There are lots of ways to go fast around a racetrack. Just look at Rossi and Doohan, or Biaggi and Bayliss - their riding styles are racing lines are wildly different but the awe-inspiring end result for these naturally-talented World Champions is just the same.

Although there isn’t really a right or wrong way to ride a bike fast around a track, we’ve put together some brief tips and tricks to get you started and help you get the best out of your next trackday.

We’ll run you through such things as body position, turning, cornering and throttle control, but first: braking.

• Braking correctly is vitally important, but don’t get over-obsessed with braking as late as possible. Good lap times come from riding smoothly, taking the right lines and having good body position, rather than getting all crossed up panic braking into corners with your eyes on stalks.

• Keeping your bike stable on and off the brakes is all-important. The front brake lever should be applied lightly at first to load up the front suspension and transfer weight on to the front tyre for maximum grip, then progressively squeeze the harder. It should be the same coming off the brakes. Release the lever gradually to stop the forks pinging back up too quickly and upsetting the bike.

• The most effective way to use the front brake on the track is to use two fingers on the lever. This makes blipping the throttle on down-changes with the rest of your hand much easier. Having said that, it’s a personal preference. Some people use one finger, others all four.

• There’s lots of debate on whether you should use your back brake as well as the front on the track. Personally, I only use the front, even in the wet for maximum braking. Some naturally gifted riders will use a dab of rear brake for added stability into and through the corners, but for most of us it can cause problems, so is best left alone.

• It is useful to find a braking marker for each corner for consistent lap times. It can be anything from a marker board, to a marshall’s post, to a mark in the track.

• Don’t look straight ahead at the place you don’t want to be under hard braking, like the edge of the track or tyre wall etc. It gives you the impression that the braking zone is very short and that you could run out of room. By opening up your vision, looking into the corner and seeing where you want to be will give you the perception of having far more room and be less frightening.

• Attempting to brake later can be terrifying. If you want to try, brake at the same point for the corner (you’ll need your braking marker for this) but not quite as hard. By doing this, you’ll gradually get used to your new corner entry speed and set your new braking point further up the track. If you just brake later, could end up panic-braking, upsetting the bike and scaring yourself. I used this technique braking into the fearsome Paddock Bend racing at Brands Hatch recently and it yielded a half a second a lap.