Back in the shop

Body position is improving, but needs lots of work, probably time for some more coaching…I think I need to open my hips and shoulders open, turn them more into the corner on the bike.

A recent change the JP43 guys had me working on this winter was not strictly hangin off, but rotating the hips around the tank and driving the inside knee forward, aim your shoulder to the apex, it made a world of difference in both my outside leg grip and moving my weight forward to load the tire and keep the front end down under acceleration.

So much mixed information out there, some schools want you a fist away from the tank, spine parallel to the center line of the bike. Don't weight the inside peg is a big discussion at Cali SBK school but Yamaha school says to do it. A lot may be down to individual preference but for me loading the front was the biggest "next step". A low side I had a few years back was from unloading the front under acceleration while still in a corner with my weight too far back.....boom! Eventually the rear will begin to spin with the weight that far forward, not just from power but from balance. Not quite there yet but looking forward to that experience. Used to be able to 4 wheel drift a Formula Dodge all the time and want to be able to achieve the same level of bike control.

A few pics about 4y apart, first was me thinking I knew what I was doing by just having fast lap times (pre-crash bravery), second trying to have better BP but I always felt uncomfortable/unnatural, and one from last Memorial Day (same turn as Karls' latest pic). I think you are more progressed than my stage 2 and the JP43 guys would be seriously beneficial, shave 5-10s off your time in a weekend, and more importantly, do it by making you safer (kinda counterintuitive but true). And if you get Risploli as an instructor the stupid things he will do in front of you (lighting up the rear like a hooligan just to goof around) is worth the price alone.

Kev242 said:

A recent change the JP43 guys had me working on this winter was not strictly hangin off, but rotating the hips around the tank and driving the inside knee forward, aim your shoulder to the apex…

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I heard a similar body position tip I found helpful for getting shoulders turned into the corner, weight to the inside, and to avoid getting “crossed up”:

“Lead with you pec —> R pec to L tank and L pec to R tank”.

For a L turn, put your right pec on the tank, somewhere to the left of the centerline (vice versa for a R turn).

Not a rigid requirement of course - more a guiding principle to get you moving your body differently. We all have different builds and flexibility, so exactly how close you can get your pec to the tank, and how far left or right of center, will vary. But this helps me turn my shoulders into the corner.

I’ve got pretty good about turning my shoulders into the corner, had to because of my neck, but I think I need to focus a bit more on turning my hips so they are squaring up toward the Apex too. Foot position was impacting that a lot I think, I noticed last Sunday that I’m wasn’t moving my feet around on the pegs with enough discipline and consistency.

I think what’s happening is that meeting the brake zone I move to the side on the bike, then brake, then lean, when I move my hips to the side just before braking I think I’m turning my pelvis slightly toward the tank in anticipation of the braking g forces pushing me forward on the bike, so my hips end up facing toward the bike slightly while my shoulders are turning toward the apex, requiring a stronger twist of the torso that what’s needed and limiting how much I can turn the shoulders to the apex, it’s also keeping my inside knee that should be more opened up and dragging knee closer to the bike.

It’s like my hips are crossed up a bit still, even though I’m turning the right direction from the belly button up.

I think I’d make it easier on myself if I turn those hips more toward the apex too.

Definitely time for more coaching

Not sold on opening the hips to the turn, in flat track sure, but check out a pic of Baz (trying to find people above 5' 8") and see how he is driving that knee forward, hips actually rotated in compared to the center line of the bike, knee inside the elbow. Another one of Corey Alexander (@6' 3").

I have been getting in that position pre-braking, squeeze the tank under brakes, then just release the inside leg when tipping in and let gravity take it. No need to reach the inside leg out to drag, it will just happen with more lean angle.

I'm definitely noticing a trend that the faster experts tend to lead with their hip and inside shoulder, and stay somewhat compact on the bike and minimize their movements. Coaching yields the best returns for sure, but another resource is just checking out the event pictures and videos. Body types and styles vary but studying some of the A-group guys and comparing pics can provide ideas.

Jun-04-2023-Apex Assassins (Sun) | CaliPhotography

And I found that somebody posted this from Sunday. It's A group and skip to around 9 minutes in to see a sequence of faster guys blow by. It's interesting to study their body positions. Around 10:20 Lugnut Norton comes into the picture. He's top three fastest pro at Chuck. Notice he has a fairly compact riding style. I'm in chase right after him with a more splayed out style, which I have been thinking to try and tighten up and see if I can be more efficient on the bike. Note I really checked up behind the guy--as it's a track day--and I figured I could wait until the straight and just blow by on my V4

This is a snap from my onboard video from Sunday I was just entering the track and practicing annoyingly good entry procedure... and it's a good thing I did because Lugnut was on a heater and still aiming for a decent apex as he blew by into T15. Notice his compact position. He's not sticking his leg way out feeling for the ground. He's hugging the bike and barely off the seat with what looks like slightly forward inside knee and shoulder. Study the pros!

Total track noob here but I wonder if that more closed hip angle makes it easier/faster/more efficient to grip the tank when braking or slowing.

bp_SFV4 said:

Total track noob here but I wonder if that more closed hip angle makes it easier/faster/more efficient to grip the tank when braking or slowing.

