I had another go at Brno a couple of weeks ago. Definite improvements and 12 seconds better on the lap (still slow but it's only the second time on track with maybe 1,200km of road riding and nothing for the 25 years prior to that). It would have been better on the final lap based on the people I was finally overtaking but I put it in neutral into the last chicane as I lifted my foot on the left side to get it out of the way... muppet.
I tried trail braking and found it to give a lot of confidence going into the turns. I was still too careful getting on the throttle and not using it fully anywhere near enough, but braking later and carrying more corner speed. I seem to have a habit of turning in slightly late, although I'm generally still hitting the apex. I need to pay better attention to markers but particularly for turn-in and also getting on the throttle with some enthusiasm as soon as I see the exit. I think there's loads of easy time to be made at this stage just by using the available power a bit more enthusiastically. Lean angle increased but still not more than 48 degrees, although this was left and right so I don't seem to have a particular preference, although left turns still feel more natural. There's still maybe 1cm, maybe a little bit less, of rubber left on the edges so I know I can lay the bike down quite a lot more. Maximum speed only increased to 230kph and it should be a
lot more on the main straight (I got about 2,000rpm higher this time though). Body position - as expected, I'm not getting off the bike anywhere near enough and particularly not with my head. I also need to use more throttle to maintain speed as I'm getting onto the throttle but not sufficiently to maintain speed - letting it drop slightly.
I know what to improve and how to do it and the good thing is that I've not given myself any scary moments - at all times it feels perfectly under control and I'm very aware that I'm well within any limits, which gives confidence to keep gradually improving. I found it interesting that the bike felt a lot happier through the corners when carrying more speed into and through them.
I found myself getting held up a lot in the corners, then people would hammer the throttle so I didn't get past, hammer the brakes and tip-toe around the corners. Eventually I managed to get some confidence to overtake, some on the throttle but mostly on the brakes. One guy finished his weekend early by putting the bike down on the straight about 150m before the corner entry... he had forced me wide in an earlier lap by charging up the inside and then sitting there as I was turning in.
The tyre looked a bit better than the previous time - not so much of other people’s rubber on it. If anyone wants to give any feedback based on the tyre then feel free to do so! I can't wait to get back on track...
View attachment 50836
Looks like you get them pretty hot and have pretty consistent heat which is good. You seem to be on the gas more on the right side, as the left side is getting cool as you go through corners and picking up a lot of stuff. Note the neutral texture on both edges. It doesn't go forward or back. Right edge you're more on the gas in the corners left side you look to be coasting through the corners more. Does that feel about right as a tendency?
Funny the V4 are opposite every other bike as they mount the engine backwards to create more neutral gyroscopic forces to counter wheels and flywheel etc. so they turn right easier than left. Every other bike on Earth turns left easier that right. Feels more confident right.
Looks like you hit the gas hardest late corner exit then are coasting well into turns. Not even engine braking hard. You pick up a lot of stuff center tire too.
This seems like it might be the traffic you were talking about.
Passing guys is one of the trickiest things to get, but once you get it, you keep it and keep getting better. You have to find places on the track you can get politely past to where they can see you, where you can claim the space. BEFORE the corners is a very good place, but down the straights is easiest.
That means either braking later or getting on the gas sooner. But you got to get confident with the track and really really understand the lines. Look up ahead and see who is moving where and strategize the traffic. Sometimes if it's nuts, I'll get off in pit lane, take 2 deep breaths wait for a big gap and go back out. Sometimes groups form and fight back-forth and it's not a valuable situation.
Like I said, when you know the lines and markers without thinking about it, when you know where you are on the track without thinking about it, you can get to learning other things like passing. Get the track map and make a lot of notes; watch onboard videos of the track IN RIDING POSITION.
Make muscle memory. Get you head down and watch the videos looking up at the TV as if you are riding. You will imprint the track in the same place in your brain. Move with the rider. Lean left, lean right.
Feel it. This is really important.
Notice how your instincts are engaged: Head down, you are in "hunting mode." Sitting up, chest collapsed, looking down, you may feel more passive. We spend WAY too much time looking down at our phones - this is crap for our emotional well being.
Chest down, squat, feet straight, arms up at shoulders, hands up, ready to fight, lead with your heart, stick it out. Head down, eyes up. Feel the GGGGRRRRRrrrrrr. Ready for anything.
Watch the onboard videos. This is a great exercise.
When you get back to the track, it will feel really normal. Feels like home, like certainty. That's what you want.
On track, stop thinking about it. That part of your brain is too slow. Think about breathing, think about what your hands are doing, and just ride. If you can do that you are going to make leaps of improvements. You already know what you have to do. Just do it.
