Dave Sadwoski training

[China_Racer_1]

I just got back form three days of training with Dave Sadowski in Zhu hai China at the F-1 track. It’s a 14 turn course that reaches top speed of about 285 kilometers an hour. (Divide by 1.6 t figure out miles per hour).
Our course concentrated on the proper line but mostly on cornering techniques.
I dropped my time by nearly 6 seconds a lap after applying what I had learned. And this was not at anything close to race speed we went about 70% effort to make sure we were doing the techniques correct and not in full panic mode.
The end of the straight a way you got for mal lout 6th to 3rd and a nice right hander. Lots of hard hard, hard, hard braking on this course. Getting up to 130 mph then dropping in to a hair pin.
My wrists and grip is shot t hell right now. The benefits of squeezing the tank with the legs, stiffening the arms and positioning the foot on the pegs to resist the G forces al came in to play s you would not wear yourself out…… it took me two days to get that all mastered.

Body position was one of my biggest issues and I finally got it down after three days of Dave kicking my ass ha ha. Sadowski is so fast you can not even imagine. It’s a bit disheartening to me hanging off out of a corner going 90 mph and having him go by in a full wheelie to the next corner… full throttle excelling like I was standing still.
I got pics and vids on the way.
Right now. I am beat to shit after three days of riding. I think I logged in about 5 solid hours of ass time on the track.
I was given a Kawi 636 for the weekend which is an amazingly great handling machine and we spent time setting up the proper suspension on the riders bikes which helped immensely as well.
Will get pics t you as soon as I can get them form the reporter I befriended (The event was covered by a Hong Kong Motorcycle magazine. I will link you up to that when the article comes out.

Cheers
China Racer 1

[megaloxana]

That sounds pretty intense man. Glad you got some pictures and videos or you would have gotten an fzronline beatdown!
What year 636 were you riding? 03/04 or 05/06?

[95FZR600]

Sweet. You learned a lot then. Your ready to win some races this year? I hope you bring home the trophy. It sounds like your sore? To say the least.

[China_Racer_1]

"Sweet. You learned a lot then. Your ready to win some races this year? I hope you bring home the trophy. It sounds like your sore? To say the least."

Yes I am a bit sore but not too bad. Just a lot of work over three days. Mostly tired from lack of proper sleep from traveling so much back and forth.

I thought I would be beat up today but I am surprisingly in good nik. My upper thighs are painless but I am feeling a bit sore in the tricepts.

On the small track locally the upper legs take a real beating. This larger longer straight track gives you some rest time where the local one does not.

I think being on such a fast track and then jumping down to the local track will be a great benifit. Isee just how fast I can go through these corners now and plan to kick some serious ass this coming season.

Talked to my three sponsors and they are all on board and ready to go.
Right now, life is good.

[ragedigital]

On the small track locally the upper legs take a real beating. This larger longer straight track gives you some rest time where the local one does not.

My legs were toast the day after our last full track day. The track at Gatway is short and you're off the seat almost the entire time, so while the excitement/nervousness of riding fast on the track obscures the pain, you really feel it the next day. I could hardly walk!

[China_Racer_1]

This is a long read

Training course wrap up report
Day one was not part of the course. I went a day early as I had never been to the track before in Zhuhai (Pronounced “Jew-hi”)
Dave Sadowski - AKA ‘SKI’ had been there a day or so already and was likewise getting a feel for the course.
The Zhuhai track is a tad over 4 kilometers which is about 2.5 miles long. It has 14 turns a few of them are actually dog legs and three of them are pretty hairy. Two being hairpins one decreasing a bit one increasing a bit but hair pin none the less.

I got a day in with him for free basically as when I was riding he would signal me to follow him and show me the race line he was using.
He gave me tips all day and when the training started on Saturday I was a leg up, I felt.

