So I was watching a Moto America race on TV the other day. Truly enjoyed it but less the commercial breaks though. During one of those commercial breaks, there was one of a more or less renowned motorcycle racing school, which appeared to me to operate more on the smarter edge. I’m not to shy to admit that I was wrong…
Fancy production, but still on the cheesy side they explained how Trail Braking works. Goal is to ‘appear samaritan’- but you figure quick that the actual goal is to showcase that they actually teach to Trail Brake in their school. That’s the truth. However, that’s not my problem. What bothers me at this point is, that they blasting critical information with a wide spread shot to riders who mostly NOT READY for such skill yet. Trail Braking separates the men from the boys. This is a skill to be mastered only when other physical skill subjects are sitting well enough and habits are successfully removed beforehand.
What the problem is
You also can’t just drop off only a fraction of the full scoop to a wide spread of people and leave the rest to ‘figure out’. Do Trail Braking wrong and it can turn to a death trap. Quite a risky move on their end if you ask me. To Trail Brake, lots of things will have to be adjusted under control. Only then you can move into it. Trail Braking goes way beyond physical capabilities.
This technique demands a solid range of ‘mental coolness’. This can freak most riders out, because throttle, brake, clutch and shifting procedures are different then what MOST riders have learned over years. Change all this and more while you go way faster into turns under Trail Braking could also trigger to panic. Your eyes and brain are not trained and ready for this yet (mental coolness) and that will be the biggest problem.
Things have to be unlearned to be able to learn. Mental coolness has to be established to be able to try and master.
Spreading these information without all of the above is almost like a half-way-instruction on how to climb Mount Everest without a guide. Now how many pairs of ears and eyes who’ve seen that commercial are even capable to climb Mount Everest in the first place… especially when there is no guide?!
Smart move!
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
