Count the number of corners on any track. Take that number and add that many seconds to your lap time. If there are 20 corners and you lose 20 seconds every lap, after three laps, you’ll be one minute behind the leader, or about half a lap.

Or, if you can improve your lap times by getting through every corner just 1 second faster than your competition, you’ll be 20 seconds ahead of second place in only one lap.

So, you can see that improving your corner speed will help your lap times and your finish quicker than anything else will.

Of course, getting a good start helps too.

Learning how to improve your corner speed takes practice and good form. You should be standing up as you approach the corner with your weight above the real wheel. Using both the front and rear brake for maximum stopping power will enable you to drive into the corner harder.

As you prepare to enter the corner, drop down onto the seat/tank junction which puts your weight forward on the front wheel. That will help the front wheel to stick in the corner. If your front wheel feels like it wants to jump over the berm or slide out, you are sitting too far back.

You should be in the attack position — elbows up, looking up the track. Use your inside leg for balance. You can slide your foot along the ground, raise your leg up under the bars or just keep your foot on the peg. Your outside leg should be pressing against the tank and some weight on the peg.

The type of corner, ruts and traction will dictate what you need to do. Throttle control is really needed next. Hard, slick corners will need lots of practice. Bermed up and rutted corners are easier, as the wheels tend to stay in the ruts when you use more throttle.

As you negotiate the corner, you should be looking up the track towards the next obstacle and picking the line that will help you make progress. Other riders will make part of that decision for you, especially if they are in front of you. If a rider goes to the outside, look to the inside for a clear line to make a pass around him.

If a rider in front of you takes the inside line, you should try to run outside and rail the corner, or square the corner off and tuck back inside his line. Don’t follow…..If you follow a rider into a tight corner, be prepared for him to make a mistake.

There are several options in every corner and they are discussed on the “One lined” page.

When practicing corners, start out slowly and work your way up to race speed. As you gain confidence, you’ll get to a point that you will crash. Don’t let that deter you. It just means that you haven’t got it right yet or you went past your limitis. Get back up and go again.

Good corner work means 25-30 passes in each corner you work on. Pick a couple of corners and work those hard. Then finish your practice with full laps, making that corner work shine.

You’ll be surprised at your new found speed at the next race. And so will the guys behind you.

See you at the races.