and clean when I snap the throttle open, I can get a very fast start

[TZ350]

Reaction time makes up a big part of getting off the line quick.

If you look for it, you can see the flaggy tense ever so slightly before dropping the flag. When he tenses its time to go.........

[koba]

If you look for it, you can see the flaggy tense ever so slightly before dropping the flag. When he tenses its time to go.........

Unless he is just fucking with ya!

I have a good laugh when the starter feigns the drop.

[phoenixgtr]

If you look for it, you can see the flaggy tense ever so slightly before dropping the flag. When he tenses its time to go.........

In our case, at ruapuna we quite often use the lights

[NinjaNanna]

easier to buy horse power then lose weight hey mate - not so in buckets it seems :innocent::rofl::rofl::chase:

[TZ350]

Unless he is just fucking with ya!

I have a good laugh when the starter feigns the drop.

It has happened............:doh:.........and....:o....... ......while.....:nono:....:laugh::D:):lol::bleh::l augh::rofl::wait::slap::):D

[Pumba]

thanks guys, seems I am not doing anything wrong, I am just not doing the right stuff well enough.


easier to buy horse power then lose weight hey mate - not so in buckets it seems :innocent::rofl::rofl::chase:

No it is still true. I am just too much of a cheap prick :laugh:

[Morcs]

Lemme know if you want some coaching Carl.
Dunno if youve seen me at the drags, but my starts are like lightning.

[Kendog]

If you look for it, you can see the flaggy tense ever so slightly before dropping the flag. When he tenses its time to go.........


Unless he is just fucking with ya!

I have a good laugh when the starter feigns the drop.
Or you can start the race when the flaggy is raising the flag :angry::2guns:
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[koba]

Or you can start the race when the flaggy is raising the flag :angry::2guns:


Very good video!

Maybe we could make a rule somthing like: Caught on video conclusivley jumping the start means the offender must shout the camera operator a beer.

Or maybe run do a lap of the track in their undies....

[F5 Dave]

It's funny you should show that. I always used to be pretty shit hot on starts (though recently my 50's carb would flood screwing things up). However on my numerous visits to Mt Wgtn over the year I have noticed a predominant trend. They're by & large a bunch of cheating weasels. Problem is JC doesn't call anyone on it. Last F5 GP there people just launched well before the flag. It was soo blatant that I didn't even let the lever out, just sat on the line expecting it to be called. Won't make that mistake again.

With inexperienced starters they are a bit nervous & when the bikes start moving they panic & drop the flag. What they should do is hold the red up, move the jumpers to the rear & repeat until that sort of stuff stops. In MX they often face repeat offenders the wrong direction so they have to foot rotate to get going. Bit cruel on a road bike.

But we should make it fair starts. No one benefits in the long run from cheat starts.

[Shorty_925]

In MX they often face repeat offenders the wrong direction so they have to foot rotate to get going. Bit cruel on a road bike.


Cant say Ive seen that at an mx, usually they drop the gate as the person thats tried to jump the start is pushing themsleves out from the gate, they let everyone else go or another way to get a good start at mx is but as far back as possible to get a roll going on and drop the clutch but it'll be only a matter of time before you get found out!

As for getting better starts at buckets, a dirt bike somewhere with a mate and practice the starts , and then apply what you learnt to the bucket.

[Buckets4Me]

Problem is JC doesn't call anyone on it. Last F5 GP there people just launched well before the flag. It was soo blatant that I didn't even let the lever out, just sat on the line expecting it to be called. Won't make that mistake again.




bit sore there i see lol (dont blame you )
JC often waits till the jump starter is pushing the bike backwards to drop the flag :) (shood see dads face while trying to let the clutch out and push the bike backwards, it goes all red :) )

[TZ350]

Yep, in the early days I got caught a few times when I was new and a bit quick.

John would hold the flag up and wait until the miscreant started to peddle their bike back to the line, when he judges they are committed to going backwards he drops the flag. Everyone else goes forwards while the start jumper is still going backwards, and justice has been done.

