So Many Learning Opportunities

The first time I can remember being at Laguna Seca was 1976. I was six years old and was on my father’s shoulders after he just won the AMA Superbike National. I remember crossing the track, my dad with champagne bottle in hand, despite the security guards efforts to stop us.

Now close to 40 years later, Laguna is still around and I feel so lucky to get to ride it. When I raced there I can honestly say it wasn’t my favorite, but looking back, I think I put too much pressure on myself to do well in what was my “home” race. It was one of the few tracks I was never able to win at. I still had one of my most memorable races there, finishing 3rd in a World Supersport race. Even that, I feel I should have won… always a racer I guess.

Eyes Up – so important here

Laguna is a great track to have a STAR Motorcycle School at. The track offers challenges that other places don’t. The elevation changes make Laguna so unique. From the top of the infamous “Corkscrew” down through “Rainey Curve” you need to have all of your senses about you. Unless you’ve been up there and walked it, you have no idea how steep it really is. I also think turn 1 is a corner that often gets overshadowed. Blind and flat out you better have your vision scanning at all times and know what you are shooting for. Remember my “Eyes Up” article, this is a great place to practice the use of visual aids. Turns 3 and 4 are tricky because they are both so flat. Everything there is so unique and the coolest part of going back as a STAR School is getting to walk the track. The views from behind turn 6 looking over the valleys of Salinas are amazing and going up the hill to the “Corkscrew” out of turn 6 will blow your mind. Working on our braking and visual drills around this place will be a great learning experience for our students.

On October 30-31 STAR Motorcycle School is putting on a two-day event at Laguna. It won’t just be two great days of instruction and riding. We have done everything we can to make this an event that people will want to come to every year. Included with your tuition are two nights hotel at the Embassy Suites hotel, catered breakfast, lunch and banquet dinner after our first day at the track. Every student will go home with video of themselves, get to test ride a new Ninja and get a group photo up in the corkscrew.

Special Guest

I wanted to have a very special guest at this event and I am so fortunate that Factory Yamaha rider and 4 time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes is a friend of mine. Josh will be riding with us for two incredible days and we will do a Q&A with him at dinner Friday night. Josh was my teammate on Attack Suzuki in 2003 and to see what he has done with his career since then has been so much fun for me. He is the most personable guy you will ever meet and one of the most ferocious on the track.  Everyone will be sure to have a memorable time.

Don’t wait till the last minute on this one it will sell out fast, so go register now and save your spot.

Hope to see you there,

JP