Wow!

I gotta say, this felt more like a private Track Day, than a regular open Track Day. There were probably around 15 riders per session. I met so many new and great people as well.

I think as a group all of TSB did well. Everyone was pretty consistent with their times. For me, even though I was sick like a dog, and I didn't get any sleep the night before this was the best ever.

This time I actually went to the track with a set of goals, and worked on, and met almost all of them, and I got around the track a little faster in the process. This was also my first time riding in intermediate. Below are 6 specific goals I had set for myself this time out:

 1) stop relaxing on the chicane, especially at the end
 2) quicker turn-in on T13
 3) pick-up the throttle earlier after turn-in
 4) don't get off the throttle unless braking on entrance to T13, T1.
 5) find markers for downshift, throttle-off, braking, turn-in, hard turn-in, throttle-on, and up-shift
 6) set my speed properly for T13 and T1.

The last time I was out at the track I found that I would come into the beginning of the chicane with a lot of zeal and energy at T6, but by the time I got to T9 I was just tired of leaning (from left to right to left to...). I mean by T9 I was just like, damn is this sh!t over yet? Even though it was my favorite part of the track, it just seemed so tedious by the end that I would be coasting and relaxing in T10 just to catch a break.

On T13 the last time out, I was so far away from the apex that I would need a pair of binoculars to see that red dot.

And, for both T1 and T13 even though I got around the corner relatively confidently, I was so hard on the brakes sometimes right before I did my turn-in.

So, this time out I made sure to keep my energy and focus up all the way through the chicane. And I really wailed on the gas through T10. I hit the apex of T13 every time I was there by myself, almost taking the apex marker out once with my knee. And, I definitely got on the gas as soon I bent the bike down for every turn.

I think the biggest achievement I made this time out (aside from not going into the lake) was that for the entire day, I never felt like I was pushing myself. As a matter of fact, I never pulled on the brakes for any of the turns (even T1, and T13) unless there was another rider blocking me. That was awesome. And my times were still faster than the last time out there.

I met all my goals except for the finding markers part. I was having so much problems finding the right turn in point for T8, and T10. But then I finally corrected it for my last two sessions and found 2 more seconds.

I'm still learning the gearing for the track though, and what works for me and my bike, and at what revs.

I had a lot of fun though!

The good
Was very comfortable leaning the bike and getting my knee on the ground. Body position is definitely better on both left, and right-hand corners. New suspension settings seem to be perfect. Picking up throttle on time, and early. Found a new groove to use on T3, 4, 5. Got around track at an average 1:33 using no brakes. Even though I was really sick, and nervous about being in intermediate for the first time, I was sooo comfortable on the bike.

The bad
I really sucked at finding the right turn-in points for T8, and T10. I struggled all day with this, and couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong until the very last sessions of the day. My line through T1 needs to be tightened. Even though I am very comfortable using the deep outside passing line in T1, it is a lot of work. I should be able to do less correcting and gain more speed if I use a tighter line through the apex.

Work on
 - Continue tightening up turn-ins on T8 and T10.
 - Use new gearing for T13, T1 and T3, 4, 5.
 - Tighten up lines through T13 and T1.

Goals and Prep
I'm looking at the track map. And, actually now there are no blank spots in my memory. It used to be that some of the corners I really didn't remember exactly where I started my turn-in, or even what I would be looking at. But now it's pretty clear.

That's an improvement in itself.

That point I went off into the lake, it was a combination of two (2) things; 1) I got excited that I made the pass, and then stopped focusing up the track. But, second 2) and more importantly, I wasn't prepared to use the speed I exited with.

I made the pass and exited the corner way above the other guy (at least 2 bike-lengths, I looked back). When I got over to the right edge of the track I wasn't prepared to make the hard countersteer needed to go through T2.

Recollecting all the turns on the track, I can tell where I'm being lazy. T9 and T10 I'm especially lazy on right now, and tend to just relax on those until the setup for T11.

I can also tell that I'm turning in a little too slow on T13, as it seems I'm always about 2 feet away from the apex. Additionally, I could let the rear wheel do a lot more work on the T13 exit, setting up for T14.

I carry a lot of corner speed into T13, but I tend to let it bleed off most of the time, and just wait for the exit before I pick the throttle up again with that corner.

I saw how I pulled away from ybslow in that video at the beginning of T13, but after I hit the apex he seemed to really pour on the speed while I was still slowing down.

And, then of course, I'm doing a lot of engine braking before I even start to apply the brakes entering T13 and T1.

So, these are the things I'll be working on my next track day.
 - stop relaxing on the chicane, especially at the end
 - quicker turn-in on 13
 - pick-up the throttle earlier after turn-in
 - don't get off the throttle unless braking on entrance to T13, T1.
 - find markers for downshift, throttle-off, braking, turn-in, hard turn-in, throttle-on, and up-shift
 - set your speed properly for 13 and 1.

Track Day No. 6 is coming, and I've been really, really sick for the past two weeks. I'm hoping it'll clear up before the weekend.

Whether it does or not, I'm booked, and I'm riding. (- blows nose)

When I got back from the last track day the same effects occurred. I was immediately much faster, and more confident on the street. But as the days wore on I became slower, more timid and unsure. Pretty much like the first time I returned from the track. However, we plan to head up to the track again at the end of March, and I've been practicing. Practicing all the little things that need correction or more work, like exactly where to look when entering and exiting a corner, getting on the gas after turn-in, etc..

It seems the practice has been working.

This time around I actually got faster after coming back from the track, then got gradually slower, and now I'm getting faster than I was when I initially returned. Something is definitely happening.

Another thing is, I only probably put my knee down on the track once or twice (for each knee), and, since it happens so rarely it startles me a little when it happens. I never believed that it would ever happen at home, but for the first time a few weeks ago, my knee touched down during practice! Yeah, that was scary, but then it happened again, and again. I waited for about 2 days after that session, and then went back out to see if it was just a fluke. It wasn't. And, now I'm taking the corners faster than ever, since I know now just exactly how far I am from the ground.

It's funny, when I look at pictures of myself on the bike, I think to myself "I really don't know how I do that". So, every time I go out, it's almost like brand new to me, but then comes the experience, and it all comes together, turn after turn after turn.

I'm getting ready for the next track day now. I even broke in my brand new tires in the rain! I'll have to scrub them in again when it's dry out just to be sure though.