Now that I have had a bit of practice I can now make real clean legal starts, and when the engine is crisp I am often able to be into the corner first, or at least shoulder to shoulder with the first two or three. And could often do this from the second row and even pull it off from the third if I was grided on the outside.

Then its all down hill from there as the more talented riders start overtaking me, still there is an upside, as I get to see some real quality riding close up as the fast guns zip past.

[gatch]

bit sore there i see lol (dont blame you )
JC often waits till the jump starter is pushing the bike backwards to drop the flag :) (shood see dads face while trying to let the clutch out and push the bike backwards, it goes all red :) )

Had a guy at the last round of the classics register in my race, who was 2-3 bike lengths ahead before the flag even started to come down, how are you meant to outdo that without cheating more than he does ?

It's rubbish really.

[TZ350]

Had a guy at the last round of the classics register in my race, who was 2-3 bike lengths ahead before the flag even started to come down, how are you meant to outdo that without cheating more than he does ?

It's rubbish really.

You can't.............

My aim at flag drop, is to be engaging the clutch while others are just waking up and engaging their brains. I think a lot of the others play follow the leader off the line and wait until the bunch has sorted itself out before they get their heads down and start racing, by then its to late.

They need a plan A and plan B, they should have an idea of where the gaps are likely to open up, and already have the bike pointed in that direction. You can't wait for the action to start unfolding before deciding which line to take.

[TZ350]

I think another no, no is blipping the throttle, as half the time your revving the engine and half the time your letting it shut down so there is a 50/50 chance you wont be ready when the flag drops.

A better idea is to hold the motor close to the peak torque rpm and when the flag drops all you have to do is crack the throttle wide open and slip the clutch to glory.

[F5 Dave]

bit sore there i see lol (dont blame you )
JC often waits till the jump starter is pushing the bike backwards to drop the flag :) (shood see dads face while trying to let the clutch out and push the bike backwards, it goes all red :) )
Yeah I know I'm trying to let it go, but I don't cheat the technical rules & I don't cheat the riding ones. If someone can beat me within the rules then it's a fair victory, but if they jump the start or try to knock you off or make a cheat bike then it's stink & they're just an arse. Fortunately most people have legal bikes these days.

[Buckets4Me]

you need a plan A and plan B, they should have an idea of where the gaps are likely to open up, and already have the bike pointed in that direction. You can't wait for the action to start unfolding before deciding which line to take.

Plan A go straight everyone heads for the apex of the corner
Plan B take to the grass. often the only clear space left on the track

[TZ350]

I don't cheat the technical rules............. If someone can beat me within the rules then it's a fair victory......

Yep......I think the tech rules work ok and add a bit of an interesting challange.

I am especially enjoying finding ways to get the best out of the 24mm carb rule.

[Mudflaps]

I practice my reaction times when I'm driving through town. I don't take off in the truck as if I'm racing, but I call it in my head when the light goes green I say 'go' or 'now'. Good to practice at lights. I recon it's something that if you practice you can still get better at no matter what your age. Just don't drop the clutch when you're practicing!:)

[Henk]

Stop giving Pumba advice. Or at least wait until he is finishing well behind me instead of in front of me.

Mind you, my starts suck as well so carry on.
I'm basically too much of a wimp to hold it on during the usual first corner chaos.

[Pumba]

Haha ya bastard, dont me take that engine back.

All things to work on guys and I apreciate the advice. Durring the first corner I normally dont do to bad and can pick up a couple of places, which makes my slow starts even the more frustrating

[Ned Kelly]

Haha ya bastard, dont me take that engine back.

All things to work on guys and I apreciate the advice. Durring the first corner I normally dont do to bad and can pick up a couple of places, which makes my slow starts even the more frustrating

I feel for you Pumba. I get pretty frustrated with my ability or in-ability to get the RS off the line. On my day it can be real good but the start is everything at Mt Wellington. Gettting caught in the chaos completey ruins any chance of a good result.