Rennie Scaysbrook | June 15, 2021
Ever wondered how the world’s fastest riders do what they do every second Sunday? It’s a question that has filled the brain of rider coach Andy Ibbott for as long as he can remember, so 15 or so years ago he released the first version of the MotoGP Performance Riding Techniques book series.
The title says it all. MotoGP Performance Riding Techniques is a must-read for those who want to get the most out of cornering, braking and anything else you can think of that can make you go faster on the track and more efficient on the road.
Fast forward to 2021 and this is the fourth revision of this incredible volume of riding information, where Andy attempts to decode the body language of the world’s fastest MotoGP racers so us mere mortals can gain a better understanding of how to ride a racing motorcycle on the edge.
Andy’s story is indeed an inspirational one. After suffering a stroke in 2010 and given a five percent chance of survival, Andy is now a dedicated marathon runner despite having limited use of the right side of his body.
His riding resume has some pretty famous names on it, including coaching 2005 125cc World Champion and multiple Moto2 race winner Thomas Luthi.
MotoGP Performance Riding Techniques | Lowdown
List Price: £29.99 ($32)
Standout Feature: Incredible depth of information on just about every facet of fast riding.
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Excellent breakdown of various racing situations |
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Extremely thorough analysis, especially with regards to riding position and braking |
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It will take you a very long time to get through, just because it’s so thorough. But that’s not really a bad thing, is it? |
There is no shortage of information here.
MotoGP Performance Riding Techniques | Reader Analysis
It’s taken me a while to write this because it took a long time to read. Being an avid club racer with an eye on a rather large international race next June, reading MotoGP Performance Riding Techniques couldn’t have come at a better time.
To break down information that seems invisible to the naked eye takes a certain type of author, and Andy has done an excellent job of explaining what goes on when you try to ride fast. Granted, these are the best riders in the world and on total unobtanium equipment, but at the end of the day, they are still human beings riding motorcycles and the same basic principles apply, whether you’re MotoGP or CVMA.
An area I am constantly interested in is braking, or, more specifically, the use of rear brake to help the chassis turn. As Andy says, “Braking on track isn’t the art of slowing down, as most people think. Braking is another tool for going faster.” There are quotes from everyone like Rossi to Crutchlow to Bradley Smith on this subject, and it makes for engrossing reading.
There are some sections in the book not related at all to the mechanics of riding but more in the rider’s software. Chapter 12, named “Outwitting,” is particularly intriguing, and it starts, rather predictably, with a glaring photo of the master of mind games, Marc Marquez. Getting in a rider’s head can have them beat before the green light, and Andy gives you a few sneaky tips for getting the mental jump on your opponent, which is something you’ll probably never see in another rider-coaching manual!
MotoGP Performance Riding Techniques is an entertaining read for anyone wanting to know how the best get it done on the weekend. It’s a visually appealing book, with plenty of diagrams and breakdowns of various riding situations, all illustrated with some brilliant photography.
If you’ve got a track day or club racer nut in your family, you’ve just found their next birthday present. CN
For more information, visit www.performanceridingtechniques.co.uk
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