Thought I'd throw my bit in too as the Mrs is watching Holby City and that just sucks......your first few track days are quite intimidating and I know what you mean about people passing you very close.....it really takes some getting used to. The track is just another road....you will find that you riding ability is probably pretty good but your nerves are messing with your head and slowing you down.....some tips that might be of use to you......
1. Get away from the group of lads you came with for the first few sessions. You don't need the extra pressure of competing with your mates or the distraction of watching their back wheels or trying to overtake. Forget about getting your knee down...it takes your concentration off the track....it doesn't make you faster, your knee will touch down naturally once you get up to a decent speed.
2. Ignore the other riders who are faster, if they are any good they will get past you easily and safely enough...don't try to chase them when they go past....it's easy to fall into the trap of trying too hard and making mistakes. No matter what your ability there will always be someone faster than you. Get used to being passed and learn not to let it break your concentration or make you stand the bike up. On my last day there was a BSB team doing practice, i usually ride in the fastest 20% of the fast group and they were coming past me like I was going backwards......
3. Your bike is not as fast as you think. If you are road riding you can get past anything easily...on the track you need to think very carefully about where you make your passes, when you make the decision to go you have to be very committed to get past cleanly...
4. Build up your speed over the whole day.....if you scare yourself in the morning you will only go slower as the day progresses.
5. Use the engine.....don't scream the bike, especially if you ride a 1000, try selecting a higher gear than you think you need for a particular corner... the bike will run through the corner smoother and your speed will increase allowing you to "grow into the gear" as the day progresses..
6. Don't ride too close to the guy in front, the novice group is dangerous because there is no guarantee anyone will stick to the racing line, often people in the novice group will brake mid way down the straights too. I got taken out once when a guy lost the front end in a corner and I was about 10 feet behind him, I had to avoid him and hit the gravel.....
7. Grab an instructor and invest some time learning the track and the lines....just hooning round with your mates is fun but you will never actually progress......
Hope some of that helps!
