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The 2nd day of the STAR school started a bit later. The temperatures were a very cool 38F when I got up at 7:30am to attend the class. Thankfully we did a track walk though some turns where Jason Pridmore tried to talk about corner entrances He focused on the fact that running edge to edge is not always the fast way around the track. He pointed out spots where he turns the bike and gets ready to enter the corner. Again, the discussion was very high level and a bit beyond some students I think.

The class room discussions continued to focus on exploring advanced techniques. For example to learn to start trail braking, the suggestion was to focus on turning a bit tighter in corners with a lot of track on the outside. The idea is if you get into trouble you can stand the bike up and still make the turn without going down.

From this point on, the class room discussion continued to focus on what areas people were having troubles. Lots of specific ideas on what to do, and direct suggestions on what Jason does to solve these problems. I felt the suggestions from Jason was the best part, and the ideas that he uses to solve them. These included how he starts learning the track from the inside out and changes he makes as he moves from one bike to another based on power of the bike.

The “Real Class” out on the track was and up and down experience. I decided to stretch before every session, and that was a bit upside as the pain was gone from my knees and I could ride 20+ minutes straight. James Lickwar and I had talked a bit about the suspension feelings I had experienced. I was feeling a slight up and down motion during high speed exits, and James though my rear shock might be fried. James took a few minutes before my first session to push on the bike and felt that the shock was if anything a bit over damped. James also was concerned to get me out on the track in my “Position” when a few students cut in front to follow one of there “Friends” who is also an instructor at STAR. I did not mind and let them go, and went out with another instructor. But James really tried to be fair and let me go first, and apologize about the instructor and the riders. All was good, but I appreciated James concern.

Out on the track I followed and tried to work on everything. The exits to my corners was getting much better and the “wallow” I felt was getting a bit worse. Now understand the “wallow” was not scary, just a bit of suspension motion I had never felt before. Things were improving and I could down shift at the beginning of my braking markers well and The exits I had my grove going on. My shifting of weight back and forth though the corners was going well and I was getting more comfortable in my body position and controlling the bikes though and exiting the turns.

The problem for me was getting the bike slowed down. To be honest, I was getting faster and faster getting to the braking zones, and I was starting to be overcome with fear. My turn entrances were getting worse, and I was starting my braking sooner and sooner to make myself feel safer. After two bad sessions I decided I needed some support, so I waved down the first instructor I could find after exiting the track.

The instructor Corey Neuer got off his bike, and showed definite concern and explained how he would personally follow me and try to help me out. He explained his plan and how he would help me to figure out what was making me so scared under the brakes. I was happy that he was just not “Talking to me” but showed a desire to actually help.

As I got ready to go to my next class room session, Mark Gallardo came up to me and said he wanted to go out and follow me around. Mark had worked on my body position twice the day before. Mark suggested we just go out in the “Street” group and work on my troubles. I had no idea what Mark was planning but I got back on my bike and we went out. Mark took me around the track at a measured pace, and watched me while he rode. Mark’s measured pace was about as fast as I could get around the track, and in many places I could not keep up. Mark would enter corners at speeds that just caused me great levels of fear, and I could not turn the bike in. My exit speeds were good and in sections where I did not have to enter on the brakes, I did very well keeping up with him with some speed reserve to spare.

At the end Mark talked to me about what he observed. Mark was frank that my putting weight on my arms was my problem. He did not say “you should improve”, he told me “That your going to get yourself hurt if you keep doing this”. He suggested more holding on to the tank, to get my body position ready before I got on the brakes. He wanted me to hold onto the bike with my lower body before I got on the binders. Mark explained that the fear I was feeling was the front end pushing and not turning in. This front end push was freaking me out and slowing me down. Mark was strong and to the point and focused on what I needed to do.

Mark also pointed out that my corner exits were very good and that while he was keeping a steady pace, that I gained on him quite well. He was surprised as he said that “Wallow” I was feeling was a progressive slide of the rear tire as I exited. I was happy to get a positive comment on my riding, but the bad stuff had to be worked on.

I had two more session that day to work on what Mark suggested. It was then with the combination of all the lessons the light turned on. I really clamped my lower body down onto the bike before I got on the brakes. The first few times were awkward, but I got it down quickly. And then the world changed for me. I had 5 corners that I had to come in on the brakes, and every one of them was an issue for me. The bracing of myself put an end to the funny feeling under the brakes and on turn in.

The last session everything clicked. I had a better way to brake and hold myself onto the bike now. I was getting in position before my braking zone, I was clamping myself onto the bike, and I was getting my down shifts done at the beginning of my braking zone. The entrance to the turns was a new world for me, as I was going in 3K to 4K higher in the rev band. My exit speeds were so much higher that I had to shift in different places. In a word, it just “Clicked” for me. I was railing around Miller with higher speeds and actually enjoying my time on the track. The fear on the brakes was almost gone (I always am a bit nervous on the binders) and I felt I had taken a step up on my riding. This was reinforced by Corey coming around me on a turn and giving me the thumbs up that I looked good.

As the last session was about to tend, the first and only yellow flag of the whole school came out. One of the fast guys dumped his R6 in a turn I had just gotten the knack of. I took it as a sign that I should come in and enjoy my new level and be happy.

I really loved going to the STAR school. The money I spent covered the cost of one good crash on the track. I feel the STAR staff was able to find some huge riding style problems, and worked to get it fixed.

Riding schools are all about what you put into it. I put into the school the idea that what every they suggested, I would try. Sometimes I did not like the suggestions, but I gave it a try. Not everything worked and I sometimes moved back to old ways. But those old ways did not work well with the faster ways that all the suggestions created for me. So I went back, asked for more help and got it. I asked questions, requested help, and I got a lot out of the school.

If you decide to attend a school like STAR, and I recommend STAR as your school. Go in and don’t know anything. Let them give you drills and suggest things, and give it a go. It took me the whole two days to get everything to click, but it did click. Don’t just expect them to figure out your problem without any input from you. Go and ask for it and say “I need help” and they will help you.

Star School gets 5 stars from me.