PHOTOS: SIMON CUDBY
PHOTOS: SIMON CUDBY
e’ve talked about setup on a flat straightaway, but I want to highlight a trick that’s helpful for turn setup when there’s an obstacle between turns— in this case, a 180-degree left-hander followed by a small tabletop, then a 90-degree right-hander. Theoretically speaking, we always want to open turns up and make them wider, which allows us to carry more speed. In this case, since the left is very tight, we take extra time to exit the turn toward the left and then use the jump to start the direction change on the bike, making the right a wider radius that we can move through with more speed. As always, racing surface will dictate line choice, but given the option, this can be a time-saver.
Entering the turn as usual, remember to be patient. The time you lose setting up will be more than made up on the following turn.
As the bike hits the apex, remember to be smooth on the controls as you begin to apply throttle, focus on exiting the turn tight, and look ahead as much as possible.
Look where you want to go; the bike will follow.
Even if the rut or berm fades right, keep turning the bike and exit the turn tight.
When you get to the jump face you will actually still be heading to the left. Don’t freak out.
When you leave the ground, start leaning to the right and let the back end of the bike rebound to the left. This sounds difficult, but once you get a feel for it, you’ll find that it just happens. You’ll make a transition in the air from aiming left off the track to pointing back to the inside of the next turn. The direction you were facing as you left has now set you up on the outside of the track, but heading in the direction you want to go.
As you land, keep looking ahead to the next turn and where you want to go. Because you are already pointed right, you can begin applying throttle and accelerate through the turn.
Entering the turn as usual, remember to be patient. The time you lose setting up will be more than made up on the following turn.
As the bike hits the apex, remember to be smooth on the controls as you begin to apply throttle, focus on exiting the turn tight, and look ahead as much as possible.
Look where you want to go; the bike will follow.
Even if the rut or berm fades right, keep turning the bike and exit the turn tight.When you get to the jump face you will actually still be heading to the left. Don’t freak out.When you leave the ground, start leaning to the right and let the back end of the bike rebound to the left. This sounds difficult, but once you get a feel for it, you’ll find that it just happens. You’ll make a transition in the air from aiming left off the track to pointing back to the inside of the next turn. The direction you were facing as you left has now set you up on the outside of the track, but heading in the direction you want to go.As you land, keep looking ahead to the next turn and where you want to go. Because you are already pointed right, you can begin applying throttle and accelerate through the turn.
