Hastings Lap Tips

[pizza man]

I'm looking for some pointers on my first time out to MPH.My Shoulder is feeling better and really looking foward to next week.

[jarelj]

Check out the video if you haven't already, that will give you a primer on the layout:
http://www.ducatiomaha.com/video/MPH20070512.wmv

As far as how to ride at Hastings vs. MAM, Hastings is a lot tigher and more flowing track, you don't have much time to rest and there is no long straight. The back straight has a kink and then a turn (Turn 3) in it, which is a 100mph knee-on-the-ground turn for an advanced rider. The last turn is a 1st or 2nd gear hairpin, which is a lot of fun. Take your time learning the track, it's not an easy track to get the good line at, it will take a while to get it down. It's also a little narrower than MAM, so slightly less margin for error. There will be plenty of us there who have a lot of experience at the track, so we can show you around no problem.

[jarelj]

Here's some additonal info - track map:

[jarelj]

And here are some tips on the corners. This is just off the top of my head, anyone else feel free to chime in with additional tips if you want.

MPH Lap Tips for Motorcycles:

Turn 1 (standard turn: outside-inside-outside)
Enter to right side of track
Brake, downshift
Clip apex on left then let it run out to the right side of the track
Stay to right of center heading to turn 2, don’t try to swing over the left side

Turn 2 (bowl turn: inside-mid-inside then drive out)
Do NOT swing way out to the left to enter turn 2, you don’t need to be out there, stay right center
Enter on the inside of the turn
Let it drift out just short of mid-track and hold that line through the turn on a nice constant arc
Look for the inside right apex and as soon as you can see it get on the gas to start your drive right past the apex
Drive out of the turn and let it drift out to the left side of the track on the exit

Kink (not really a turn)
Stay on left side of track down the back straight
When you see the kink to the right, aim straight through it, try to eliminate it as a turn, just go straight through
No need to brake for the kink, just roll off the gas as you go through it

Turn 3 (high-speed standard turn: outside-inside-outside)
Downshift and aim for the apex on the right
Brake if you need to, but you might find that downshifting and rolling off the gas is enough deceleration
Get back on the gas as soon as you’ve hit the apex
Look down the track toward Turn 4 and keep rolling on the gas, DON’T look off into the grass/trees on the left

Turn 4 (standard turn: outside-inside-outside)
Enter to left of center, brake, and aim for the apex on the inside right
Back on the gas and let it drift out to the left

Turn 5/6 (double turn: outside-inside-outside-inside, make into 1 turn)
Enter to left side, brake and hit the apex on the inside right entering the turn
Let it drift out to the left edge mid-turn and aim for the apex on the inside right coming out of turn 6
Turn these into 1 big arc, not two separate turns

Turn 7 (high speed shallow turn: inside-outside)
Stay just right of center before the turn, try to stay to the right of the big ripples in the middle of the track
Hit the apex on the inside left and let it drift out to the right as you get back on the gas
Carry a good arc here to stay leaned left in preparation for Turn 8

Turn 8 (high speed standard turn: outside-inside-outside)
Enter to right side of track, roll off (brake a little if necessary) and hit the apex on the inside left, then back on the gas
Let it run out to the right side

Turn 9/10 (double turn: outside-inside-outside-inside)
Enter from middle of track
Clip the apex on the inside left going into the turn and set a constant arc to drift out to mid-turn then hit the apex on the inside left, or even a little bit wider than that, coming out of the turn and get back on the gas

Turn 11 (late apex turn: middle-inside-inside)
Enter from middle of the track
Don’t hug the inside going in, run it in a little deeper then turn tight to the inside apex on the right
Stay to the right so that you can enter Turn 12 from the outside

Turn 12 (standard turn: outside-inside-outside)
Starting from the right side of the track aim for the apex on the inside left and get on the gas
Run out as wide as you need to on the right coming out of the turn

Turn 13 (late apex hairpin: middle-late-inside-outside)
Enter the turn about mid-track, don’t go all they way over the left
Run in to about mid-turn, then turn back and aim for the late apex coming out o the turn, hold it tight to the inside
As soon as you’re pointed the right direction (i.e. not pointed out to the left into the grass), then get on the gas and drive out of the turn and down the front straight.
(Optional step) Get a huge wheelie and wave to the crowd as you go down the front straight!

[ChadA]

Nice write-up Jarel...you nailed that!!! Impressive!

Only comment that came to mind for me when reading that is to possibly grab a "short shift" between 6 and 7. Not sure if this would really be necessary for everyone else based on gearing on their bike, but I've found it really works well for me and my current gearing. I'm in 2nd gear through T's 5 and 6...accelerating out of 6 I usually grab 3rd gear a little earlier than I normally would (usually do it during my transition from right to left)...from there, I pretty much open it wide open in 3rd through Turn 7. Saves me the headache of having to shift when I'm right in the middle of T7. Again, I've just found that this has worked well for me. And when I get it right, Turn 7 is my favorite turn at MPH...LOVE that track. Have fun guys!

[jarelj]

Just found this, it's a fast lap by Jason Pridmore at MPH:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRNUR...layer_embedded

[BigKid]

Nice lap, 1:34-1:35, very nice.

[jarelj]

Nudleman runs 31-32's out there and he'll be at the track with us this weekend, so I'll sit down with him and have him look over the lap tips I posted and make any recommendations for changes so we get a solid write-up that can be used for future reference. Pridmore was running 34's on about his 5th lap on the track after never having been there before, those guys are at a whole different level. Doug Polen ran 36's on my old Ninja 650 track bike that had 69hp!

[pizza man]

[/left]Just made it back from Hastings, I have to say Hastings kicks ***!!
Had a blast, many thanks to all from the best shop in the Mid-West Ducati Omaha. I just wish that MPH wasnt five hour away.

[jarelj]

I went back and edited a few of the lap tips above for posterity after talking it over with several of the guys this weekend. The track has gotten quite a bit bumpier the past couple of years, but still a really fun track to ride.

[Desmodromi Joe]

Any written directions, like above, for MAM? This might make a good sticky.

I'm watching the videos of Clayton or him filming already.

Thanks in advance.

[jarelj]

Sure Joe, I'll type some up when I get a minute.

[jarelj]

Ok, here's the MAM lap tips:
http://www.riderforums.com/showthread.php?t=56183

[bikefar]

How about for Hallett???

[jarelj]

Originally Posted by bikefar

How about for Hallett???

Someone else will have to do that one, I haven't ridden there in a couple of years.