TARMAGO

Technique • Motorcycles on track

Track riding guide

One session, one focus. From vision to reference points, understand the techniques before chasing a lap time.

Choose your focus

Vision on a motorcycle trackday

See what comes next while staying aware of what is happening around you.

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Body position on the motorcycle

Stay available at the controls, rather than posing for a knee-down photograph.

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Lines and the apex

A good entry prepares what happens after the corner.

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Braking on track

Prepare a controlled entry instead of trying to brake as late as possible.

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Trail braking into a corner

Understand the principle without treating it as a recipe to try alone.

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Accelerating out of a corner

Prepare the exit before asking more of the engine.

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Reading the track and finding references

Prepare your decisions without riding from memory with your eyes closed.

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Understanding the technique

Back in the paddock, do you feel you have done a lot without knowing what changed? This guide helps you frame a precise question before the next session. It covers vision, body position, lines, braking, trail braking, acceleration and reference points. The goal is not to imitate a professional racer: it is to understand what you want to improve, one thing at a time.

Why it matters on track

Control inputs cannot be separated from the track: line choice depends in part on what comes before and after a corner. A problem felt at the exit may therefore call for a review of the entry rather than more throttle. The lines guide explains this relationship without prescribing a line that works everywhere.[4]

Mistakes to avoid

Avoid turning every lap into a test of every technique. Do not use the fastest time in your group as a practice programme. Do not apply a foreign school’s passing rules to your trackday: ask about the rules at the briefing. Reading a text is not enough to validate a skill, particularly one combining braking and lean angle.[1][6]

Building it progressively

Choose one focus and a corner where you feel comfortable. Before heading out, describe what you want to observe, without a speed target. Ride in your assigned group and progress without putting yourself in danger, always leaving margin for other riders and signals. Afterwards, note what was clear and what you still need to understand. Keep the same focus without rushing; no fixed duration or number of trackdays guarantees learning.

What you can check with Tarmago

Use the circuit notes to keep continuity between trackdays. The gaps and splits in the lap analysis in our telemetry tools can reveal inconsistency, but cannot explain its cause or certify your safety. The GPS-speed-coloured trace helps locate the area concerned. To prepare the motorcycle and your day, consult the gearing calculator, the SAG calculator, the tyre pressure calculator, the track flags guide and the preparation checklist. These tools do not choose your line or your margin for you.

In our telemetry tools, lap analysis shows lap-by-lap times, gaps, splits with the best highlighted in red and a GPS-speed-coloured trace. Add your observations to the circuit notes, corner by corner. Review this information in the paddock, never as a distraction on track. GPS measurements do not show your gaze, brake-lever pressure or throttle opening.

Detailed analysis in our telemetry tools (speed curve, ideal lap and lap comparison) is part of the paid Tarmago+ plan.

Frequently asked questions

Which technique should I start with?

Start with a difficulty you can describe. The vision and reference-point guides help you explain what you see and where you make decisions. Choose a familiar corner and do not try to change everything in the same session.

Should I learn trail braking on my own?

No: this guide explains a principle, not an unsupervised exercise. Ask for a demonstration and coached progression suited to your motorcycle, ability and conditions. Your group’s name does not certify your technique.

Technical references

These references support principles, not universal instructions for your motorcycle. The practice suggestions and textbook position are Tarmago editorial guidance, separate from the sourced passages. Adapt them to your situation, progressing at a pace that preserves your margin. Your organiser’s rules take precedence over those of the schools cited.