Hi all,
Well I´ve gone and done my first trackday with the Rs! It was an amazing experience.. it started off at bit crooked and ended up a bit more crooked but the bit in between were ace!
My buddy Alvaro (Kawa 636 Ninja) was on his way to pick me up with the trailer and his bike fell (he´s never tied down a bike before) on the trailer - luckily it didn´t hit the ground! Anway, we got the bikes loaded and were off on our way to sunny Valencia! Wednesday 6th was pretty much journey to Valencia, washing and prepping the bikes for the track and trying to sleep with all the nerves etc. A good 450gram sirloin helped calmed the tummy a bit.
The big day itself was awesome. We arrived early at the track to get a decent box (41) and unloaded the bikes and all the tools, drinks, food, paddock stands, tire warmers etc. I had a transponder fitted to see what my times would be first time on a track compared to other more experienced riders and track day hooligans.
I was put in the fast group and we were first out - the first laps were absolutely horrible as I was using all the gears and that front end just wouldn´t keep down.. it was lifting up in 5th gear!! Also I kept blocking the rear wheel - all my senses were f´d up as the speeds were so much higher than I´m used to on the road. I was told to use 3rd gear minimum and to just try using up to 5th max to get used to the track.. it worked! This was on brand new Dunlop GP 208 RR tires (slithering around for the first half of the first lap).
Times for first session (6 laps) with monitor:
2:49:240
2:29:272
2:18:765
2:20:197 (yellow flag)
2:15:631
2:19:053
The second session was much better, riding much smoother and using the rev limiter for upshifts (just when it is about to cut in).. the bike was flying!
Times for second session (5 laps) with monitor:
2:13:890
2:21:749 (yellow flag)
2:13:092
2:14:804
2:12:766
The third session was an open session without a monitor and I could really open up the Rs on the straight and play around with different corner entry and exit points.. apexing late and later etc. Apparently I nearly had the bar ends on the floor, I did grind my elbow >
2:17:172
2:05:964
2:08:393
2:04:726
2:02:610 (my fastest and 6th fastest of all who used transponders)
The fourth session was a bit crap.. it started getting cold, there was a fierce wind and the track was cold. We went out with a monitor anyway.
2:29:048
2:16:085
2:23:083
2:24:476
2:18:216
The fifth session was not too good either, the weather changed - it went from comfy (around 18 degrees Celcius) to cold (around 10 degrees celcius or less). It started raining - no heavy stuff just light drops with the occasional big drop here and there. I should NOT have gone out. I hit the deck on the last lap coming out of a double right hander - I got high sided and ended up surfing asphalt.. nothing major happened, just a sprained ankle.
2:12:625
2:09:576
2:07:494
2:07:738
2:05:406
43:15:934 ( i was taken to the hospital )
The Dunlops were great, it´s a shame that Cheste has 9 left handers and only 5 right handers (mostly slow) - my rear tire didn´t warm up too well even after 5 laps out on the last session and (someone recorded the crash) I came in just as hot as the previous lap (my monitor crashed 2 curves previous to where I crashed) but I opened the gas a bit too much. The result, as per video, was much much smoke as the rear end scrabbled for grip.. when it did grip I went flying down the track.
There was no major damage to the bike, the rear brake pedal is ground down to nothing and the clutch cover dented. I´ve fixed this by getting my neighbour´s Dremel onto the clutch cover, which is now half open and the brake pedal is on order.
Thank you R&G for the sliders - they saved the bike AGAIN!!!
Thank you Nankai for saving my skin.
Thank you Forcefield for keeping my back safe!
Thank you Oxtar for boots that kept me from a broken ankle!
Thank you Shoei (I f*cked my XR1000 Moore Replica) for keeping my noggin in one piece.
Attached are some pics - there is also a video by Vicent.. once the title is over I´m the nut on the white monster sparking my sliders on the first left hander and yes that trajectory is wide - I ride that way.
Cajonez was going to come and meet us but the weather was very bad and he had to turn back. I also met D.P. at the track - was a pleasure!
