Overtaking Safely at a track Day
Discussion
Following a Chequed Flag day at Mallory Saturday I thought I should offer some guidance on overtaking safely. The background was that there was 4 offs at Mallory and 3 of them were caused by poor overtaking.
3 golden rules
1. Leave room
2. Overtake in a straight line
3. Plan it
1. Leave room - It seems obvious but some people get a little too close when it is not necessary. 5 feet is a good distance that leaves breathing space for other riders. If it is a complete novice you are overtaking, (they always wear yellow jackets at focused ) leave a little more room.
2. If you are overtaking because you have more power or under the brakes do it in a straight line, after you have stood the bike up and before you turn in. The key point is that you need to be on the inside of the rider when you brake. This should be allowed for even if you are trying to get them on the power. EG. If you are coming out of a left hander that is followed by a left hander you always want to be on the inside of the rider you overtaking ie the LEFT. If you are coming out of a left hander that is followed by a Right hander you need to on the inside of the rider for the following corner ie the RIGHT. They reason is that the person you are overatking will be moving to the outside of the track ready for the next corner and will be looking at the next apex. If you are on the wrong side you will not be seen, and in the worst case squeezed off the track onto the grass. This is what happened at Mallory.
3. When you are closing on the slower rider plan the overtake based on the rules explained in 2. Do not sit right behind around a corner you know you are faster in, hang back a little and get the run out of the corner. If you going through a chicance you need to be fast through the 2nd corner, the first does not matter, comprimise your line on the first to be faster out of the second.
If you have not planned anything, and just think "I will go for it", it is probally not going to be a safe clean overtake, at the very least you will scare yourself or the rider you are overtaking.
Hope this helps have fun out there.
3 golden rules
1. Leave room
2. Overtake in a straight line
3. Plan it
1. Leave room - It seems obvious but some people get a little too close when it is not necessary. 5 feet is a good distance that leaves breathing space for other riders. If it is a complete novice you are overtaking, (they always wear yellow jackets at focused ) leave a little more room.
2. If you are overtaking because you have more power or under the brakes do it in a straight line, after you have stood the bike up and before you turn in. The key point is that you need to be on the inside of the rider when you brake. This should be allowed for even if you are trying to get them on the power. EG. If you are coming out of a left hander that is followed by a left hander you always want to be on the inside of the rider you overtaking ie the LEFT. If you are coming out of a left hander that is followed by a Right hander you need to on the inside of the rider for the following corner ie the RIGHT. They reason is that the person you are overatking will be moving to the outside of the track ready for the next corner and will be looking at the next apex. If you are on the wrong side you will not be seen, and in the worst case squeezed off the track onto the grass. This is what happened at Mallory.
3. When you are closing on the slower rider plan the overtake based on the rules explained in 2. Do not sit right behind around a corner you know you are faster in, hang back a little and get the run out of the corner. If you going through a chicance you need to be fast through the 2nd corner, the first does not matter, comprimise your line on the first to be faster out of the second.
If you have not planned anything, and just think "I will go for it", it is probally not going to be a safe clean overtake, at the very least you will scare yourself or the rider you are overtaking.
Hope this helps have fun out there.
Edited by scobby17 on Monday 14th May 21:31
Edited by scobby17 on Tuesday 15th May 09:03
Great post! It's amazing that more oranisers don't go over overtaking rules like yours during the briefing as it would make events so much safer.
I went off on one of my first days because the dick in front of me went up the inside of the guy in front of him right on the apex of Coppice (Donington) and took him out. Both bikes ended up in the middle of the track and I had no choice but to make for the gravel. I was furious, and can only imagine how much more annoyed the guy must have been who had been taken out. It would have been a dumb move in a race, but on a track day . . .
I went off on one of my first days because the dick in front of me went up the inside of the guy in front of him right on the apex of Coppice (Donington) and took him out. Both bikes ended up in the middle of the track and I had no choice but to make for the gravel. I was furious, and can only imagine how much more annoyed the guy must have been who had been taken out. It would have been a dumb move in a race, but on a track day . . .
gethyn said:
Great post! It's amazing that more oranisers don't go over overtaking rules like yours during the briefing as it would make events so much safer.
I went off on one of my first days because the dick in front of me went up the inside of the guy in front of him right on the apex of Coppice (Donington) and took him out. Both bikes ended up in the middle of the track and I had no choice but to make for the gravel. I was furious, and can only imagine how much more annoyed the guy must have been who had been taken out. It would have been a dumb move in a race, but on a track day . . .
I went off on one of my first days because the dick in front of me went up the inside of the guy in front of him right on the apex of Coppice (Donington) and took him out. Both bikes ended up in the middle of the track and I had no choice but to make for the gravel. I was furious, and can only imagine how much more annoyed the guy must have been who had been taken out. It would have been a dumb move in a race, but on a track day . . .
Probably as much to do with richard heads watching BSB the previous weekend and thinking they are it....Trackday, NOT race day...
Another point to note if going out on a first track day is that, on average, novices are so focused on the key skills needed to operate a bike on track that they tend to not see flags or warning lights.
The amount of people overtaking me after the chequered flag went out, in every session, during the Silverstone Easter Monday track day was ridiculous!
Always try and keep an eye out for flags!
The amount of people overtaking me after the chequered flag went out, in every session, during the Silverstone Easter Monday track day was ridiculous!
Always try and keep an eye out for flags!
veetwin said:
Another point to note if going out on a first track day is that, on average, novices are so focused on the key skills needed to operate a bike on track that they tend to not see flags or warning lights.
The amount of people overtaking me after the chequered flag went out, in every session, during the Silverstone Easter Monday track day was ridiculous!
Always try and keep an eye out for flags!
The amount of people overtaking me after the chequered flag went out, in every session, during the Silverstone Easter Monday track day was ridiculous!
Always try and keep an eye out for flags!
Very Good point V2, although stopping for the union jack and performing burnouts did tend to slow people up
Gave this advice after the lunchtime session at Brands in a mini bus as we went around the circuit, all the novices were pleased as that was the first time anyone had told them how to overtake. No off's in the PM session except due to one guy finding his limits.
Started in the novice group, went up to inters just before lunch, fast group after lunch. Put camera's on bike,.................. then lost the front end and fell off.
Not hurt and he knew why, (front brake on) so learnt a lot.
Started in the novice group, went up to inters just before lunch, fast group after lunch. Put camera's on bike,.................. then lost the front end and fell off.
Not hurt and he knew why, (front brake on) so learnt a lot.
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