Roadrace Or Dragrace, Getting Off The Line Is All-ImportantIf you've ever been to a dragstrip, you know the intricacies of launching a motorcycle from a stop and that small changes in form can have a huge impact on results. Likewise, roadracers know a good start can mean the difference between dicing for the lead and struggling to pass slower riders only to finish off the podium. While many details of the start-line process differ between the two disciplines, certain aspects (including the launch itself) apply to both. To start, be sure you sit as close to the tank as possible, with your head down and forward. This keeps the center of gravity low and forward, reducing the chance of a wheelie. Having both feet on the ground keeps the bike vertical and gives you more control as you leave the line; just be sure you can get your left foot to the peg in time to make that first shift.
At the dragstrip, warm your rear tire with a burnout and approach the starting line slowly. Once the pre-stage light comes on, inch forward until the stage light illuminates. When you and your opponent are both fully staged, the race begins when the green lights illuminate. On a pro tree, all three of the amber lights will come on at once, 0.4 seconds before the green. With an ET tree, the ambers are lit in succession, with the last, bottom amber lighting up 0.5 seconds before the green. Always watch the bottom amber light rather than the green. Since the natural human reaction time is 0.4 seconds at best, you would ideally start as soon as you see the amber lights on a pro tree, or just after the bottom amber light illuminates on an ET tree.
Use practice runs to determine the best launch rpm for your bike. The launch rpm should be more than enough to keep the bike from bogging when you leave the line, but not so much that you have to use excessive clutch slip to prevent a wheelie. Once you are staged at the dragstrip or the countdown at the roadrace track has begun, bring your bike's revs up to the launch rpm, holding it with a steady throttle hand. When the lights change or the flag drops, smoothly roll the throttle on and let the clutch out at the same time as quickly as you can without wheelying or letting the revs drop below the launch rpm. If the front wheel starts to come up, use the clutch to control it; backing off the throttle will bog the engine. Practice using various launch rpms and different combinations of throttle and clutch. Ideally, you will leave the line with the front wheel just skimming the pavement to at least the top of first gear.
On a roadrace track, invest in warmers and make full use of the warmup lap to scrub in your tires and get yourself up to speed. Know your grid position beforehand, and try to time leaving the pits so you don't have to wait at the starting line too long. Different organizations and tracks utilize different methods with number boards, lights, flags, or some combination; make an effort to know the exact process used. For lights, concentrate mostly on the light that signals the start of the race rather than the boards or other lights. For a flag start, know the flag person's habits and focus on the part of the flag or the flagger's body that moves first.