IBelow) "Ease the clutch out slowly to control traction as the bike
moves out."
How to ride like the Hurricane
- Part two
By Bob Hannah as told to Jim Gianatisis
"If there's something I hate more than anything
else it's probably starts. Not because getting off
the line is difficult, but because I don't like the
thought of getting tangled up in the first turn.
That's why I usually get such bad
starts. I'm either out front at the
.
is
start If I get the holeshot , or e e
I'm way back because I don't want
10
to take any chances. If you find
yourself getting a poor shot off the line
it's better to back off and play it safe
through the first tum than to take any
chances and get hun.
"Find ing the proper place on the
line to stan is d ifficult. Usually the
best place is on the outside where you
can get a wide -open shot at the first
tum, unless the outside is too far , then
the inside is better. 1 don't usually like
to start in the middle of the gate unless
I'm sure of getting a good stan with
nobody in my way . or 1 can see the guy
that.'s pulling the ~ate . lever. At
Nationals though, Keith holds a stop
watch to tell me when the gate is going
to fall . Then you just put it in gear and
hope t~e gate goes when you go. I
watch. It to. be ;;afe and not get
penahzed for Jumpmg.
"T ry to put your rear wheel in a rut
so your bike won't fishtail as it comes
out of the gate. Smooth over the track
iust in from of you so your bike won't
ge~,caught in other ruts or hit rocks.
. 1 ~ second gear lor ;;tarts .o~ all
size bikes , though somenmes It IS a
little difficult with a 125cc. Feed the
clutch out easy so you can control the
bike and hit third gear as fast as
possible. Your bike really won't begin
to pull until it's in third gear, because
you 're getting too much wheelspin
with second gear. so it's important to
get in to third gear as soon as possible.
On an Open class bike you might even
like to try some practice third gear
starts. You really have to have good
clutch control , but when you do it
right you nearly explode off the line.
"I use the clutch every time I shift
unless it 's really rough . then 1 just
hang on and kick her. I got that clutch
fanning technique a long time ago ,
back when 1 was on a Suzuki. I'd
always miss gears, so I'd hold my hand
out in front of the handlebar so I'd
time the shifts right by slapping the
clutch. On a l25cc bike it really helps.
Even on an Open bike you can really
explode down the track by leaving the
throttle pegged and slapping the
clutch. "
•
To be continued next week .
