Is crashing the only way to become a better racer?

**Ivan** · 8th April 2007, 13:09

Yip Im agreeing with you here Glen my friend,

Crashing happens in the learning stages and will happen but not all the time,

I learnt the twitches and skips the 125makes and you get used to it my thing is get a fast dirt bike go hard crash it while practicing slides etc and then come back to the seal get the slides and twitches and do what you need to to keep there half the time on a 125 is slam your knee hard onto the ground and settle the bike again.

I have crashed twice from leaving buckets my first 150 qualifying and my last ever 150 race I high sided,

I have blown my engine at Manfield and been locked up all the way through turn one but you need to use your mind and not panic

Heres some good advice

USE YOUR MIND RACING IS IN THE MIND YOU NEED TO CONSTANTLY BE THINKING WHAT YOUR DOING AND DOING NEXT,

Cheers for listening if you did

**JayRacer37** · 8th April 2007, 20:47

Yea, it can vary for everyone. For me was really different....My first road racing was like Glen (RG100) on buckets, but a few years earlier than him.
I was SLOW...really slow. And I fell down lots. Then the speed came...and after a year or two I went 150's then 125's. And I didn't crash them much, the bucket knowledge transfered across well. Then two years ago now I started racing a 600 full time...and now I have myself a reputation as a 'crasher', something I resent as I have had no more falls, actually less, than many people overseas and even here. BUT all of my falls have taught me something invaluable...and to try and go out and learn myself how to deal with the 600 after a 125, quickly, yea i pushed it and fell down. I went to and past the limits, to learn them, and to understand them. Now I don't crash so much, I don't have to to know where the limit is...its all in the learning stage.

**flame** · 8th April 2007, 21:17

Originally Posted by JayRacer37

...its all in the learning stage.

So.....I'm gonna have to crash before I can get faster!

**JayRacer37** · 8th April 2007, 22:48

Originally Posted by flame

So.....I'm gonna have to crash before I can get faster!

Nah nah nah, thats not what i meant. When I stepped up to a 600, I was rushed, by myself mostly, to be fast on the thing. I didn't understand the bike, so I crashed a few times finding out. I learnt from every one, but they did happen. If i'd taken the time, i'm sure i'd have gone as fast not falling off...but maybe it would have taken longer. It probably would have happened anyway. I was pushing the limits, and it happend. Big deal. I'll fall off again too. Its just one of those things when you are racing.

**JayRacer37** · 8th April 2007, 22:52

In the words of Valentino Rossi: "If you are fast but fall, is possible you improve. If you are slow, you are fucked."

**Shaun** · 9th April 2007, 08:33

Originally Posted by JayRacer37

Yea, it can vary for everyone. For me was really different....My first road racing was like Glen (RG100) on buckets, but a few years earlier than him.
I was SLOW...really slow. And I fell down lots. Then the speed came...and after a year or two I went 150's then 125's. And I didn't crash them much, the bucket knowledge transfered across well. Then two years ago now I started racing a 600 full time...and now I have myself a reputation as a 'crasher', something I resent as I have had no more falls, actually less, than many people overseas and even here. BUT all of my falls have taught me something invaluable...and to try and go out and learn myself how to deal with the 600 after a 125, quickly, yea i pushed it and fell down. I went to and past the limits, to learn them, and to understand them. Now I don't crash so much, I don't have to to know where the limit is...its all in the learning stage.

Back the Truck up Jay, the only people that say you are a big time crasher, are people that either do not like you for what ever reason, or people that that do not know what they are really talking about.

I say keep doing what you are doing mate, you are going places

**roogazza** · 9th April 2007, 10:01

I always thought I came back faster after every biff ?

But 43 years on and a highside 4 weeks ago , I just think FUCK, this still hurts !!! Gaz.

**JayRacer37** · 9th April 2007, 11:02

Originally Posted by Shaun

Back the Truck up Jay, the only people that say you are a big time crasher, are people that either do not like you for what ever reason, or people that that do not know what they are really talking about.

I say keep doing what you are doing mate, you are going places

Haha, Cheers Shaun.

**Ivan** · 9th April 2007, 13:29

Originally Posted by JayRacer37

started racing a 600 full time...and now I have myself a reputation as a 'crasher', .