One thing though was I was totally not used to the speed at this track.
I love speed, of course, but I have been at this little track near my home for so long I forgot what real speed was. 200 KM/H vs.280 KM/H (divide by 1.6 for mph )is a bigger stretch than I thought it was going to be.

Day one of the training course (Day two for me) was a lot of theory and how to go through the corners. What you needed to do, when you needed to do it and what your rider input was doing to the bike. Bike set up came in to play quite a bit as well.
It started to open my eyes to how efed up my technique really was.

I had a big issue with body position which I have had a battle with all last season as well. Knowing this I chose to ignore that issue for a while and work on Ski’s method to approach and get the race line and timing down as best I could so it was more automatic and not so thought out.
There was little time to think when at that speed entering a corner 1/3 the entry speed. Heavy breaking to say the least. So trained response more like a reflex move was needed.
I was one of the slowest in the course but this was by choice. While everyone else was going full bore and trying to apply what they learned I went intentionally about 60% -70% of what I felt I was capable.

My regular coach, Kareem Fe (Ex Moto GP 125 Racer), was wondering what I was doing and I explained I was working it out in my head. He understood and left me alone with my own thoughts.

I feel this method paid off as I never felt rushed or scared shitless in a corner. I just worked out where I had to be when I had to do things and how much input to give the bike.
I had brought a new rider to the course as well who literally had no idea how to ride a motorcycle. We taught him to use the clutch and change gears on Fridays open practice. I think he mentioned he shifted before on a quad runner but he was as green as they come.

Andrew was his name and he crashed at least three times and ran off the track once. Made some outstanding saves and by the end of the week he was able to keep up to my 70-% pace. He was insane with race lust and was given a HRC works bike for the last session to get him hooked.
He loved it and due to his ability and skill he was offered a ride in the Chinese superbike series as a new rider. Basically he went from not knowing shit to getting a sponsor in three days. Simply amazing. Totally fearless in the corners.

I have to share one of his saves with you as I know I could never have pulled this off. Ski was beside himself as it happened right in front of him.
Andrew came in to a corner hot. The rider in front of him had hit the brakes a bit harder than Andrew thought he would.
Andrew grabbed a handful of front brake, upset the bike and pitched himself of the right side. He had his left leg hanging on the seat, his left hand holding the triple clamp his face literally inches from the ground with his right hand on the ground grinding his new race gloves.

I think he realized this was not the place to be as he miraculously climbed back of the bike somehow and recovered enough to attempt to not hit the rider who was now - danger close. He bumped the riders rear wheel and went off the track but kept it upright for the most part until he hit the gravel.
While he did a hard ride off, the recover off the face plant was all the talk as Dave was leading the fast group around and they all saw it. With all the 6 cameras we had mounted on various bikes no one caught it on film. Such a shame as it would have been on TV for sure in “Worlds Most Amazing Videos”.

Andrew is 17 and has been totally bitten by the race bug. His skill is natural and pure and his style is spot on. I hope he takes this as far as he can. Ski mentioned he felt he could train him up to World superbike level eventually. That’s saying something.

Oh and we also started him off with GP shifting as he did not even know street shifting, so now its just natural to him.
Andrews comments at the end of the session were related to how relaxing and flicking and sticking the bike was essential. He also commented that despite the crashes he actually enjoyed them and thought sliding across the road with sparks flying off his titanium Berik leathers was kind of cool….. ah to be young again.

As for me I had my best sessions on the last day last two session. I pulled what I learned together and dropped a quick 6 seconds off my lap time. Not hard to do as I was not pushing it in the first place but I felt great, better than great, I felt relaxed confident and had enough info to really open my eyes.

Ski talked to me on the side about my riding style before the last session, Kareem signaled me in the pits and tutored me pit side mid session and the last two laps were pure bliss hanging off like never before dragging around the corners relaxed and confident in my new found knowledge.

