Trackday depression - Help please

Just to warn you, this is a long, not so happy post:

Do you think it would best I give up trackdays and just enjoy riding about on the roads or keep trying? I've done 6 track days this year (2 with SV, 4 with R6) and 90% of the time its not enjoyable. It leaves me feeling frustrated and tired. Main problem: I'm too slow. Been out with trackday Marshals, they have on 2 occasions got tired of waiting for me and left me for dust. Sometimes I've done track days with 1st timers and got lapped! Both mates I usually race with are alot faster but have both trashed their bikes. I've not come off yet. I do lack the balls to ride to the limit and I guess you need that to have some fun. Sometimes I spend too much time on track worrying about coming off than enjoying being there. Does anyone else feel like this? Am I doing something wrong? Should I be riding on a crap bike instead of a 7 grand beyond my ability r6? Perhaps its more serious. Ive had a rough childhood which has left me going through life with zero confidence in myself and a natural tendancy to over worry about stuff. Maybe this comes out in my riding. Would doing a superbike school help or is that a waste of money having a such a deep rooted confidence barrier? Don't like giving up, just wish I could enjoy trackdays more

Sorry if this has been a bad thread to read but would appreciate what you guys think might help

dont worry, if your not happy on a track day, why waste your time and money on one? Theres a lot of balls talked in bikes about how you go at 20000000miles an hour round a corner with your knee down while sparking up a fag. Dont get tempted to ride like other people just ride for yourself and enjoy it. Else why bother?

Maybe try something else like an off road experience. you may well find it more enjoyable and could help build confidence so you are a bit looser on the track?

I agree, if your scared of coming off you will never enjoy it. Its normal, thats why most people dont want a bike.

[G]

Do you fear getting hurt, or do you fear binning your expensive pride and joy?

There is not a lot you can do about the fear of getting hurt... if its the fear of binning your expensive bike then buy a cheap 600 to play on on the track.

I used to give my 600rr a fairly hard time, I ended up binning it, it's almost an inevitability. If your not testing yourself your not going to have much fun.

I won't be tracking the Ducati (so I keep telling myself ) as I don't want to knacker it up, which I no doubt would do if I started doing trackdays on it.

[pookie]

" Both mates I usually race with are alot faster but have both trashed their bikes." and " I've not come off yet"

I think unless you have deep pockets and have a constitution of super man I think you are doing well. So will going faster and trashing your bike make it more enjoyable?

Like with most things I think its learning the theory and just down to the ability to apply it. It might just take a while longer for the application.

I have no problems going slow and know what happens when I try and go fast But then again I go slow with a smile on my face

I feel like this on the road sometimes, no confidence and wondering why i botherd to do my test and get a bike.
I tend to expect a lot of myself and wonder why i pannick in the bends sometimes.
I bet there are really quick riders out there who struggled at first, so i try not to be too hard on myself.
If your not enjoying the track days dont do them.
I take it you do enjoy them and probably just need more confidence?
Let me know if you find any cos i could do with bags full of it!!!

[fizzwheel]

Why continue to do something that you dont enjoy doing, seems a bit pointless.

Who cares if you are slow or get lapped, sounds like you need to stop caring about what other people think so much and just relax and enjoy yourself. To go fast, first you must go slow !

[G]

Oh... and doing trackdays like yesterday really are not going to improve your confidence.

To get confidence stick to when its warm and dry. Rain and freezing temperatures are never much fun when doing a trackday. Even the fast group were bimbling around yesterday, it looked super slippy.

I think your expectations may be wrong. We all want to be quick on trackdays but there is always somebody faster! I don't know if I have ever been lapped on a trackday because I'm not paying that kind of attention to the other bikes - I am there to increase my skills, understanding, and speed in a relatively safe environment.

If you don't enjoy them then they are a waste of money. Don't fret about the R6 being 'too good' - very few people are better than their bikes and as long as you enjoy it then what is the problem?

If you do another TD, I'd recommend taking a 'I'll just try to be a little faster each lap" attitude rather than a "I want to be faster than most other people" one - ignore the speed of the others.