Lowering Laptimes?

[smoke]

Ok We all want to lower our laptimes.  But why does it come in big chunks then only a few secs at a time?  I went out for the LP track day at summit and got a bench mark time for my self. I am slow for now.  I went out this past monday for TPM track day and droped 5 sec.   But the thing that gets me is I consistent for the first three sessions running the same times.  They jumped a lil when I got into traffic but then droped again.  I can only attribute the Supper Dave class for my drop in time, new attitude to just throw in, and the new bike.  How do I get over the next hump? I am faster than my last years race times all ready but I still am off race pace for our MA 600s. Is this where I need to make more suspension adjustments or just get more seat time?
Help

[GregR6]

seat time seat time seat time...
and GOOD seat time. need to be around those faster than you.

We all need seat time. I been on a track total 13 times 6 races, 6 td's and a school/race.
 
only 1 track I'm starting to learn. I've been there (vir N) 6 of those 13 times... of those 6 times my lap times have dropped steadily.
1:45 (2nd track day)
1:43 (school)/1:40 (race)
1:38 (first full race weekend)
1:36 (third weekend)
1:36 (track day)
1:34 (1st time this yr)

every time I got faster because I was around faster riders.... "if he can do it, I can do it..." you learn every time out, and your confidence and skill improve.

If I could afford a school, I'd love to do it. never had any "formal training" like that.

As far as suspension...you've ridden VIR. It took me running 35's to finally feel the suspension doing things I didn't like. Before...I'd just ride it...hence my sig. Never noticed anything... until those times got there. made minor adjustments and whoa what a difference! But maybe my bike had a good baseline setup for the "slower" times. or maybe I just rode through it... I dunno.

I'm not an expert....well with bike set up... but I recommend not changing ANYTHING until you can FEEL the bike doing things you don't want it to. turns to fast, too slow, front end chatter etc etc etc...
Of course you want to start with that good baseline though... but I'm sure you've probably already got that.

[smoke]

I ran VIR last year one time for that last race weekend. I was at the 1:50s. I crashed two times that weekend once trying to follow hector. ( big mistake)
I have not been back since. Right now I am trying to focus on summit and at the end of summer I will go back to vir for TDs. I have no seat time there, only three races I did.

[ecumike]

Smoke.. it'll come off in big chunks until your up to pace with the other riders, then it'll start dropping slower and more slowerly.

It's all about seat time. Period.
But as he said.. suspension is critical, but you won't notice it (as much) until you're really 'pushing' the limits of your current setup. (provided it's a decent baseline)

Basically, the faster you get, the harder it is to shave off seconds/tenths. (assuming you don't make any major mods.)

on a 600.. 1:50... you should easily drop 10 seconds off that time @ VIR.

Also.. like he said.. follow the faster riders.. but not necessarily THE fastest rider. Find someone who's times are a little faster than yours. B/C even if the guy has the same bike but a better suspension setup, HE may be able to make that turn that fast, but you may not, if your setup isn't 'on it'.

Try and focus on 1 thing at a time. Learn the lines first, then learn the speed. No sense of learning the speed if you're using the wrong lines. ;)

[xseal]

my advice would to also talk to other riders on similar bikes re: their shift points and the gears they are in.  While you need drive, generally less shifting is better than more. Getting your bike geared right for drive and minimal shifts helps times a bit.

[Bling]

I totally agree with seat time.  



"must beat Hank"

[r6_philly]

seeing that my laptimes have gone up this year instead of down, I got nothing to say here  ;D

follow the right rider. Fast doesn't make good. Make sure you learn the good things about the fast rider, not his shortcomings. Watch him, see what works for you and what doesn't.

I crashed too at VIR trying to follow Alex Barrerra. I did go 2 seconds faster and was running 3nd at the time...

anyways, greg, you did 1:38's that weekend last year? that means me too, and I am really slower now than then!!! cuz I almost won a race that weekend! maybe 37's... then it went to 40's the first weekend back from when I almost died, and then went to 41's at the end of the year, to 42's this year, until the last race where I pulled all 38's out of my a$$

[r6_philly]

so it just shows that I shaved 4 seconds because I stopped riding like a scared rabbit. So maybe it wasn't about suspension and set up. there are more seconds in our heart than it is in our bikes.

[smoke]

I have a good baseline on the suspension. It could use a few tweeks. I have been running stock gearing so my shift points are a lil weird. I have the 520 stuff I just need to change it. (I can do the rear but have no clue when it comes to the front.)

I'll first change the gearing and see how things are.  

Its hard to find a MA 600 thats not an R6( LOL) I could be one of the few still on a gix.  

[Super Dave]

I have seldom received good advice from other riders.  Looking at bikes never did much for me.  My good advice came from Dale Quarterley, which is probably an eternity away for most racers on this forum.

Since I've been teaching guys for over ten years and I was never one of those gifted, fast out of the box types, I just always had to look at things a different way.

Most riders look at how they do things incorrectly.  If I can change that a bit and get the rider to look at the bike a bit more...then things work.  Kind of like the difference between feeding someone fish and teaching them how to fish.

Sometimes attitude is everything.

As for riding with faster riders...well, it can help, but that assumes that they are doing the right things.

[hooter31]

listen to dave,just because someone is going faster than you doesn't mean he's doing it right...seat time is very important,also learn to focus.before i race i take time by myself to go thru the race in my head,picture what you want to do in each corner,say a prayer(never ask to win only that we will all be kept safe)and go do it.race at your level and push yourselfto your limits not someone elses.but getting back to why the times get harded to improve is because you are probably doing less wrong and getting closer to you limit...good luck :) :) :)

[ecumike]

....but getting back to why the times get harded to improve is because you are probably doing less wrong and getting closer to you limit...

Exactly! Well said.