check it out fellas: my first attempt at gopro filming and editing. let me know what cha think.
cheers.
Nice riding Alex. Thanks for sharing the video.
TimV
great video, thanks for posting.
So that’s what the front of that race looked like! Great video, thanks for posting.
Thanks for taking the time to do the Video Alex…Sorry about the clutch lever but I was as close to that wall as I cared to get. The lever actually hit my knee, had no idea that it broke 
No worries John, it was getting pretty close to the wall and we were fighting hard for second and third.
In review of the video I definitely should have stuffed ya into the second to last corner
to take third; you totally left the door open.
Watch out next round! I’ll be comin for you and your clutch lever.
I’ll make sure to bring a spare :mrgreen:
Great ride guys but lets not get carried away. Stuffing is not wise in club racing. Cheers, Col
Agreed Colin 100%
ya that all looks dangerous to me, decisions being made from pretty far back.
Motorcycle racing dangerous? Noooooooo way…:-/
I don’t think I left anyone in a bad spot by chopping their front wheel or leaving them with no time to take a different line; at least I hope I didn’t. There were a couple close quarters passes but nothing offside as far as i can tell; With the exception of the pass on the lap rider in the very last corner. It was not the nicest pass I will agree.
Please feel free to voice (or type in this case) your opinion. I’m not here to start a silly Internet argument I would just like to know what the more seasoned racers of the club think.
Cheers,
Alex D
well since you asked..here goes
From my perspective in the stands where I was sitting with my wife ,I thought you were totally out of control and I was very surprised that nobody (including yourself) got hurt!
All I saw were drastic (ie.unplanned) passes, riding across the grass, contact with another rider on the front straight (how does that happen?) to the point that I saw some piece of equipment fly through the air! Also, not sure if I was seeing it correctly but did you also push the front end a couple of times through six?
It got to the point that I asked Neal Howes ( who was sitting beside my wife and I ) who was riding the # 85 bike..I believe he was as shocked as I was as to what was going on out there..
I think the last straw was your pass on the last lap on the lapper coming out onto the front straight..from the stands it actually looked like you hit the other rider..if that’s not the case then you were dam close. I can’t remember if that rider had a rookie vest on or not? not that that is important but is it a good indication to give ample room.
here’s a tip…take some time and study some of the really fast guys in this club..the first thing you should notice is that they make it appear to be completely effortless…watch your video about 10 times and look at John Crossley…he’s ahead of you (ie.faster) and he looks like he’s out for a Sunday ride.
When I started with the club 8 years ago I watched a race with a guy named Hornblower ( and still remember his name to this day). That guy was half a lap ahead of everyone else and I couldn’t believe how easy he made it look..unbelievebly smooth and not meaning to re-use the same term but he made it look effortless..in fact in my mind I can still see him riding out there on that day I watched him.
finally, you won’t gain a lot of respect within this club riding the way you did that day so you may want to do something about it sooner rather than later..or worst case scenerio, before someone gets hurt. I’m glad I wasn’t out there with you because it was scary to watch just from the stands.
sorry you asked?..I hope not
Scott
ps..maybe it looked worse from the stands so I would be curious to hear what the guys you were dicing with have to say?..maybe it was just me watching?
I somewhat agree with Scott, from the stands it looked like you were out of control at least a couple of times and i kinda expected you to crash before the end of the race…
The incident with the lapper on the last lap could happen to anyone, including me, when going thru lap traffic we make split second decisions and sometimes i find myself hoping the lapped rider doesnt cut across or there could be contact. If that would have been your only “oh shit” moment of the race than we probably wouldnt be talking about it right now, but it wasnt… If you have a bunch of “oh shit” moments in the same race, you are probably riding a little over your head.
Lets just get something clear, i dont consider you a dirty rider and don’t think you would ever do something dangerous on the track on purpose. But i really think you could be a genuine threat to the top of the podium if you take your time and learn to be smooth and crafty as opposed to riding on pure instinct.
