RIDING
For a New Rider
The rear wheel should be in the centre or back from the centre in its slot. This adjusts traction. The further forward you set the wheel, the more traction but poorer handling, causing the front wheel to wash out on you going into the turn. Having the wheel right back makes it easier to turn and slide but, you get more spin. The centre of the slot is the furthest forward that most riders can manage. If you have the wheel forward of centre in its slot, the machine tends to grab sudden traction and head for the fence, also, you are more prone to "wheelies" at the start.
On the subject of riding position, it is a mistake to believe that a rider is "standing up" on a speedway bike. Many novice riders make the mistake of trying to stand up on the right footrest with their backsides clear of the saddle, with their left foot out which means their legs are apart. This is the worst possible start. Not only does it put a lot of weight on the right footrest (which you don't want when you are learning), but it means that the machine is free to move from side to side between your legs. You will also find that your arms tire quickly as some of your body weight is being supported by your arms.
The position which is easiest and gives the most control is where the right foot remains on the right footrest, but the right thigh muscle is against or across the front of the saddle and by increasing or reducing the pressure on the left foot, the right leg becomes a lever to control the balance of the machine throughout the turns.
A rider viewed from the outside of the track looks like he is stood up, but from the inside of the track, due to the angle of the machine, it looks more as if he is sat on a low stool.
It is by varying the weight on either foot plus upper trunk body movement and throttle control that a rider achieves the balance necessary to overcome centrifugal force, varying traction and changes of direction, irrespective of how he may choose to describe the way he does it.
For a new rider, the easiest and safest way to learn control is to coast to and through the apex of the turns at a speed well within his capability. Then progressively open the throttle as he heads for the next straight. Given sufficient throttle, the rear wheel will automatically swing out and spin, which will give a controlled exit to the turn. The rider can then progressively open the throttle earlier and earlier until he can go 3/4 of the way around the turn from a modest entry speed. Fast entries to the turns should only be attempted when the rider has mastered the previous recommendation and feels he is comfortable and capable of controlling the machine. To enter the turn at high speed is not something that can be done by half measures, consequently, other limitations must be eliminated first.
To learn this technique, come down the straight at full (or near full) throttle, ease off on the straight before starting the turn then, as the machine is laid over for the turn bring on the throttle moderately and progressively. Do not snap the throttle open suddenly or lay the bike into the turn in a sudden jerky movement. If you do, you are courting disaster and even if you are able to control the result, you will be unbalanced. You will have "scrubbed off" far too much speed which in turn will require a greater increase in forward motion to get back up to the speed you should have been at in the first place. If you find you are heading for the fence because you did not get it quite right the first time just lay the bike over more and gently ease up on the throttle. Never close the throttle suddenly while in a slide as this will pitch you "over the top" and break your right collar bone unless you are very lucky. This advice applies to any point during the turn.
An "overslide" (which is the rear wheel too far out) cannot be corrected by suddenly closing the throttle. It is far better to push the bike down on its left side until it is on the ground than to risk going "over the top" (highsiding) or going around nearly 180 degrees and being thrown off backwards.
About the most difficult situation is when you intend to pass a slower rider on the inside with not much space available. As you rush up inside him and catch him up, you find there is not enough room on the inside, and the fear of touching his rear wheel causes some riders to ease up on the throttle. This reduces wheel-spin, increases traction and momentarily increases forward motion. The result is that what was a possibility becomes a probability and a collision occurs which may also bring down the rider that you hit. The thing to do is to rush up in the inside as you originally intended but, if the space is too small, cross the machine up more to scrub off some speed and then just follow that rider until you can pass on the inside or outside, or pass him on the inside on the straight, or if you can't pass him, decide what maneuver to try on the next turn. If that rider is reasonably quick, his rear wheel will stay hung out all the way around the turn and you can sit inside him, maintaining your position and the pair of you will look like a four wheeled sprint car. However, if the rider is an inexperienced or inconsistent rider, watch out! He may straighten up in the turn and squeeze you on the inside so you need to leave about two more feet between the two machines.
On an outside pass, providing the rider you are passing does not get into trouble as you approach or draw alongside, things can go smoothly. However, if you catch a slower rider as you exit from a turn, watch that he does not squeeze you into the fence. In this case you have two possible solutions, one, to ease up on the throttle if there is time and two, to "Cross up" the machine more before your front wheel enters the gap between his rear wheel and the fence, which will "scrub off" a little speed in that manner, and so avoid a collision.
Pt 2 in next post.
