How to Overtake Riders on Track: Tips for Safe and Frustration Free Passing

Overtaking is something that is part and parcel of track days, and getting by a slower rider is something that 99% of riders will have to contend with on any given day. However, while it is something that the vast majority of riders have to pull off, many will agree that catching a slower rider is one thing, but getting by is another altogether.

Getting by isn’t so much of a problem when there is a substantial speed difference between you and the rider in front, but when you catch someone that is only marginally slower than you it can be very difficult to get by and you will often find yourself sitting behind them for much longer than you’d like, feeling nothing but frustration. This can in turn lead to unsafe passes.

In this guide then I will cover some points to help you beat the frustration that can come from being stuck behind a slower rider, which I hope in turn will make your passes as swift and painless as possible.

There are a couple of unwritten rules you need consider and bear in mind before we get started though.

There Are No Winners on Track Days

The first is that we are dealing with track days and we’re not racing. This means that all passes should be courteous and what you do to get by another rider should affect them as little as possible. This means no diving up the inside and sitting on their apex or chopping their nose off around the outside. You don’t need to be aggressive.

The organizer on the day will tell you the rules for passing during the briefing, but it is usually something along the lines of leave a six foot gap between you and the other rider and try to do your passing on the straights.

Another point is that it is up to the person doing the overtaking to make it safe, and because riders aren’t just going to move over and let you pass them, you need to think about how you can get by without affecting them too much.

Challenge Accepted

As said, it is entirely up to you to make sure a pass is as clean as possible, but when you’re stuck behind a rider for a considerable length of time you start to get impatient and that’s the point at which you contemplate some rash moves.

Instead of thinking of the rider in front as a frustration though, think of them as a challenge. Think of the process of overtaking as a chance to use your brain and solve a problem – getting by the rider in front quickly, cleanly and safely.

Patience and Planning Are Key!

You don’t need to pass on the very next corner! If overtaking them as soon as possible is the only target, this will often lead to rushed passes with little forethought. Instead you need a proper plan of attack. This could take a few corners or a few laps to put in place.

To do this you need to look at what strengths you have over the rider in front as well as note the nature of the track. See where you’re quicker. Do you get out of some corners better? Are you stronger on the brakes? Are there less dicey corners than others? Can you pass in such a way that won’t tempt them to attack straight back? If they do attack straight back, what will you do?

These are the types of things you need to consider and look out for when planning your pass. Your strength could simply be you have a faster bike. How can you best use that to your advantage?

If you’re on a less powerful bike and it’s clear you’re faster in the corners, it will be in the twisty sections where you’ll have to make your move. If possible, pass on a corner that doesn’t lead onto another straight that will allow them to power straight back through.

You need to recognize any advantage you have and make use of them as best you can.

The Usual Passes

On the brakes – Take a tighter entry line and brake a little later and harder (not rushing the corner). Be assertive and put enough of your bike in front to signal your intentions. In this situation the vast majority of riders will give you the corner and leave you to it. If you can see they’re trying to come back at you, you need to decide whether you concede the corner for now or whether you have enough leeway (both in terms of track space and talent) to fend them off comfortably.

On the power – If you find that you’re better on the power, leave a gap to the rider in front on entry, square off the corner so you can get on the power earlier and harder and this should give you a good enough run on them. If you have a more powerful bike this is a sure fire way of getting past.

If they have the legs on you in terms of power, trying this before a shorter straight will yield the best results because on a longer straight their extra power will eventually negate your extra speed out of the previous bend.

Get a Good View

If you’re finding it difficult to get by, rather than following them around on the same line try moving a foot either side of them to free up your vision so you can see ahead and better judge if there are good opportunities to pass.

It’s also worth noting at this point that you should be well focused on your own reference points and mainly using your peripherals to track the rider in front. Don’t get caught in the trap of locking onto them as it will only make your job more difficult because you can’t fully utilize the track like you can on a clear lap.

As I said at the start, catching a rider is a completely different kettle of fish to passing them, but with a little patience and planning (keeping a cool head helps too) you’ll find frustration levels will be kept to a minimum. Study the rider in front, work out what advantages you have, then use those advantages as best you can and with time and practice you’ll be pulling off passes that are clean, safe and frustration free.

Photo by Stefan Karpiniec