I spent yesterday at our first 2011 track event in the rain. I generally don't ride in the wet but yesterday was the required school for new novice racers so there was no playing hookie.
I spent the entire day on the mighty gixxer shod with none other than Dunlops infamous Q2's. While these tires offer better wet traction than DOT race tires, they are far inferrior to genuine rain tires. Since most of the novice racers was on rain tires I was like a one legged man at an arse kickin contest trying to hang with these guys. Since I'm the only instructor on the team that doesn't have a race number I left the novice guys on rains to the instructors who all were on rains and I stuck with the guys on DOT tires. I'm just not interested in spending $400+ on rain tires to use once or twice a year.
What I realized by spending the entire day in the wet, is a track day now and then will definately hone your skills on both Throttle and Brake control. The rain forces one to deal with limited traction with an actual prize for the bloke who ignores mother natures requirments, the dreaded "Crash"! The mighty gixxer would spin the rear at will and definately keep your attention.
If you are interested in polishing your skills with both Throttle and Brake, visit your local track on a wet soggy day. I'm not sure of any other method in order to teach one the importance of throttle and brake control. By wet practice you'll be much more prepared to control spin in all circumstances.
The track season has finally arrived in much of the country so get your bums out for a ton of fun and join the addiction. No matter your level of skill, you will improve by injecting a few track days into your season of riding! Add a wet day and you'll see a substantial increase in Throttle and Brake control.
I spent the entire day on the mighty gixxer shod with none other than Dunlops infamous Q2's. While these tires offer better wet traction than DOT race tires, they are far inferrior to genuine rain tires. Since most of the novice racers was on rain tires I was like a one legged man at an arse kickin contest trying to hang with these guys. Since I'm the only instructor on the team that doesn't have a race number I left the novice guys on rains to the instructors who all were on rains and I stuck with the guys on DOT tires. I'm just not interested in spending $400+ on rain tires to use once or twice a year.
What I realized by spending the entire day in the wet, is a track day now and then will definately hone your skills on both Throttle and Brake control. The rain forces one to deal with limited traction with an actual prize for the bloke who ignores mother natures requirments, the dreaded "Crash"! The mighty gixxer would spin the rear at will and definately keep your attention.
If you are interested in polishing your skills with both Throttle and Brake, visit your local track on a wet soggy day. I'm not sure of any other method in order to teach one the importance of throttle and brake control. By wet practice you'll be much more prepared to control spin in all circumstances.
The track season has finally arrived in much of the country so get your bums out for a ton of fun and join the addiction. No matter your level of skill, you will improve by injecting a few track days into your season of riding! Add a wet day and you'll see a substantial increase in Throttle and Brake control.