Absolutely right. Grass is NEVER the right option. You are almost certain to crash. You were no where near too hot. Just turn in the bike best case you make it (likely). Worse case it is to greasy and you lowside. At least you scrub off some speed before the grass and you stop no where near the tires.
When I started there were no trackdays, my first sponsor ran the first trackdays I remember (Kelly's Cycle in Brampton). This was a great way to get people interested in racing. Now I look at trackdays as some good and some bad. Seems people look at them as some kind of stepping stone to racing (not everyone). Where you have to do ........ many trackdays before you are "ready". Problem we are finding now is new racers are showing up at our school with some very bad habits learned at trackdays. These habits are being reinforced by other trackday riders with limited skills. Again not everyone but more and more each year.
There are some simple rules.
#1 Stay off your rear brake.
#2 Stay off the grass
#3 Trust your tires
#4 Never give up on the corner even when it seems hopeless
#5 Learn from every crash, Be honest with yourself as to the cause (99% its YOU)
#6 Master going slow then the speed will just come.
#7 Gravity and Physics apply to us all so the only thing keeping you from catching the guy in front of you is you.
#8 Spend your money on suspension and tires forget the HID and Pazzo's
Sorry for the rant. I hate seeing basic mistakes causing crashes and injuries that dont have to happen. Last season I attended a track day before one of our rounds. There were 10 red flags and three road ambulance calls! We went three weekends in a row last year without a single ambulance roll.
My feeling and it appears to be shared by more than a few of our instructors and long time racers is that trackdays have their place but are also starting to create issues in people learning curve that previously didnt appear to be there.
Have fun and be safe guys.
