The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to writing ramp-tracks on a computer readable medium. In some implementations, a trajectory is identified across previously written tracks on a surface of a machine-readable medium for a read-write head to move along and build up velocity. Identifying the trajectory includes identifying one of the previously written tracks as a launch location from which to launch the read-write head. Identifying the trajectory also includes identifying a start writing location near a blank region of the surface of the machine-readable medium at which to turn on a write gate. A current is applied to the read-write head to cause the read-write head to move along the trajectory. In addition, the identified launch location is adjusted until a target velocity is obtained at the start writing location.