I had forgotten just how much fun it can be to have the track ALL to yourself. You can do whatever you want. Focus just on one corner, running back and forth until you have it down.
I got some time at Sandia a couple of weekends ago. It was just myself and one other person. I went out with Kelcey to mark some points along the track for drills for the New Racer School and for the track days. We walked the track talking about the unique issues that is has. I hadn’t done that in a couple of years. It was a good reminder of why I needed to be in certain spots on the track. The best example of that is the Std Config turn #2, there is a bump coming off the large oval that if you are on the brakes as you go over it. You will unload the bikes suspension and end up riding the front tire right off the track. I’ve actually done just that my first year racing and so have a number of other racers. Our previous NRD fractured his pelvis doing just that.
It took about an hour of playing for me to finally get my knee down in Turn 6, for some reason that is the easiest for me. Then I got turn 5, followed by turn 1. I was so happy I decided to call it a day at that point. I really only get my knee on the ground when I’m running just under the 1 minute mark there. So I’ve got some work to do to get back to the 57s I usually run, but at least I’m getting closer.