Trackdays - personal improvement

[R6_kid:Me]

Here are some pics showing how i've improved over the last year at track days.

I find trackdays are the best way to improve my riding, it allows you to work on the same thing over and over, letting you think things through and try things differently to see which works or feels better.

The last trackday at Taupo was the my most enjoyable, despite a few hiccups throughout the day. At the previous trackday i had finally managed to get my knee down. Of course i knew it was from hanging off, but still was impressed with myself. This time i had it down unintentionally, my inner knee touching the fairing, the scraper contacting the ashphalt... proper knee down.

Anyone else got pics/stories of how trackdays have helped them improve their riding?

[Karma]

Well I've only done a couple of trackdays, but I'll agree that they allow you to push your limits in a relatively 'safe' environment.

When I came to KB TD 3 I was a complete noob, after TD 4 I was (allegedly) less of a noob.

[bugjuice]

my profile pic shows how far I've come. Bloody heaps.
I can remember bobbing around on my GSXR250 and then on the CBR250.. I'm a different rider since then. Come a long way baby!

[R6_kid:Me]

my profile pic shows how far I've come. Bloody heaps.
I can remember bobbing around on my GSXR250 and then on the CBR250.. I'm a different rider since then. Come a long way baby!

Good shit mate! And you had a pretty decent break in their too. Hopefully we can have a battle next trackday, gotta give that Boomer guy the learn sometime.

[boomer]

Nice work Gareth, Track days are awesome for learning, gaining experience, confidence and understanding what you and the bike can do.

like you mate i'm a different person now out on the track and on the road. because of a couple of things really; riding with lots of people and watching, following and learning. for this i thank Logan(Enigma51) and Murray. Group rides and lastly going on the track with Logan, mainly puke.

i'm not fast, but i'm a different rider than i was this time last year and i'm getting smooth and confident ( hopefully not tooo confident huh!!! )

sunny side up girls!!!

ps.. Gareth, if i manage to score a ticket for sunday you can give me the learn then

[Motoracer]

Good work guys. Looking good, lookin good!

[R6_kid:Me]

ps.. Gareth, if i manage to score a ticket for sunday you can give me the learn then

bugger, im not booked in for any trackdays til after christmas, guess it'll give you some more time to improve!

[boomer]

bugger, im not booked in for any trackdays til after christmas, guess it'll give you some more time to improve!

indeed, i need it

[McJim]

Well my profile pic shows where I am now - long way to go but at least I know this. I'm enjoying getting there and will definately be at the next track day - the wife is bullying me into it coz she wants to go on the track too!

Nice one R6_Kid.

[Pumba]

I have only done one track day so far but learnt so much that I really need to get in and do some more, and noe that ive upgraded from the 600 bandit and got a bike that is more suitable for the track I look foward I cant wait to learn and find out what I can potentially do.

[mynameis]

0oh hell yeah believe me it does big time, you just learn so much more about your bike your riding style and limits you can push. Even for a noob like me I felt the diference. I am sure no one wants me to put up huge before and less huge after strips lol..

You learn the braking abilities of the bike, massive chain clutter, leaning, well I went to the point where my ZXR 250's pags touched the surface and my boots too!

mynameis

[Twig]

Looking really good!!! I really want to do a track day; I've been with Motobob a couple of time but never ridden. I suppose I should just get off my lazy ass and go do one!!!

[bugjuice]

everyone should do a track day. Anyone wanting to improve their skills, or even just gain confidence in your abilities and your bike, then a track day is a must. Taupo (if it's an option at almost any cost) is highly recommended, cos it's not a 'speed' track, it's a real 'corners' track, which is more important. You'll be amazed at what you pick up in a day.

And talk. Talk talk talk to any rider you can, who you think has something you can learn from. No point trying, if you don't know the tricks

[R6_kid:Me]

gotta agree with the bug man on this one. I find trackdays awesome. Funny thing is, if you take your time and analyse your riding instead of trying to be really fast you actually end up riding better and setting better times!

And the best thing, like he said, is that there are generally loads of experienced riders around... watch the 'fast' group, pick out someone who's riding style you think you'd like to emulate and go have a chat to them, i'd be really surprised if they don't feel blown away or turn down the option to help someone else improve their riding.

[Keystone19]

I had fun doing this. It was interesting to reflect on the progress I have made in the past year. The first shot was my first time on the track ever - I had had my learners license 6 weeks and Frosty lent me his bike. That was in June of 2005. The next shots are April 2006 (sorry Sudeep), November 2005, and the last in November of 2006. The two shots from November 2005 and November 2006 are on the same corner at Taupo.