TARMAGO

Technique • Motorcycles on track

Vision on a motorcycle trackday

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

Understanding the technique

Working on vision means organising the information you gather: the corner’s direction, the visible exit, track conditions and other riders. Looking ahead does not mean staring at a distant point. Viewing distance and scanning need to suit your speed and the situation; counting a universal time interval is no substitute for adapting.[2]

Why it matters on track

Information noticed late leaves less time to decide. Staying fixed on the apex, meanwhile, stops you updating what is happening further ahead. Vision prepares decisions; it does not steer the motorcycle by magic or make up for an unsuitable entry speed.[2]

Mistakes to avoid

Staring at the rider ahead, waiting to reach one marker before looking for the next, or looking only far away can leave part of the situation outside your attention. Do not confuse locating the exit with ignoring flags or traffic. Prepare what you want to see rather than repeating where not to look.[2]

Building it progressively

Choose a simple, open corner where you feel comfortable. In your group, at a comfortable pace, try to recognise the next part of the turn without dwelling on one marker. Do not change braking or body position at the same time. Afterwards, describe where you lost the sequence. If you feel overwhelmed or visibility does not allow the exercise, stop rather than force it. Your progression must leave you able to watch traffic and flags.

What you can check with Tarmago

Write a note for the corner: “noticed the exit late” or “stared at the rider ahead”. The gaps and splits in the lap analysis in our telemetry tools can reveal inconsistency worth reviewing, but do not identify its cause. Neither a GPS trace nor a speed reading can verify where your eyes were looking.

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

Should I always look a fixed number of seconds ahead?

This guide gives no fixed duration. Speed, visibility and the amount of information change how you need to look. In a familiar corner, gradually practise shifting attention from one reference to the next, at a pace that always leaves you a margin.

Can a GPS trace validate my vision?

No. It locates your movement and recorded speed, not your gaze. Use it to find the section and make your notes more precise, without inferring where you were looking.

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.