5 braking mistakes telemetry reveals immediately
Braking is the most underrated skill on track. Here's what your data says about your real weak points.
In track riding, everyone talks about trajectory, corner speed, and lean angle. But the skill that separates levels the most is braking. And it’s also where telemetry is the most ruthless.
After analyzing hundreds of sessions on Brake Point, here are the 5 most common braking mistakes — and what the data shows.
Mistake 1: Braking too early
This is the universal error. Every rider, without exception, brakes earlier than they think. Riding memory is subjective: you remember braking “at the board”, but GPS data shows a braking point 10, 15, sometimes 20 meters before it.
What the data shows: Compare your brake initiation point across laps. The variation tells you everything — if you’re inconsistent by 10m+, you’re leaving time on the table.
BudAI tip: “Move your braking reference 5m later. Your current speed allows it safely — your data shows you reach minimum speed 15m before the apex.”
Mistake 2: Not braking hard enough initially
Many riders apply progressive brake pressure — squeezing gradually. On track, this costs time. The fastest braking technique is hard initial pressure followed by a gradual trail-off.
What the data shows: Look at your brake pressure curve. If it ramps up slowly over 50m instead of peaking immediately, you’re wasting braking distance.
Mistake 3: Releasing the brake too abruptly
The opposite of mistake 2. Some riders brake hard, then release everything at once. This destabilizes the front end (on a motorcycle) or causes weight transfer issues (in a car).
What the data shows: A smooth, gradual trail-braking curve from peak pressure to zero should take the entire braking zone into the corner. An abrupt release shows as a cliff edge in the brake trace.
Mistake 4: No trail braking
Trail braking — maintaining brake pressure into the corner entry — is what separates fast riders from truly fast riders. Many amateur riders treat braking and cornering as separate events.
What the data shows: If your brake trace drops to zero before you start turning, you’re not trail braking. The overlap between braking and lean angle should be visible in the data.
Mistake 5: Inconsistent braking between laps
The biggest time killer isn’t one bad brake point — it’s doing something different every lap. Consistency is speed.
What the data shows: Overlay 5 consecutive laps. If your brake initiation varies by more than 5 meters, focus on consistency before trying to go faster.
The fix is in the data
These mistakes are invisible without telemetry. You can’t feel a 10-meter difference in braking point at 250 km/h. But the data sees everything.
Upload your session to Brake Point and let BudAI show you exactly which braking mistakes you’re making — with specific, measurable corrections.