I am not sure if Dave Sadowski will be teaching in the USA in the future as I have no knowledge of his plans, but if you get a chance to attend a training course with him I would highly recommend it. His style is frank and to the point with a huge amount of usable input not only about on the track events but also in the bike set up.
I talked toe eh magazine reporter today and pictures of me will be on eh way next week as he shot thousands of them over the two day course and needs to sort through them all as well as write his article.

Somewhere is a video of me coming out of one of the hairpins and pulling the font end up for a bit.
When it happened I though, “Man, this is what it’s all about!” I was not nervous t al and by the courses end I felt comfortable doing this in a few of the corners where its not only possible its pretty much the fast way to exit and set up for the next turn by moving your body weight in a wheelie to shift the bikes balance.

I came back to work yesterday and looked at my Hybrid FZR in a whole new light. The way I wanted it set up and how I plan on riding it now. A few minor changes are in order.

Speaking of which I picked up a new sponsor today to help me complete all my machining that needs to be done for the F3 wheel in the 3TJ swing arm swap as well as the spacers for the 400 wheel with the f2 wheel and a few other things that need to get reworked.
I already got proper spacers made for the rear sets to sit out a bit and not hit the swing arm.

Ok I know that was a long read but it was a long weekend.

First race is in Zuhai on March 21st weekend,
Second is in Shanghai on May1st with a possibility of going to the Shanghai Formula one circuit somewhere in between. We also met with the local track manager today and confirmed my sponsors role in the upcoming season so al seems to be going as planned.

Pics will be posted when I get them of course. Sorting through video now and trying to figure out how to get it to You tube. Will get a few links up for that as well. Stay tuned.

STEVE aka China_Racer_1

[ragedigital]

So, is Andrews family rich? At least in the states that's how a no name, new rider would acquire track time on a new bike. The very reason my kids will not be on the track until they can afford it themselves.

[megaloxana]

The Andrew story is pretty crazy. Why don't we ever hang out Steve?!? damn. Anyway did you push yourself to the full 100% on the last day?
Any general tips you can share with the rest of us on setting up our bikes?

[China_Racer_1]

Andrews’s family has money but it was his un canny skill not money that got the ride.
Here is what happened. I went to my kids career day to talk about racing and how there are so many professions that it takes to get a bike and rider on the track, designers engineers etc etc. Adam was in the class and asked how to get started I told him to drop me an email. A month and a half later he did. I have a spare bike and told him if he bought the safety gear he could use my spare bike as a trainer.

Then if he really liked it he can go get his own bike and do his own thing. This way I encourage him to try it and see if he likes it.

So his parents and I talked and they gave him permission to try it out and bought him new leathers boots helmet gloves etc.

Then he went with me to the class. Only way he got in as this was a bit of an advanced class was he was with me. I am an instructor and asked my coach if he could sit in on the class and see what was what.

Much to our shock he went ape shit and rode better than 1/3 of the class. It was pure raw talent simple as that. They gave him the HRC bike for a 30 minute session to see what he could do. Then talked to him after the weekend was wrapped up.

Update on that is he needs a Chinese passport to ride in the Chinese Superbike Series. His mom is from Taiwan his dad from Dallas TX. They both said no efen way on the Taiwan papers as if he registers in Taiwan he needs to do 2 years in the Taiwan military mandatory so he can not take the offer on the Superbike series ride. Too bad , but there are a few local races he can get in on and we are setting that up now.

Regarding me on the last day. No I never went 100% on the last day. I don’t think hardly anyone did. We all wanted to just apply what we learned and then go back to our home tracks and try out what we learned there. It was a pure training session. No stress no competition.

I went about 80% in the last session and felt like I was doing so much less than I was capable of.
Tips learned Ok here it goes:
Thinking a way through a corner vs using your balls is the way to go.
Connect the dots – come down the straight and totally focus on you turning point. That is the spot in the track where you will actually flick the bike. DON’T look at the apex or corner at all just right at that spot. Use your peripheral vision to know where you are on the track while focusing on the spot and when you get to the right spot roll off the throttle, ease on the brakes then harder then harder then hit it really hard. Pinch with your legs to put less stress on the upper body.

