There will come a point in your motorcycle racing journey when you realize just pushing hard with raw aggression is no longer shaving your lap times and your lap times are inconsistent, it may seem impossible to go any faster because you can't find speed anywhere but did you know the professional racer's secret for overcoming this problem? Reference markers.
Reference markers are visual cues that help you plan your line, braking, and acceleration on the track. They can be literally anything from cones, signs, trees, or even shadows on the track. In this blog post, I will explain what reference markers are, how to use them effectively, and how they can make you a faster and safer rider. With reference markers in hand, you can ensure you're well on the way to becoming a smoother and more consistent rider who can accurately gauge himself leading to faster, better, and safer performance!
What You Will Learn:
1. What are Reference Markers and why they are important
Reference markers are visual cues that help you navigate the track and improve your riding performance. They are important because they allow you to plan your braking, turning, apex and exit points, and adjust your speed and position accordingly. Reference markers can also help you avoid mistakes, such as running wide, missing the apex, or losing traction.
Reference markers can be anything that stands out on or near the track, such as cones, signs, trees, buildings, shadows, or even cracks on the pavement. The key is to find reference markers that are consistent and reliable, meaning they don't change or move depending on the weather, lighting, or other factors. You should also look for reference markers that are easy to spot and remember, so you don't have to search for them every lap.
Reference markers are not only useful for beginners but also for experienced riders who want to fine-tune their skills and shave off seconds from their lap times. By using reference markers, you can develop a consistent and efficient riding style that suits your bike and the track conditions. You can also compare your reference markers with other riders and learn from their feedback and tips if they are your competitors they won't likely share their reference markers but you can find out yourself by seeing where they turn, exit, and hit the apex.
To use reference markers effectively, you need to identify them before you enter a corner and keep them in your peripheral vision as you approach them. You should also have a clear idea of what you want to do when you reach them, such as brake, lean, or accelerate. For example, you can use a cone as a braking marker, a sign as a turning marker, a tree as an apex marker, and a building as an exit marker. You can also use multiple reference markers for each corner to fine-tune your line and timing.
However, you should not rely too much on reference markers and forget to look ahead and scan the track. Reference markers are only tools to help you, not rules to follow blindly. You should always be aware of the track conditions, other riders, and your own intuitions which may suggest using different lines instead of following the pre planned one at times. You should also be flexible and ready to adapt your reference markers if they become unavailable or inaccurate. For example, if a cone is knocked over or moved by another rider, you should find another reference marker or adjust your braking point accordingly and not continue using the moved cone!
Some of the benefits of using reference markers are:
- They reduce your mental workload by giving you a clear plan for each corner
- They increase your confidence and consistency by eliminating guesswork and hesitation
- They help you optimize your line and speed by providing feedback on your performance
- They allow you to adjust your strategy according to the track conditions and your competitors
2. Various Reference Markers you can use on Track
- Brake markers: These are usually signs or cones that indicate the distance to the corner. They can be numbered from 1 to 5, with 1 being the closest and 5 being the farthest. You can use them to gauge when to start braking and how hard to brake. For example, if you brake at the 3 marker, you can try braking at the 2 marker next time and see if you can make the corner faster. Many tracks may not have this so you will have to use another object present on the track like a curb, grass, etc and upon reaching the brake marker you start braking.
- Turn-in markers: These are points on the track that signal when to initiate your turn. They can be anything from a curb, a patch of grass, a tire wall, or a change in color. You can use them to align your bike with the desired line and angle for the corner. For example, if you turn in at the curb, you can try turning in at the grass next time and see if you can get a better entry.
- Apex markers: These are points on the track that mark the closest point to the inside of the corner and hitting them will get you an often better line through the corner. They can be anything from a cone, a flag, a pole, or a painted line. You can use them to aim your bike towards the optimal point of the corner and clip it with your knee or front wheel. For example, if you apex at the cone, you can try apexing at the flag next time and see if you can get a tighter line.
- Exit markers: These are points on the track that indicate when to start accelerating out of the corner. They can be anything from a curb, a fence, or a tire in a tire wall. You can use them to align your bike with the desired line and angle for the exit. For example, if you exit at the curb, you can try exiting at the fence next time and see if you can get a better drive.
These are just some of the reference markers you can use on track. The important thing is to be consistent and precise with your reference markers and use them as guides, not rules. Remember, reference markers are not fixed points, but rather ranges that you can adjust depending on various factors such as speed, grip, weather, traffic, etc when you master a set of reference markers for a particular corner thoroughly( executing the perfect corner 4 times isn't enough!), you now move all the reference points closer slightly into the corner further improving your speed and line for that corner and so on.
