VOL. 55 ISSUE 8 FEBRUARY 27, 2018 P101
Every tiny movement affects
the overall lap time on a bike
like this, which means there's
no allowing for a lapse in con-
centration. It's all about staying
tucked in as low as possible to
reduce drag, while still doing
what is necessary to get the
motorcycle to handle properly
around the racetrack.
Quick lap times are achieved
by maximizing roll speed and
using the brakes as little as
possible, not by running into
corners deep and squirting off
the exit. This is a lesson that will
pay off for younger riders down
the line. Besides, a claimed 42
horsepower will only go so far.
To say that we had fun on
the little Graves R3 would be
an understatement. Learning
to extract as much time out of
a small bike like this is a chal-
lenge, but also one of the best
experiences you can have on
a motorcycle. The lessons
learned are huge, and the risk
is low—making this motorcycle
the perfect tool for any up-
and-coming racer. After every
session we stepped off the
bike with a huge smile, and can
guarantee that the kids of the
Graves/Yamaha YZF-R3 Sup-
port Program will too. CN
Four-time Superbike
champion Josh Hayes
will act as the rider
coach for the Graves/
Yamaha Support
program. He took the
riders out for a track
walk and offered tips
about how to get
around Buttonwillow
quickly.
