Professional racers, a cut above?
Discussion
t+1. Last outing at Knockhill, Niall Mackenzie's kids were there. 17 and 20 I think. Not seasoned racers like the guys mentioned above, but they ran rings around everyone ALL day, and there were some not slow guys there. It seemed no matter how fast you thought you were going, they could choose whatever line they wanted to get around you and fling it into the bend 20-30mph quicker than you were going. Backing it in totally sideways into the hairpin. A different league
Everyone has natural talent for something. Whether music, art, writing, running, surfing or motorcycle racing, I honestly believe that you need a natural set of 'data' to enable you to be at the pinnacle. Speak to someone who can draw and they won't be able to understand why everyone can't do it; same with a writer or someone who can read music. All our brains and bodies have different strengths. For bike racing I guess these things would also have to include the ability to ride around the part of your brain that says "last time we tried this, we broke a leg so back off" which may not be quite so important for an artist.
Only those who have this, plus the drive, determination, breaks, luck and backing will get to the very top. There's no doubt that there's been better than any 'GOAT' from any of the above, but unless you have the breaks you won't get there. Who's to know that a taxi driver in Mumbai wouldn't be faster than Senna had he got the same chances in life?
So I do believe that whilst most of us could be taught to ride a bike quickly around a track, very few could be taught to be at the same level as those who do it at the pinacle.
Only those who have this, plus the drive, determination, breaks, luck and backing will get to the very top. There's no doubt that there's been better than any 'GOAT' from any of the above, but unless you have the breaks you won't get there. Who's to know that a taxi driver in Mumbai wouldn't be faster than Senna had he got the same chances in life?
So I do believe that whilst most of us could be taught to ride a bike quickly around a track, very few could be taught to be at the same level as those who do it at the pinacle.
Renn Sport said:
I guess its all about consistent practice. If you can afford to get on the track enough then your expirience will grow and you'll become more proficient.
I am hoping I can squeeze two track days into this year...
natural ability has a big part to play, however, like most things in life practice makes perfect.I am hoping I can squeeze two track days into this year...
lets be honest though, for most of us on here we will do half a dozen track days a year and may have only been riding a few years. for many that's all we can afford.
these guys are started young, are bred into the sport and have the funds to be out on the track when the rest of us are working. They must clock up days of track time in a year.
moanthebairns said:
natural ability has a big part to play, however, like most things in life practice makes perfect.
lets be honest though, for most of us on here we will do half a dozen track days a year and may have only been riding a few years. for many that's all we can afford.
these guys are started young, are bred into the sport and have the funds to be out on the track when the rest of us are working. They must clock up days of track time in a year.
I saw a young lad racing a 125 at Snetterton years ago. He was about 15 from memory, racing against a field of blokes who had been racing for years around the circuit - it was this lad's first visit.lets be honest though, for most of us on here we will do half a dozen track days a year and may have only been riding a few years. for many that's all we can afford.
these guys are started young, are bred into the sport and have the funds to be out on the track when the rest of us are working. They must clock up days of track time in a year.
He beat the bloke who came second (so who would've usually won) by half a lap. That young lad had a memorable name being Casey Stoner.
If it was all down to practice, experience etc then he'd have been at the back of the field, surely?
srob said:
moanthebairns said:
natural ability has a big part to play, however, like most things in life practice makes perfect.
lets be honest though, for most of us on here we will do half a dozen track days a year and may have only been riding a few years. for many that's all we can afford.
these guys are started young, are bred into the sport and have the funds to be out on the track when the rest of us are working. They must clock up days of track time in a year.
I saw a young lad racing a 125 at Snetterton years ago. He was about 15 from memory, racing against a field of blokes who had been racing for years around the circuit - it was this lad's first visit.lets be honest though, for most of us on here we will do half a dozen track days a year and may have only been riding a few years. for many that's all we can afford.
these guys are started young, are bred into the sport and have the funds to be out on the track when the rest of us are working. They must clock up days of track time in a year.
He beat the bloke who came second (so who would've usually won) by half a lap. That young lad had a memorable name being Casey Stoner.
If it was all down to practice, experience etc then he'd have been at the back of the field, surely?
casey had his first race when he was 4
Mastodon2 said:
Tim85 said:
They just seem to have that extra slice of talent that just cant be taught or learnt
That's the crux of it really.. Most of it has been taught and learnt. Maybe not the guys at the very top but ask anyone who races for a living, they all started when they were a kid and have been doing it for at least a decade.
Moto gp is obviously a different stratosphere but they were all racing at 4 years old!
btdk5 said:
It's not.
Most of it has been taught and learnt. Maybe not the guys at the very top but ask anyone who races for a living, they all started when they were a kid and have been doing it for at least a decade.
Moto gp is obviously a different stratosphere but they were all racing at 4 years old!
Shakey Byrne competed in/won his first race when he was 18 they said on the telly the other day. Most of it has been taught and learnt. Maybe not the guys at the very top but ask anyone who races for a living, they all started when they were a kid and have been doing it for at least a decade.
Moto gp is obviously a different stratosphere but they were all racing at 4 years old!
I started riding when I was 4 and had done my first trackday when I was 18. I'm still s
t and slow though 
I do loads of trackdays. I'm getting better but not much. There's more to it than practice. Learning at a young age helps, I was in my mid 30s when I rode a bike for the first time, other than nicking a mates for a 10 minute blast when I was 17.
I can not see that there's any way it would do anything other than crash when I watch what they can do. Being right behind on track with them is even madder.
I can not see that there's any way it would do anything other than crash when I watch what they can do. Being right behind on track with them is even madder.
egor110 said:
I wonder who enjoys it most though?
The racer knowing he has to find funding and if the results don't come his seat could go or you guys having a laugh on trackdays?
the racer, he doesn't have to sit Monday to Friday fannying about on autocad and pistonheads bored out his chuff waiting for that one track day a month The racer knowing he has to find funding and if the results don't come his seat could go or you guys having a laugh on trackdays?
moanthebairns said:
egor110 said:
I wonder who enjoys it most though?
The racer knowing he has to find funding and if the results don't come his seat could go or you guys having a laugh on trackdays?
the racer, he doesn't have to sit Monday to Friday fannying about on autocad and pistonheads bored out his chuff waiting for that one track day a month The racer knowing he has to find funding and if the results don't come his seat could go or you guys having a laugh on trackdays?
The trouble with getting really good at something is sometimes you end up taking the fun out of the very thing you used to love.
srob said:
btdk5 said:
It's not.
Most of it has been taught and learnt. Maybe not the guys at the very top but ask anyone who races for a living, they all started when they were a kid and have been doing it for at least a decade.
Moto gp is obviously a different stratosphere but they were all racing at 4 years old!
Shakey Byrne competed in/won his first race when he was 18 they said on the telly the other day. Most of it has been taught and learnt. Maybe not the guys at the very top but ask anyone who races for a living, they all started when they were a kid and have been doing it for at least a decade.
Moto gp is obviously a different stratosphere but they were all racing at 4 years old!
I started riding when I was 4 and had done my first trackday when I was 18. I'm still s
t and slow though https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2XsBlGOxRUk
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