Racing doesn’t need to be that dangerous, I won that race and I am positive you couldn’t find anyone who I lapped who thought I was out of control or put them at risk in anyway. I also didn’t have to take the grass, or hit anyone. I saw you in the P4F3 race and thought you were dangerous. I have been racing for 21 years, and have seen riders like you come and go. Obviously you are proud of yourself since you posted it here and asked everyone on the forum what we thought, so probably won’t hear what people are telling you about this video.
I was in that race , on the second lap I tried to make a pass on fly boy Cambell on his flying RS125, apexed to early in 4 and shot off into the grass , how I managed to run through wet muddy grass on slicks is beyond me. Gave my head a shake and just put my head down and really tried to concentrate on my riding , instead of wanking around like an anorak.I would have loved to have been in the lead group ( i finished 6th) but I am kinda glad I wasnt there.We have some fantastic riders that can race side by side all day with all the respect of everyone on the track, lets keep it that way. I havnt been out much these last last few yrs but I saw some fantastic racing that weekend.Lets keep it that way.
Hope to see everyone in July
Steve
the comments by these guy’s should make the light bulb go on?
you don’t get to be good by being crazy,you get to be good by being smooth and safe.
i spoke with jordan skoze at an agm i asked him how do you learn to ride so fast.
he told me first learn to ride slow, fast will come after you do that.
graham#370
to quote the great Kenny Roberts
“learn to go slow to go fast”
I never get tired of watching Stan or Doug Forbes, Stan’s bum doesn’t even leave his seat!
SMOKING JACKET SMOOTH
try riding at 80% and your technique will improve 150%
Allan
#393
Hey Alex-Be careful what you ask for on Internet forums it might be more dangerous than the race track!
From the stands it was a very exciting Race. From the video it’s an exciting race. ‘Out of control’ can mean a lot of different things-I think your lines were fine(will except for that grass excursion-but if I pull in the clutch on the exit of 7 (simulating a false neutral) I should dip to the inside as you did) Were you aggressive? For sure. Riding at 100% of your and the bikes ability-kinda looked like it. Would I have been surprised if you crashed -no.
Could Jordan go faster on your bike and make it look like less effort? Of course, he could do that with everyone’s bike in the club. I would suggest racing at 90% at your combined bike and rider capability…leave a little in reserve…maybe you did? Only you can say for sure if you were on the edge…be honest-If you were riding at 100% it will hurt you sooner or later or someone else…
Other than that you did really well. Certainly not to blame for the clutch situation (inside line and in front) ‘A racing incident’ But for the love of Pete- guys be careful…there is no gentle low side out come on the front straight. It’s club racing be safe, crashing sucks and no one needs a permanent injury. For that matter be careful in the corners too.
Comments on lapping:
- As Dom said, you have to make very quick decisions guessing where you are going to catch the upcoming rider and where will they be at that point, it’s not always easy…sometimes you get pinched off or get a little closer than you planned. (from the video you can see one time when Croz goes around the outside of a lapper, lapper gets spooked and moves inside tightening against Alex)
- It’s easier if you have a big lead.
- It’s tougher on an equal or underpowered bike
- Tougher still on an underpowered bike and fighting for position.
To the lappee’s
Keep racing with us, don’t get down we have all been there. There is no replacement for seat time, schools, track days, or an endurance race (SOAR) will sharpen your skills. I can remember going out in a RACE class and losing them on the warm up lap at my race pace…and remember thinking #$%$%$^! this isn’t going to go very well!
The rookie on the receiving end of the bad pass was James Moore, one of our students from the school this year. My wife observed the incident from the stands and says it scared her although she also said James handled it very well. We had previously observed that James was doing quite well all week end so hopefully this won’t have bothered him.
It’s racing to win but not racing to win at any cost. As has been previously stated Alex, maybe just cut it back a notch or two until the consistancy and smoothness comes.
Hi Dave, The rookie you referred to, James Moore, was in no way upset or put off by the last lap passes. He’s been racing karts at that track for the last five years and if you think those passes were rough, you should see the kart kids go! My wife and I were also watching that race and all I said as they caught him was "go easy on him, boys’, but then I’m a bit biased, I’m his Dad. I was just hoping he didn’t get in their way as they were having a great race and I didn’t want James to spoil it.
No worries 