What to do when there is a slower rider in front of you?

Towards the middle-to-end of my time in the Novice group,  I found myself quickly raising my hand to be in group one.  Group one typically carries the fastest pace of all the groups, with most riders in that group looking to get bumped to intermediate. 

This was a far departure from my group four days where I nearly pissed myself because of how fast I interpreted we were going. You can read about that here.  😅

The first couple of Novice sessions involves playing follow-the-leader out on track. Meaning each group rider follows the rider in front, with no passing unless directed by your group coach. We each take a turn at the front to be closest to the coach to see the lines more clearly and observe the coach's lines.  

In one of these sessions, I was positioned as the 2nd bike back from the coach, with one rider in front of me. As we got going I could quickly see this person in front of me was not comfortable with the track.  

I found myself braking earlier and harder than I normally would avoid running into the back to them. I momentarily became consumed with trying to push them faster with my mind, saying in my head, "Please just go, there is no need to brake here, look how far ahead the coach is..". 

I couldn't have been more wrong or embarrassed now to share this story. 😔

Coming in from the session, I was expecting the rider to get moved down a group. Instead, a coach behind us had seen my behavior and rightfully called me out on it. I was never going to make that rider go faster, so instead of spending my session slowing down working on my fundamentals, I wasted the seat time. 

Since that moment, over three years ago I never put down another rider for being slower on the track. At one point in time, we've all have been and will be the slower rider to others.

Instead, this is an opportunity to learn, to teach, and help out a fellow rider on the track. What benefit does it to me to spook the person in front of me, or worse cause a wreck that at minimum costs $$, or at worst somebodies well being. 

Slow down, give them room and focus on your fundamentals, 

• Making mental notes of turn-in points, apex, and exits, 
• How's your vision, keeping your eyes looking where you want to go vs where you are. Minimizing eye saccades to give your brain as much information as possible, 
• Are you staying loose on the bars, to your body position on the bike itself, 
• How smooth can you apply maintenance throttle, to full throttle on exit, 
• The list goes on and on.. 

This is just not at the Novice level. The risks are amplified I feel at the advanced level. While generally safer with everyone proven to be at a certainly capable riding ability, comfortable with close passes and higher speeds, we're still human. 

Of course, if a rider is severely off the pace within an intermediate or advanced group, the speed disparity could be unexpected, causing a hazard. Either way, something to be mindful of while out there.

At the end of the day, a track day is not a race. You won't be given a trophy, it's you against you, and if you have to wait for a few turns or a lap to safely get around somebody so what? 

Take a lap to follow that person, maybe they're on a lesser cc bike, or maybe they just got bumped and are freaking out.

Whatever the reason... look at them as a brother and or sister in the family, that it's you're job is to take care of them, keep them safe and ensure we all get to enjoy this kick-arse sport of riding a motorcycle around a race track! ❤️