Never let off the brakes fully you will hear a zizzing sound if your just barely on the brakes to the apex. This is what you want.

The front end stays loaded a bit this way and your contact patch stays fuller. If you go screaming in and jam the brakes then let off what you actually are doing is loading the front end and ballooning out the tire for a large contact patch but most people then 100% let go of the brakes and you reduce the contact patch to ½ what you had going in and result in a tucked front end if your not careful.

Try the above method and notice how much better the bike feels. As you approach the apex thumb the throttle (Your using two fingers on the brake while you do this) it cleared the fuel that’s been gathering since you rolled off. Then at the apex ease on the throttle and depending on the corner hit it hard as you can.

On a hard turn you can wheelie a bit (even a little helps) and pitch your body to the inside and it helps turn the bike.

Stay hung of a bit more than usual and get the bike upright for hard drive out. This allows for a large contact patch while your body keeps it in the turn hanging off.

If you have a tight turn get on the throttle a bit sooner when the bike is still leaned just a bit now, and the bikes revs come up quicker as you are on the edge of the tire which is smaller in diameter then the middle of the tire thus the tire spins at a faster rate and you rpm’s climb quick. Try this it works great for a hard drive out.

Adjust you r levers sitting up, arms extended the levers should be in line with your arms so your hands are not bent back. You brake when sitting up not in a full tuck so make it so and it will put less stress and ware and tear on the wrists.

BREATH! Often the excitement is too much and your breathing is hindered. Find spots on the track and take huge gulps of air in purposely and forcefully to fill your lings straights are the place for this.

When you don’t get air you brain tires and you can also get crams tire brain and cramps = bad day at the race.

Tighten the controls but not balls out tight . make it so they are tight but enough slack so in a crash you can have them move out of position but not brake off. Better to take a moment and twist the levers back in place than to be out of the race with a broken lever.

I got to run to work more later

[95FZR600]

Steve, you are living a dream for sure. I have been reading all your posts and wish you lots of luck this year.

Sounds like you made that boys day for sure and I hope he is able to stick with it.

Good luck again!

[China_Racer_1]

hi

Here is a pic of me near the end of the course. Is that a shit eating grin on my face?

[ragedigital]

Nice photo and great positioning.

WARNING - BODY POSITIONING LECTURE!!!!!

Most people hang their butt of the bike and leave their chest over the top of the bike. That's not the way to do it. Your whole body has to be off like Steve's. Put your head where the mirror is. It's a strange feeling the first couple corners and it's tiring, but it pays off with you and your bike being able to take the corner and come out of it without a scratch.

A great pic of Ben Spies from the front:

[haunter]

very nice steve


good to see you doing what some of wish we could...

[megaloxana]

Yeah you definatly look like you're having a ton of fun.

Very jealous, not only because you're a skilled rider, but because you get to go to the track and you got to ride on a 636.

[China_Racer_1]

Rage your right about the body position. Prior to the last two sessions I had not worked much on it. Lucky I got a pic snapped after I started to work on positioning. before I did just what you were saying. I got my ass off but not enough of my upper body.

Still need to work on it more but it makes a big differance for sure.

The rest of you guys Iwant to say thanks for teh support adn comments. I really am loving life right now and hope that me sharing my racing with you is nto considered boasting.

I jsut want to share how much fun it is with you and hope to encourage some of you to get to the track and drag a knee instead of the street. Much safer and more fun.

The 636 handled quite well. I was surprised it handled abotu as well as my Yamaha R6 lots of smooth roll on power as well. I had a honda in the practice on Friday and gave it up. The whole bike jsut felt bad to me and I pted to get on the 636 which I had never been on one prior and took my chances. I am quite happy with the choice.

But fear not none of them will handle as well as the R-4 hybrid I am building Mwahahahahahahaha.

and always remember "Friends don't let friends drive Hondas"