Track crash - my fault?

[NTECUK]

Originally Posted by Wideboy

A system that no limits could introduce could be that each account would only be allocated 3-5 novice bookings and once the quota has been used they can only book into inters or fast group. Maybe loose them some business though.

It doesn't take in to account riders like my self who simply are not that quick!

Please don't be put off TDs as long as you ride within your limits then accidents like mine are avoidable. I've had a long think about this and there were three contributing factors that resulted in my bike sliding across the grass. The first was cold tyres, the second was me trying to ride beyond my talent and the third was the R1. Take away any one of those three and the bike would have stayed rubber side down. Two of those factors were within my control and had I been sensible I could have avoided the R1.

I was trying too hard on cold tyres, then ran out of talent and panicked when an R1 got a bit close.

Lesson learnt and I won't be put off TDs.

Originally Posted by MrFurious

Lesson learnt and I won't be put off TDs.

Good boy, get back on that girl and ride her hard(within your limits)

[PyroUK]

Originally Posted by NTECUK

It doesn't take in to account riders like my self who simply are not that quick!

You're right but at the same time, it shouldn't deter you.

If you ride at your own pace for yourself you will enjoy it. Yes there are risks but by even contemplating a td you have already accepted those.

We had several offs through the day most in the first few laps of the sessions. I would put that down to the riders not taking their time to settle into it and getting the tyres warm.

I was absolutely bricking it each am every session, but I took my time (ok in the later ones I was a bit foolish and was pushing harder sooner than I should) and just ride for me. Was brilliant fun and I have so much more appreciation for the sv knowing what it can do.

[L3nny]

I've done a few track days, mostly in Novice and a couple in Inter

Every single day I have been stood up by someone overtaking me on the inside of a corner, a couple of times even the instructors have done it.

No-one ever gets black flagged, you just have to expect it, I've learnt to take wide lines into turns to allow be to be overtaken on both sides. Makes me a bit slower but at least I keep it shiny side up.

[johnnyrod]

I had a run-in with No Limits at Cadwell this year. After a discussion with them, they don't have any sort of clearance rule with regard to overtakes, they tell you to just do it courteously, but otherwise you can do it anywhere. This was the briefing and that was also the outcome of the discussion. Of course this was like a red rag to a bunch of bulls riding GSXRs and R1s, and the result was I went to see them at the end of the first session, because someone was really going to get hurt. I also rode with them again at Silverstone and people were throwing themselves into the scenery with gusto. I don't believe they took it seriously, compared to some of the others, but none of them really are that conscientious. It's more down to the track themselves, we once nearly had a day at Rockingham stopped by the track because it was just silly.

Ntec I'm passed by plenty of riders in inters, but I know how to ride and I'm never going to be the fastest, or the slowest. Neither of course do I know how many are behind me. Just do it, the novices is a mare, there are the ringers, and there are the real noobs who can't take the same line around the same corner twice.

OP: R1 ruined your day but yes it was a bit of inexperience I think. I rarely agree with speedyandypandy but he's right, you had more time than you realised, and a simple move could have got you out of it, like when he came across you, move to the side a little so you're not line astern - same goes if you're passed on the brakes. And never chop the throttle mid-corner!

[Red Herring]

Watching the video it was clearly an inconsiderate pass however the OP could clearly have held the line and cleared inside him, as he himself said he braked and this picked the bike up leading to the off. You have to remember that this is the novice group and it is going to be full of riders learning trackcraft, and are hence going to make mistakes.

As someone else has said don't focus on blame, but look at the cause instead and what you could have done differently. Clearly being faster yourself would have prevented the other rider getting up the inside.......() however there are always going to be faster bikes and riders out there so be prepared to deal with their mistakes. Don't let one incident put you off, just look at it as valuable (and expensive) experience.

In my humble opinion and gav said it earlier in the thread, you had the 'racing' line, it's not a race, there was no gain to come up on your inside like that.

On my one and only track day at Mallory park, my triumph sprint was 6 months old so didn't wanna push it, there wasn't enough people to fill the three groups so they made two groups with fast and inters mixed in with novice.

Stupid fast track bikes were overtaking anywhere they liked, I was undertook on the long sweeping bend at the end of the straight, I was less than a metre away from the inside kerb and a bike came up my inside, the outside of me was totally clear, so the first few sessions I was keeping it very tight to the kerbs and still riders were trying to undertake me, in the end I stopped worrying and just hugged the kerbs and it helped.

I improved throughout the day and even overtook a track bike after I sat up his chuff for nearly three laps, I was more confident on the brakes than quite a few and could've passed a few people on the inside doing this but I didn't because it's just not on.

There are quite a few people buying and riding super fast sports bikes that are way beyond their ability, unfortunately they book track days and this is the outcome.

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by Specialone

There are quite a few people buying and riding super fast sports bikes that are way beyond their ability, fortunately they book track days and smash them to pieces.....

Corrected for you....

This is a very interesting thread and obviously to start with I hope everyone who has become separated with their bike at the track is all OK and the bikes are not too badly damaged.

Trackdays have evolved over the years, I think I started in the early days but maybe not the very start of them. But over the last 10 years certainly, they have grown tremendously. It's a great way to enjoy the performance of your bike in relative safety.

But here, on TDR and Motoforum too, there are conversations all about when things go wrong on a trackday. It's going to happen at some time, I don't think you could ever run the amount of trackdays that currently happen without incident.

The thing that worries me is that when a bad experience on track happens to a novice rider, then that rider is affected in many ways. Firstly they are put off the idea of trackdays completely, they probably haven't improved their general riding ability (which is a significant benefit of riding on track) and they may suffer personal injury and bike damage. All not good, especially if this is passed on to friends who were just about to book a trackday for the first time.

So I've been thinking about this and I'm am looking to run some trackdays next year that will be geared towards the novice track rider.

I don't want to go into too much detail at the moment, mainly as I am still trying to work things out myself but for a little bit extra money you would have closer, more personal instruction to make the whole experience a lot safer and have people leave the day with smiles on their faces rather than bruises and broken crankcases.

I would be interested to hear other peoples thoughts and although a group just for SV's would be a nice idea I think that would be a little tricky!