To Race or not to Race?

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wonderpupp
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To Race or not to Race?

Post by wonderpupp »

Last season I finished 10th out of 21 in my series, rookie season. Overjoyed with that to be honest, as never raced before.

This season, it seems that the people racing are the same people as last year, except for 5 guys in my mid-pack who I had some good battles with. So my racing "buddies" aren't taking part because of this:
The people signed up so far are those who were lapping me/us. Every race. I don't care about being lapped, but when you are promised a championship with no unfair advantages, and you get a bunch of guys who live at the track (literally) and run the racing, scrutineering and their "Standard" bikes are overtaking on the straights, it's a little disheartening. That and the professional racer who join up for a laugh. I'm there to improve myself / my own times. Not boost their egos...

I'm not expecting to win ANYTHING (Except most spectacular crash again, but rather not) but it would be nice to be in with a chance, you know ?

So Should I sign up, pay to get my ass kicked every month, hoping to improve my own times, or just not bother, sell the bike and have a lovely holiday instead.

Would you bother? Or not?
I enjoy the track time, but not if I wont have any buddies to battle with...
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Re: To Race or not to Race?

Post by Mori Man »

Mmmm, got to ask yourself

" In it to win it " - then no , unless you get a toad hot mechanic/tuner.

" In it to hone my skill " - then no, cause your going to be on your own , spend money on track day schools with low numbers and more one to one training.

" In it cause I want to race regardless " - then Yes , your following your passion wether that be at the front or the back , if its what makes you happy the position is irrelevant.

Just my 2p worth :smt002

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Re: To Race or not to Race?

Post by cargo »

I face that question every year...............................

I have a race licence that lets me out in races with some of the very best real road racers in the world........................generally I choose not to and I stick in my own class and have serious fun sometimes I'm on my own with no one to bash fairings with and yes I do get lapped too but when I get that fast flat out corner just right and I'm just skimming the apex thats a brick wall and a line of trees on the exit and heading off to a 100mph jump then the only answer to that question is yes damn fecking right I'll keep on racing......................


Keep at it get your national and go proper road racing.....................no thrill like it in all the world....................
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wonderpupp
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Re: To Race or not to Race?

Post by wonderpupp »

Mori Man, you know your stuff.

And Cansa, I can't afford to go road racing. But I'd LOVE to try it.

I think I shall sign up, pay my membership fees and get the "Compulsory" transponder and pay as I go per round.
The racing is a bit different this year, so instead of 10 laps, it's 8 minutes plus one lap and the final race 10 mins plus 1 lap, like mini endurance races (4 races per meet + 2 morning practice / qualifyings)

It's only pitbike supermoto, but you know, racing is racing, and bikes are bikes.
My goal will be to finish every race in the points. See where we go from there.


- Is it rude to not hang about afterwards for the prizes to clap at the same 3 blokes who finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd EVERY time?
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Re: To Race or not to Race?

Post by sinap »

I used to race pit bikes and would say that the racing is as competative as any bike racing, I raced in the 125 class tuning was allowed but there is very little difference, only 3 or 5bhp,there was also a 140cc and a modified class.
I rode a Monstermoto with a standard engine and managed to come second in the junior and senior British Championships, its all about corner speed this gives you the speed onto the straights, also if you are allowed, use tyre warmers, and Sava supersoft tyres this makes a big difference to those crucial opening laps, if you can get with the front lads early on, you will probably be able to stick with them for longer than you think,
Hope this helps
Si
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Re: To Race or not to Race?

Post by wonderpupp »

sinap,
they are stomp 140s, it's supposed to be stock racing with control tyre, C90 control exhaust and only mods allowed are handlebars. But it just isn't scrutineered properly, so all sorts of little mods pop up here and there. 1/4 turn throttles, bigger cards and red uni filters, etc.
No tyre warmers allowed, and all on Sava mc18 soft or medium tyres, which I have no problem with.

I just know I need more track time, to practice my hanging off further, to improve my corner speed. (I get footpeg scraping a lot on this bike, so I know I can hang off further.)

Still, it's a sunny day tomorrow, so I'll call in sick from work, head out on my er6N and hang off it a lot for some kind of practice. At least the ER6 has some resemblance to a pitbike riding position..

If only I could tarmac my entire garden and ride round all day.
Wait. There's a thought...
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Re: To Race or not to Race?

Post by cargo »

Cant afford to go road racing............no wonder if your phoning in sick to work just cos it's sunny


I cant afford to race either but I work hard do the hours and make sacrifices.



Just depends on how much you want it
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wonderpupp
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Re: To Race or not to Race?

Post by wonderpupp »

cargo wrote:Cant afford to go road racing............no wonder if your phoning in sick to work just cos it's sunny


I cant afford to race either but I work hard do the hours and make sacrifices.



Just depends on how much you want it
Not enough, obviously.
You're my hero.
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