stupid hurts.. this is what NOT TO DO when your bike dies on the grid! ! !

[supercarl]

Alright I was just wondering. Didnt know if there was a specific response for this scenario. I have my routine down now so I havent messed up a start since then. Im a two finger clutcher and one foot on the ground guy lol. That first time I just had soo many thoughts going through my head I totally forgot to put the bike in gear. whoops!

[MELK-MAN]

Alright I was just wondering. Didnt know if there was a specific response for this scenario. I have my routine down now so I havent messed up a start since then. Im a two finger clutcher and one foot on the ground guy lol. That first time I just had soo many thoughts going through my head I totally forgot to put the bike in gear. whoops!

my opinion ? i wouldn't do two fingers on the start.. do THREE, then two or whatever works for you during the race. again. just my opinion, you get a better feed of the lever with three fingers on a road bike, and your fingers/hand won't fatigue quickly if you get a particularly long sideways board delay.. You have more of a chance of letting too much clutch lever out just using two fingers on the start.

[supercarl]

Good to know, I'll give it a try the first few practice sessions this year and see how it feels!

[flyboy75]

I clipped flyboy on the start. 2 other lw guys in front of me swerved one way, I had to go the other. Hanging off and still clipped his bike with my elbow. Next 2 laps was basically thinking to myself "why the hell am I out here?". 8yrs off from racing and the first race back, clipped someone on the start. Was pretty rattled for a bit. Not an 20 yr old kid anymore.   Flyboy, I thought I clipped your arm and was hoping like hell I didnt break it or anything. Too bad I didnt have my gopro turned on for that race. I keep forgetting to turn the silly thing on half the time.

I was just glad no one was really hurt. It sucks to sit there and just wave your arms, but there's no other choice

[Kadius]

Okay, as the pit out guy standing at the wall watching the entire event at pit wall, I can say there was no stopping this from happening from ccs. :( I WATCHED the rider who"s bike stalled, pick up his LEFT HAND BRIEFLY, (like he was saying hi) and NEVER GOT IT ABOVE HIS HELMET. For less than a second. I thought he was saying he was ready, NOT THAT HIS BIKE HAD STALLED. Once I realized he was trying to RESTART HIS BIKE, (this happened in less than two seconds) IT WAS TOO LATE, THE GREEN was thrown. :( IF HE HAD RAISED HIS HAND OR HANDS ABOVE HIS HEAD, THERE MIGHT (would) HAVE BEEN TIME TO ABORT THE START. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED. :( HE tried to restart his bike before letting anyone know his bike was stalled. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS AND WAVE THEM WILDLY, LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO BE SAVED! This was almost tragic, it was terrible, because when the first bike hit (in the video) the stalled bike, it turned to the right into another bikes path that had to be doing 40-50+ mph (or more) with his front brake locked up. The second bike that hit him was so violent it put the third bike into the wall and it was BRUTAL. That first bike which hit the stalled bike bent the footpeg and shifter at a 90 degree angle to the bike and bent the handle bar. What happened after that on the right side, was even worse. If your bike stalls before a start, PLEASE PLEASE WAIVE YOUR HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD! WE WILL WAIT OR HELP YOU GET YOUR BIKE OFF THE GRID. MAKE EVERYONE WAIT!!!!!! ITS WAY BETTER THAN THIS OUTCOME. I have had to do it once, I stalled on a start after the green, I got lucky and no one hit me (hard)... I was waiving my arms like I was trying to land an f16 on a dark carrier in the Pacific, cause I was scared :) I have never been so scared in my life, what a helpless feeling that was. WHAT IM SAYING IS, THE RIDER NEVER LET ANYONE KNOW HE WAS IN TROUBLE :(

That explains why my pinky toe on my right foot might possibly be broken, heh...

[clarustnb]

Just a pinky toe? Count your blessings sir!

[Kadius]

Just a pinky toe? Count your blessings sir!

For sure! As I said earlier, I was the luckiest in the incident as I was able to continue racing afterwards (had to replace the radiator).

