[FUNDAMENTALS] THE SECRET TO ACCELERATION? BRAKING TECHNIQUE

Follow these steps to accelerate with confidence and improve top speed

At the last three tracks I’ve ridden my BMW S 1000 RR, the lowest top speed I recorded was 161 mph. In cars, a BMW M4 CS and a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, at those same three venues, the pokiest of the two topped out at 148 mph. Not slow.

Eyeball-flattening acceleration and top speeds deep into triple digits are certainly intoxicating and absolutely necessary for a quick lap, but to achieve that performance on a track, and I can’t stress this enough, braking determines how much acceleration you’re willing to use.

But what if you’re not good at braking? My S 1000 RR reached 171 mph on Summit Point Motorsports Park’s front straight, followed by a minimum slow-point speed of 41 mph for turn one. That required roughly 1.08g of deceleration on the bike and 1.3g in a car.

Without a plan to offset such speed, what would my top end have been on that track? Definitely not 171 mph. Acceleration comfort comes from one place: braking confidence. You can accelerate because you know you are going to slow down.