What “Half Moves” Really Mean
Let’s talk about something that drives me absolutely crazy: HALF MOVES.
You’ve probably done one before. I’ve done it too, and every time I do, I tell myself,
“Alessio, What the hell was that?”
Let’s explain that.
Basically an half move happens when you go for an overtake, you dive inside, start the move, but then halfway through, you back out.
You brake a bit too early, hesitate, and let the other driver stay ahead.
It’s basically saying, “I want to pass… but not really.”
You’re signaling to the driver in front that you’re afraid to commit.
And to the driver behind? You’re showing weakness. Yep…
He’s thinking, “This guy’s not going anywhere… I’ll just pass him next corner.”
The Problem With Half Moves
Half moves don’t just fail: they make everything worse.
Here’s what actually happens when you make one:
- You lose time.
You’ve slowed down to try an overtake, but you didn’t complete it. You lose half a second easily. - You lose momentum.
The gap you closed up so carefully is now gone. You’ll have to rebuild it again. - You lose position.
The guy behind you sees your hesitation, smells blood, and overtakes you. - You lose confidence.
You start doubting yourself: “Maybe I can’t brake late enough. Maybe my kart isn’t good enough.”
But 90% of the time, it’s not the kart — it’s mental. You can make the move. You just didn’t trust yourself enough to go all in.
Fear and the Championship Excuse
Sometimes drivers say, “I didn’t want to risk it… I’m thinking about the championship.”
That’s fine if you’re genuinely defending a title.
But most of the time, that’s not the real reason.
It will rarily be the case.
The truth is: it’s fear. Fear of crashing, fear of contact, fear of rolling, fear of losing the place, fear of failing…
Whatever fear you may have, remember, it’s just in your mind.
But here’s the reality: if you were close enough to go for the move in the first place, that means it was on.
You earned that chance.
Backing out halfway only guarantees you’ll lose more in the long run.
When You Don’t Commit
You know what happens when you hesitate mid-move?
You not only lose momentum but you also mess up your rhythm.
You might even put yourself in danger, because you’re half in, half out.
You’re on the inside but braking harder than usual, the other driver turns in, and boom, you clip or lose the rear.
That’s how unnecessary crashes happen. Ironically, you crash because you tried to avoid crashing. Funny, uh?
Respect on Track
In racing, respect isn’t given. It’s earned.
And the fastest way to lose respect from your rivals is to keep making half moves.
They’ll think:
“This guy’s got no guts.”
Once you get that reputation, it sticks. The grid will treat you differently: push you wider, close the door harder, and overtake you without hesitation.
But if you’re known as someone who commits, they’ll give you space. They’ll think twice before defending too aggressively.
That’s the difference between being seen as a “gentleman driver” and being seen as a real racer.
How to Fix It: Building Confidence to Commit
You can’t buy confidence. You build it.
You can’t walk into a store and ask for “one kilo of confidence.”
So how do you get it?
1. Train Your Mindset
Every time you go for a move, tell yourself: “I’m going to make it stick.”
Don’t half-think it. Don’t visualize failure. Visualize the overtake completed cleanly.
2. Get Comfortable With Risk
You’ll crash sometimes. You’ll bend the chassis. You’ll DNF. That’s part of racing. Part of the game.
But every time you commit — even if it ends badly — you build more confidence for the next one.
3. Make Sure Your Equipment Works
Confidence also comes from trust in the kart.
If your brakes are fading, or your setup feels off, your instincts will hesitate. Keep the kart in top shape so your mind doesn’t have to second-guess it.
4. Practice Late Braking
Go on track and deliberately push your braking point a little further each session.
Find the limit. The more you do it, the more you’ll know exactly how far you can go without overdoing it.
5. Accept That Failure Is Part of Learning
Every crash teaches you something. Every mistake sharpens your instincts.
You can’t grow as a driver if you’re always playing it safe.
My Personal Take
I’ve been there myself. I’ve made half moves and hated it.
And sometimes I still do by mistake.
It’s like watching a replay of yourself hesitating — you can see the opportunity dying right in front of you.
Sometimes, I’ve been too conservative, thinking long-term. Other times, I’ve gone for it, crashed, and thought, “Okay, that was too much.”
But over time, I realized something: I’d rather be the guy who tries and sometimes fails than the one who never goes for it.
Because the driver who hesitates never wins.
Final Thoughts
Half moves are poison for your racing. They kill your rhythm, your confidence, and your reputation.
When you see a gap, COMMIT!
Even if it’s tight. Even if it’s risky. Because that’s racing.
You’ll make mistakes, sure. You might crash. But over time, you’ll become sharper, braver, and more respected on track.
Don’t be the driver known for backing out.
Be the one who sends it.