[roadracer162]

Question....HYPOTHETICALLY let's say I accidently leave my bike in neutral at the start of the race only to realize it after the green flag drops (MAYYY have done this from the back row my first amateur weekend  ::)  lol). Is it better to start waiving frantically and hope for the best or drop the bike in gear really fast and try to get the start off?
I did the later and almost flipped the thing in a wheelie cause I dumped the clutch so fast. Luckily I was in the back row so it wasnt an issue, but I feel like this might be good to know for future reference.

I say wave like a madman, reactionary would be to drop it into gear. Waving is easily accomplished and hopefully the next racer will notice. Attempting to drop it into gear is not a sure thing either and you are still dead in the water and most likely no one else will know you are dead in the water. Like you stated getting it into gear could put you in the situation of a rush start and certainly a wheelie. This year I had a racer beside me on the front row, pull a wheelie and flipped it. He was on a FZR400.

[roadracer162]

my opinion ? i wouldn't do two fingers on the start.. do THREE, then two or whatever works for you during the race. again. just my opinion, you get a better feed of the lever with three fingers on a road bike, and your fingers/hand won't fatigue quickly if you get a particularly long sideways board delay.. You have more of a chance of letting too much clutch lever out just using two fingers on the start.

from my drag racing days I use all four fingers. it gives me much better feel of what the clutch is doing. I am a two feet down kind of guy again from drag racing and legs behind the peg allowing me to get my upper body canted forward over the fuel tank. I do feel a slight amount of drag on the clutch before the start, and I try to beat the two board getting the bike into gear.

The Ducati has a very different clutch actuation than the Japanese bikes I have ridden. They can be tough to start and thus my unfortunate event at starting. I put my hand up automatically but I would like it to be more instinctive. it isn't something that we practice. schools can only teach you so much. It has to be on the rider to do the right thing. Not all instructors are detailed at how to start a race or can descrive every little detail.

[MELK-MAN]

from my drag racing days I use all four fingers. it gives me much better feel of what the clutch is doing. I am a two feet down kind of guy again from drag racing and legs behind the peg allowing me to get my upper body canted forward over the fuel tank. I do feel a slight amount of drag on the clutch before the start, and I try to beat the two board getting the bike into gear.

The Ducati has a very different clutch actuation than the Japanese bikes I have ridden. They can be tough to start and thus my unfortunate event at starting. I put my hand up automatically but I would like it to be more instinctive. it isn't something that we practice. schools can only teach you so much. It has to be on the rider to do the right thing. Not all instructors are detailed at how to start a race or can descrive every little detail.

i'm with you mark. At least 3 fingers and as you do, 4 may be better. 2 fingers is asking for erratic clutch feed on the start.
I found the ducati to be very different to launch than the r6 as you state. It was mostly about feel, and using lower rev to launch, but still managed to get off the line first in a couple races. I was TOTALLY blown away at how Vito C and launch when he gets it right. Very impressive.

[twilkinson3]

I say wave like a madman, reactionary would be to drop it into gear. Waving is easily accomplished and hopefully the next racer will notice. Attempting to drop it into gear is not a sure thing either and you are still dead in the water and most likely no one else will know you are dead in the water. Like you stated getting it into gear could put you in the situation of a rush start and certainly a wheelie. This year I had a racer beside me on the front row, pull a wheelie and flipped it. He was on a FZR400.

Thing isyou find out when the bike doesn't move at the green and it's already too late at that point...this is almost a worst case scenario...unless you are really lucky and see/have a neutral indicator led a split second ahead of tiem...then wave...otherwise it's over before you have a chance to do anything about it

btw absolute worst case in my mind...bike launches in first and you miss second and get neutral...did that once and ty bruce for missing me lol (on a lightweight first don't last too long lol)

[06636racer]

I hit a neutral during this start and everyone flew by me fourtantly I was going fast enough not to be a sitting duck and just had to tap the shifter again... Just to see a red flag waving.. Second start of that race was better for me but still slow... I like the four finger deal... Gonna def try that at Jennings!