[attachment deleted by admin]
Well I´ve gone and done my first trackday with the Rs! It was an amazing experience.. it started off at bit crooked and ended up a bit more crooked but the bit in between were ace!
My buddy Alvaro (Kawa 636 Ninja) was on his way to pick me up with the trailer and his bike fell (he´s never tied down a bike before) on the trailer - luckily it didn´t hit the ground! Anway, we got the bikes loaded and were off on our way to sunny Valencia! Wednesday 6th was pretty much journey to Valencia, washing and prepping the bikes for the track and trying to sleep with all the nerves etc. A good 450gram sirloin helped calmed the tummy a bit.
The big day itself was awesome. We arrived early at the track to get a decent box (41) and unloaded the bikes and all the tools, drinks, food, paddock stands, tire warmers etc. I had a transponder fitted to see what my times would be first time on a track compared to other more experienced riders and track day hooligans.
I was put in the fast group and we were first out - the first laps were absolutely horrible as I was using all the gears and that front end just wouldn´t keep down.. it was lifting up in 5th gear!! Also I kept blocking the rear wheel - all my senses were f´d up as the speeds were so much higher than I´m used to on the road. I was told to use 3rd gear minimum and to just try using up to 5th max to get used to the track.. it worked! This was on brand new Dunlop GP 208 RR tires (slithering around for the first half of the first lap).
Times for first session (6 laps) with monitor:
2:49:240
2:29:272
2:18:765
2:20:197 (yellow flag)
2:15:631
2:19:053
The second session was much better, riding much smoother and using the rev limiter for upshifts (just when it is about to cut in).. the bike was flying!
Times for second session (5 laps) with monitor:
2:13:890
2:21:749 (yellow flag)
2:13:092
2:14:804
2:12:766
The third session was an open session without a monitor and I could really open up the Rs on the straight and play around with different corner entry and exit points.. apexing late and later etc. Apparently I nearly had the bar ends on the floor, I did grind my elbow >
2:17:172
2:05:964
2:08:393
2:04:726
2:02:610 (my fastest and 6th fastest of all who used transponders)
The fourth session was a bit crap.. it started getting cold, there was a fierce wind and the track was cold. We went out with a monitor anyway.
2:29:048
2:16:085
2:23:083
2:24:476
2:18:216
The fifth session was not too good either, the weather changed - it went from comfy (around 18 degrees Celcius) to cold (around 10 degrees celcius or less). It started raining - no heavy stuff just light drops with the occasional big drop here and there. I should NOT have gone out. I hit the deck on the last lap coming out of a double right hander - I got high sided and ended up surfing asphalt.. nothing major happened, just a sprained ankle.
2:12:625
2:09:576
2:07:494
2:07:738
2:05:406
43:15:934 ( i was taken to the hospital )
The Dunlops were great, it´s a shame that Cheste has 9 left handers and only 5 right handers (mostly slow) - my rear tire didn´t warm up too well even after 5 laps out on the last session and (someone recorded the crash) I came in just as hot as the previous lap (my monitor crashed 2 curves previous to where I crashed) but I opened the gas a bit too much. The result, as per video, was much much smoke as the rear end scrabbled for grip.. when it did grip I went flying down the track.
There was no major damage to the bike, the rear brake pedal is ground down to nothing and the clutch cover dented. I´ve fixed this by getting my neighbour´s Dremel onto the clutch cover, which is now half open and the brake pedal is on order.
Thank you R&G for the sliders - they saved the bike AGAIN!!!
Thank you Nankai for saving my skin.
Thank you Forcefield for keeping my back safe!
Thank you Oxtar for boots that kept me from a broken ankle!
Thank you Shoei (I f*cked my XR1000 Moore Replica) for keeping my noggin in one piece.
Attached are some pics - there is also a video by Vicent.. once the title is over I´m the nut on the white monster sparking my sliders on the first left hander and yes that trajectory is wide - I ride that way.
Cajonez was going to come and meet us but the weather was very bad and he had to turn back. I also met D.P. at the track - was a pleasure!
[attachment deleted by admin]
