"Or maybe your friends are not faster, but just riding out of their limits to smoke you? Well, what ever the case is, go to a trackday."
my thoughts exactly....
VR6-I think perhaps you have more sense then the other guys. I'm willing to bet these guys are pushing much harder than you. Infact I'm willing to bet on it. The problem is that their luck will eventually run out if they contniue to ride past their limits. It's possible that both of these guys perhaps has more natural talents then you,k but if they never attended any classes or training, I'm going to say they are just riding pas their limits, or perhaps you are just riding more sensibly.
Keep praticing riding your skills and don't worry about keeping up with the guys, worry about making your turns as smooth as possible. Enter turns slow, wait until you feel comfortable in that turn and can see the exit, then exit is fast.
It took me forever to figure out that going into a turn too fast really slows you down. I find I ride much faster ans safer when I get the bike in the proper gear for pulling out of the turn, enter the turn slow, setup the bike in the turn and when I see the exit of the turn with no hazzards in sight I start really opening up the throttle harder and harder.
you will most likely be exiting the turns at a much faster speed than your buddies maning that you will be in the your powerband sooner when you hit the straights.
I have this feeling your friends (unless properly trained) are entering the turns hot, and just assume the bike will carry then through. Problem with this mething is that it will set off yuour survival reactions which will most likely cause them to do somethign really stupid...
i'm rambling again, so my advice is not to worry about your buddies, if they rag on your alittle bit, no big deal, buddies do that, but practice beeing a smoother and safer rider and I garantee you will surpase your buddies who are just riding by the seat of their pants.
riding is 80% mental 20% physical IMHO....
My Drinking Team Has a Racing Problem!