The secret about corners and more!

Hello,
Corners, corners, corners..........There are so many variables to corners as well as the fact that every corner is different. For example a lay over corner(mx) or a upright turn(tree on inside).Lately I have been working with more of Hare Scramble racers, and their cornering. most of them have a fear of laying the bike over. To get over this fear takes practice and confidence in knowing what the bike is going to do. The only way you get over that is by practicing it over and over.
Here are some helpful tips and things to try to make it easier. Once you have finished braking for the turn , put your inside leg out and at the same time slide your butt more forward (to weight the front end) and open up (as I like to call it) your upper body, meaning straighten your elbows up a bit and push your head back off the bars with a slouched (hump) back. Stay square with the handlebars and lay with the bike. By leaning your head into the turn is a good way to get your torso to lay with the bike. I also like to push my outside knee into the tank (to help make bike turn) and at same time push down on outside peg (this will help traction). In the apex of the turn (center), get back on the gas. Be sure to accelerate smoothly out of the corner. If you have to use the clutch to make power, you are in too high a gear. Braking coming into the turn also should be done with out pulling in the clutch. To help you master actuating the brake, before applying brake keep foot an boot inseam tight to the bike over top the brake pedal and apply pressure to brake pedal. This will stop you from mashing on the brake, as you may have did when you would pull in the clutch. Why not pull in the clutch/ When you pull in the clutch you are now free wheeling faster, which means you need to brake even harder now, and with clutch in your more prone lock up the rear wheel which slows down all forward momentum. Plus when you are sliding you are not in much control of the motorcycle. Also very crucial is to be sure that you keep your leg tight to the bike when you put it out for the turn and put it high enough that it does not touch the ground, because if it does it may pull you to the ground. I have covered and mention so many things that need to be done here to lay the bike over for a turn properly and negotiate a mx style corner. The best way to learn all these is to practice them individually and incorporate each one slowly as you master one of them. When you can do it all properly without thinking about it you are on your way. As I said there are so many things I have mentioned here, and some may seem not so important. But its a combination of all these things put together than can take a quarter to half a second off your corner speed. If there are 200-250 turns in a eight mile hare scramble loop or a enduro trail section how much time would that take off your overall lap time or score. The secret is there is no secret, just so many things all put together to make the difference.

We lately at RLR have been very busy with private lessons and by adding a new sponsor to our schools. We are extremely excited to gain Crave Energy Drinks to our school sponsors. Crave was introduced to us by a friend. Its a unique product compared to the other energy drinks on the market. It offers plenty of added energy but not none of the jitters, headache or crash. More important is that it is cheaper. Check out Crave Energy Drink.

Thanks, Rich

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