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Absolutely! Especially on the efficiency, I was gasping for air with 5 laps @ Chuck earlier in the winter and bumped that up to 7 without doing anything different in my lifestyle (which is a #1 priority for me now). Doesn't sound like much but I think I counted >20 instances of being more than 1g in a single lap, that will hammer you after a while, especially in the >50 crowd. Gripping the tank like that really isolated your lower 1/2 and frees up your upper body.

Kev242 said:

A low side I had a few years back was from unloading the front under acceleration while still in a corner with my weight too far back.....boom!

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Same. Getting on throttle mid corner can be not good. Never accelerate to the apex

Kev242 said:

Absolutely! Especially on the efficiency, I was gasping for air with 5 laps @ Chuck earlier in the winter and bumped that up to 7 without doing anything different in my lifestyle (which is a #1 priority for me now). Doesn't sound like much but I think I counted >20 instances of being more than 1g in a single lap, that will hammer you after a while, especially in the >50 crowd. Gripping the tank like that really isolated your lower 1/2 and frees up your upper body.

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Haha 5 Laps seems to be my sweet spot, I’ll usually push myself to do one or two more to build endurance but don’t push hard the last two.

The biggest upgrade I can do for this bike’s quickness is MY fitness, which I’m prioritizing too.

When I bought the bike I was pushing 260 pounds, now I’m down to about 235, will get to about 220

More lattes Steven....MORE!!!

Cures everything.

Paul G said:

To a point style is important but look back over the years, many different riders can be fast. Doohan for example looked really awkward, Hailwood didnt hang off at all, fashion has a lot to do with it at our level. GP riders are 70 kg ish midgets trying to shave 100ths, if you are talking seconds then theres a lot more to learn than the finer points of BP. I think its more important to have the basics sorted for each phase, braking, entry, exit etc. Being neat and tidy requires fitness and strength, well fitted gear and good ergos etc. Like anything its all in the basics i.e dont try and go to 3 when you havent got 1 sorted

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Agreed, except for I know everything is bigger in Australia, but 70kg midgets??

Isn’t Bautista 135lbs?

bp_SFV4 said:

Isn’t Bautista 135lbs?

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Whi knows for sure, but that’s what I’ve seen listed:

https://www.eurosport.com/superbikes/alvaro-bautista_prs22098/person.shtml

Steven31371 said:

I didn’t intend it, but it kinda reminds me if the Ferrari F1 livery for this year.

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Yes, you are right

California Superbike School this Sunday for some coaching on body position.

Then on the 24th BIG WILLOW!!!

A track I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve been avoiding and am a bit intimidated to do on the bike…lots of laps there in cars, but have avoided the 180 mph straights and dragging knee for a quarter of a mile at 130 mph lol

But I’m ready, will be good for my rider development at this point.

I don't know a single rider who isn't intimidated by Big Willow, myself included. That track will test anyone's nerve and I know a couple of very fast guys who refuse to ride it, haha.
Turn 8 is terrifying. There are times when I enter so fast that my brain is telling me it is a coin flip: heads I make it, tails I die, why am I doing this? It has some bumps too that can slip the front tire at high lean/speed.
T9 is fast too and decreasing radius, with a bump inside and it offers the possibility to run wide and off track on exit.
The straight itself is now bumpy enough to unsettle the bike all the way.
T1 is awesome, banked, and bigger than it looks but I always puss out on entry, over braking from the high straightaway speeds.
T2 is scary to enter so fast, but a fast entry is key to a good lap time. This turn will also destroy the right side of your rear tire.
T3 is a very hard braking zone and many people low side here. CRASH RISK.
T5 is also very hard braking on a steep downhill. Many people low side here. CRASH RISK.
The hill at T6 can contribute to false neutrals or setting the front tire down crooked after a wheelie at 100+. CRASH RISK.
T7 is about the calmest section of the track I think but even so, on a big bike you are building speed fast and preparing to die into T8.
And there are NO safe run-off areas. That said, the track is so wide that a person can screw up their lines really bad and still usually keep it on the track.
And despite it being quite bumpy (most will run lighter springs and damping), I think the surface is abrasive and offers great grip.
Oh, and the wind can come up fierce in the afternoons, 20-30 mph. I've had tumble weeds blow across the track in front of me.
With all of this being said, Big Willow is my favorite track and I'll be there the 23rd. It's very exciting, very fun, and its the best place to stretch the legs of a V4. After a Big Willow day, all other tracks seem easy and babyfied.
Here's some onboard from my last day there:

Awesome vid and course breakdown, I actually misdated above, I’ll be there on the 23rd also.

Your description is exactly how I imagined riding there would be haha, i.e. terrifying but fun as hell, and is the reason I want to tackle it. Seems to me that like you said, after calibrating your brain to those speeds all other tracks will feel like baby tracks lol

So I need it for my development.

How much do you adjust dampening, and what tires do you run there?


That track was the 1st track I ever went to. I was in a semi track prepped Corvette…I thought I was a hell of a driver until I got there and learned that canyon carving was not track riding lol. My 1st lap I thought I was FLYNG taking turn 8 at 85 miles an hour haha

Was a humbling day for a 20 year old who thought he was a badass in a car lol