As a beginner start with only the entry(turn in), apex, and exit markers and then build upon that. As you get more experienced you can add more markers per corner to have an even more accurate analysis of yourself which gets more crucial the higher your skill level goes since every millisecond will count.
3. How to put Reference Markers into use
The first step to using reference markers is to identify them. You can use anything that stands out on the track, such as cones, signs, trees, patches of grass, etc. However, make sure that the reference markers are consistent and reliable and that you can remember them automatically. You don't want to be frantically remembering your reference marker as you are entering the corner. The more you think the less focus you will have on the race and unsurprisingly have a poorer result. For example, don't use a marshal or a spectator as a reference marker, because they might move or change position, and not just that but their movements too could be quite distracting. Inanimate objects are your first and best choice.
On your very first session of any track it is highly suggested to observe the other rider's reference points then find your own and you can find roughly the reference markers for the track.
The second step is to memorize the reference markers for each corner. You can do this by studying the track map, watching videos of other riders, or doing a few slow laps before the session. Try to find at least one reference marker for each of the following points:
- Brake point: where you start applying the brakes before a corner
- Turn-in point: where you initiate the turn by leaning the bike
- Apex point: where you reach the closest distance to the inside of the corner
- Exit point: where you finish the turn and start accelerating
For more advanced riders you can have many more reference markers but first, it is essential to master these.
Start by memorizing 1 corner at a time then move to the next. Trying multiple corners at once will slow down the memorization process.
The third step is to practice using the reference markers consistently and accurately. You can do this by focusing on one corner at a time, and repeating it until you feel comfortable and confident. If possible you can ask a mashall at a specific corner to place a camera of yours that will record you as you pass. Then when you are back at the pit you can view the footage and see your deficiencies. This is a crucial habit every rider who wants to improve seriously or become a professional must do.
Try these when executing your corners smoothly using reference markers:
- Look ahead and scan for the next reference marker as soon as you are close enough to the previous one and your line is sure to cover the marker. Do not target fixate on your reference markers they can cause a bad crash.
- Use your peripheral vision to see the reference markers without fixating on them
- Adjust your reference markers according to your speed, skill level, and track conditions
- Experiment with different reference markers and see what works best for you. If possible Choose a large, visible, contrasting inanimate constant object from which you can choose the next marker that has a manageable increment in distance. Don't jump a marker to another with a large distance like a meter or more.
FAQ Section
Q: What are reference markers?
A: Reference markers are visual cues that help you determine when to brake, turn, apex, and exit a corner. They can be anything on or near the track, such as cones, signs, trees, shadows, patches, etc. Reference markers help you maintain a consistent and optimal line around the track, as well as improve your speed and safety.
Q: Why are reference markers important?
A: Reference markers are important because they allow you to focus on the next corner instead of guessing where to go. They also help you avoid target fixation, which is when you stare at an obstacle or another rider and end up crashing into them. By using reference markers, you can plan your corner entry and exit in advance, and adjust your speed and position accordingly.
Q: How do I find reference markers?
A: Finding reference markers is a skill that requires practice and observation. You can start by looking for obvious features on the track, such as cones, signs, or painted lines. Then, you can look for more subtle features, such as changes in pavement color, texture, or elevation which if you find difficult don't take the smaller reference points. You can also use other riders as reference markers, especially if they are faster or more experienced than you. However, be careful not to blindly follow them or copy their mistakes.
Q: How do I use reference markers?
A: Using reference markers is a matter of timing and precision. You need to know when to look for them, when to reach them, and when to move on to the next one. For example, if you are approaching a corner, you need to look for a braking marker that tells you when to apply the brakes. Then, you need to look for a turning marker that tells you when to initiate the turn. Next, you need to look for an apex marker that tells you where the tightest point of the corner is. Finally, you need to look for an exit marker that tells you when to accelerate out of the corner. By following these steps, you can use reference markers effectively and efficiently.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have learned what reference markers are and how to use them effectively on the track. Reference markers are visual cues that help you plan your line, braking, turning, and acceleration points. They are essential for improving your lap times, consistency, and safety. We have also discussed various types of reference markers that you can use, such as cones, curbs, signs, and more. Finally, we have shared some tips on how to put reference markers into practice, such as scanning ahead, memorizing the track layout, adjusting your markers according to your speed and skill level, and reviewing your performance after each session.
We hope you have enjoyed this blog post and found it useful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below and share it with a rider who'd benefit from markers❤️.
Faster. Better. Safer.
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