Well I finally got out on a good track day for the first time this year and finally got to use my new lap timer. Once I got comfortable I turned up the pace as best I could and "thought" I was turning so pretty decent laps.

Well the next session I got behind one of the pace riders / instructors who was very fast and smooth. I kept up with him as best I could and followed his line. I really didnt feel like I was going as fast as I had in the prevous sessions but when I came in I was shocked to find out I was a FULL 3 Seconds faster following the instructor than I had been earlier.

The next session I tried as hard as I could but I could not match that time trailing the intructor on my own even when I felt I was going WAAAY faster, breaking harder, accelerating harder, higher corner speed etc.

Only thing that comes rite to mind is the instructor was way smoother than I am normally which added up to a faster lap ??? Any other ideas?

 

its fairly common to go faster while following somebody faster than you, you force yourself to push (sometimes beyond your limits) to keep up, often its simple stuff like being at full throttle sooner exiting corners or moving your brake markers a little further forward or as you said, it could just be smoothing things out that did it

 

+1

Work on being smooth... speed will come all on its own.

 

It's funny but when I am relaxed and not trying as hard (usually when I am not following someone) I run faster and a whole lot smoother. The smoother you are the faster you will become. When trying to keep up with someone people usually overextend themselves mentally and crash so be careful with that. Stay relaxed and smooth and you will surprise yourself.

 

Agreed, I think I get caught up in trying to go as fast as I can and dont transition as smoothly between the different parts of the track and end up over working myself and the bike.