Hard braking in to corners

[Premature Accelerato]

Was watching the bikes on the telly in the weekend (Supersports at Ruapuna) and I was wondering how hard do these guys brake going in to the corner at the end of the front straight. I notice its looks like a double apex sort of corner, similar to the end of the back straight at Manfield. Are these guys braking as hard as they would in a straight line or do they brake slightly earlier, get off the brakes and then retain more speed in the corner. Or do they brake like hell, even when starting to lean it over and hope like hell that their judgement is such that they get off the brakes before their front tire goes out from under them.

[BMWST?]

typically they will brake all the way in to the apex,letting the brakes of slightly as the lean increases.

[JayRacer37]

That particular corner you tip into on the straight, aim at the corner, stand the bike upright as you get on the brakes so you can brake at near maximum, and then begin tipping in whilst trailing the brake. You get off the brake completely at the apex when you meet the kerb, or slightly before.

Its a tricky corner becuase the apex is blind when you brake, and the track changes camber a couple of times on the way in, then tightens up in the middle, plus it has (or had, a year ago when I was last there) a couple of big bumps in the middle so it's easy to make a mistake. Also because you are braking and turning, it doesn't take much to get it wrong and run off with heaps of speed on.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Plus its fucking intimidating because you are carrying a LOT of speed going in.

[Premature Accelerato]

Plus its fucking intimidating because you are carrying a LOT of speed going in.

So its big balls, prayers and experience, trying to find the optimum points to brake hard and then back off ??

[Brett]

So its big balls, prayers and experience, trying to find the optimum points to brake hard and then back off ??

From Jay's comment, i would say that it's more a case of practice makes perfect through increased experience and skill. Go through it enough times, being aware of what you're doing and you'll soon work out what makes you go faster and what doesn't...and what makes you crash.

[Metastable]

Not specific to that corner, but in general for every corner.... in a race or street.... as JayRacer mentioned, you brake as hard as you want (to your or the racer's comfort level) while up and down.... and as you tip into the corner and lean..... you gradually let off the brakes.

However - the amount of time you stay on the brakes depends on 1 thing and 1 thing only: You stay on the brakes until you can get back on the gas. If you are going in too hot, you stay on the brakes longer (lightly if you are leaned over a lot).... you might butcher your speed, but at least you will make the corner.

As far as racing or trackdays... and pushing it to make lap times, one can look at the track in reverse. If it is a corner where you can get on the gas early and hard on the exit, then it might be a good idea to get your braking done sooner and maybe hop on the gas even before the apex (slow in -> fast out). If it is a corner where you really can't get on the gas hard when exiting, but you can carry a lot of speed going in, then one can try to carry a lot of speed into the corner and maybe even keep on the brakes a bit past the apex (fast in -> slow out). If it is a perfect 90 degree corner... then it is about the same speed in and same speed out. However, there is no set rule, all corners are a bit different... and different people have different ways of attacking the track..... and if you are trying to pass someone, then one might approach the corner in a completely different manner.