The Question I have is are they Testing for a massive Europeon Tire company at the age of 18?

Thats all sorry man your a legend your going places like Shaun said and keep at it man youll hit the World level with your attitude Determanation and understanding of what the bike and tires is doing

**oyster** · 9th April 2007, 20:56

No, no, no. Crashing is not part of the learning process for Road Racers.
In this sport, injury is the main reason to avoid crashing. As we teach our youngsters, "you crash 9 times and it doesn't hurt, then on the 10th.... it really, really hurts". So the answer is, stay on the bike and improve your odds of having to wait a long time before the "big one" And all this idea that Miniature Road Race is OK to crash at? No, when I started on Buckets 20 years ago, I saw the most horrific injuries. Repeat, it's a game of numbers, nothing else. Every time your crash, you roll those dice, and eventually the double six will come up.
Please respectfully consider at this time there were 5 teenage fatalities in motorsport last month, 2 serious ones just this weekend. All very different they say, but the common thread? Crashing.
Is Rossi a serial crasher? No. To be a top rider, get good tuition and take you time to incrementally climb the ladder. Riding 110% doesn't work.

**Sketchy_Racer** · 9th April 2007, 21:14

I agree with you about not crashing, at the end of the day, we don't go out there to crash, we go out to ride hard, push our limits.

Now, for myself, im never going to learn how a bike reacts to a certain situation, without putting the bike into that situation. How is it possible to understand what the machine you are riding is/isnt capable of if you don't try and see?

Obvisouly there are clear signs as to what it can't do, and it'll let you know, but sometime, you just don't know, and you never will unless you try. And sometimes when you do try, it comes unstuck. When it does, you can try save it, give up stand it up and run off, or if it happens to violently, then unfortunatly, you pulled the short straw and your on your arse.

I might add, that the buckets we have up our way are faaaaar slower than the likes of ruapuna, where the corner speed is just the same as the bigger bikes.

Is rossi a serial crasher? No but he does crash. Even the Best of the best make mistakes, and crash. Then they go and learn from it. (pedrosa????)

**oyster** · 9th April 2007, 22:04

RG 100. Just explaining, the injuries I witnessed in Buckets were at Dunedin and Invercargill Kart Track's. Punctured lung, smashed wrist, unconsciousness,
broken leg, ankle and heaps more. All probably under 30km/hr, but all preceded by 9 no pain incidents....
And finding the boundaries? There are other ways safer than crashing.

**Sketchy_Racer** · 9th April 2007, 22:15

Originally Posted by oyster

RG 100. Just explaining, the injuries I witnessed in Buckets were at Dunedin and Invercargill Kart Track's. Punctured lung, smashed wrist, unconsciousness,
broken leg, ankle and heaps more. All probably under 30km/hr, but all preceded by 9 no pain incidents....

Not saying crashing at buckets doesnt hurt, im saying its a damn sight safer crashing at 30kph, than say 130....

And wow, you guys do good (or is that bad??) crashes. In my short 2 years of being related to the bucket scene, i have seen countless crashes, and yet, i think a cracked rib was the worst... followed by a sprained ankle

Originally Posted by oyster

And finding the boundaries? There are other ways safer than crashing.

Would you care to elaborate?

**Ivan** · 9th April 2007, 22:19

Oyster I cant agree more,

My dad has a stell plate holding his ankle together because of Buckets His tendon snapped in two

Yes I believe also there are more ways than crashing,

I ride try harder go back check laps write notes try new stuff

Feel the bike over twitch and skid and no thats the limit or dont feel athing and know to go harder.

Valentino hardly crashes on faster he crys because it had been so long,

Crashing happens tho its bound to, its there but its not nessacery

**oyster** · 9th April 2007, 22:56

Lots of track time and small, methodical increments. Ivan has it sorted.
The official (long) version is in Keith Code's book(s). I've seen the evidence in several young riders recently achieving outstanding riding success, with crash rates around one per 10 meetings. I can be done. I have also seen riders who, for maybe as long as a year, seem to show no promising form. Then, after a few years of plugging away become very, very good. I hope this helps.
I look forward to seeing Rg 100 down south for about 10 club meetings thru the year. Expensive, but the only safe way. Time in the saddle