Trackday project K3

Originally Posted by Redmist

First ride out for the wee 650 this year, Cadwell Park on Easter Saturday....

Nice one mate. excellent video analysis there. This is the sort of thing that will prove really useful in improving your riding. Looks to me like you were simply more aggressive on the throttle and in braking into the chicane.

The lines looked pretty similar to me. Almost looks like the bike was just pulling much better.

Originally Posted by Runako

The lines looked pretty similar to me. Almost looks like the bike was just pulling much better.

Cheers Runako,

I always struggle with the line into the Gooseneck, I seem to be in the middle of nowhere as I approach it and can't find much reference to be consistent

I seem to get thru the chicane on the right line but I know I need to carry more speed on the way out as I know there is more room than my brain tells me there is! Probably because I have been on the grass on the exit a few times before!

Monday was Hillclimb #1 of the season and was a little more eventful than normal!

The day started very damp and the track condition was rather poor including the winter moss still in existence at the first corner!

But the two practice runs went well and with the track drying by the 2nd practice, I was feeling good on the bike and led the class of 9 riders.

There was an array of bikes including six other 650cc vtwin bikes, ranging from the 62 year old on his road going er6 to tricked up supertwins of local racers.
The other two bikes were a GSXR 750 and a Daytona 675.

The forecast-ed heavy rain fell over the lunch period and I kept telling myself to take it easy as I knew the sun would be arriving around 3pm.

Sadly I didn't listen and charged off splashing thru the rain!



At the very next corner I tipped the bike in confidently and carried some lovely lean angle......up until the rear stepped out!



by the time I had caught it I was heading on a different line!!!



And gracefully flopped into the soft banking

Even tho I was fine and tried to laugh it off to the audience on the bank side, I discovered a broken foot lever. Damn, I didn't have a spare one

After asking around the paddock it eventually took around an hour and a half to get a fix:



By now it was approaching 4pm and I thought I would only get one timed run on the board - Enough to score some points but would I play it safe or try and nail a result?

I tried to remain calm at the holding line:



Then I went as fast as I dared and thankfully had not lost any confidence.



In the end we had another run so I managed two timed runs and on the final run I managed to dip under 48 seconds and claim 3rd place behind the two supertwin bikes.



I had thought at the start of the day that 3rd would be my most likely result so overall I was satisfied and pleased to have not lost everything to a stupid mistake.

The bike is now washed down and ready to load up again for Donington. Lets hope that goes more smoothly and that my new big bag of spares covers any mishaps!!

Cheers Mike.

Your a brave man tackling that in horrible weather, fair play mate.

[DarrenSV650S]

So... your name is Michael Jackson?

Originally Posted by nutzboutbikes

Your a brave man tackling that in horrible weather, fair play mate.

Thanks but I doubt its bravery, too competitive for my own good maybe

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

So... your name is Michael Jackson?

Have you not been paying attention? But yes

Fair play to you Mike, some good pics there! How was it getting back on the bike after the winter break?

Are you planning on venturing southwards for any events this year? Gurston Down isn't far from me and I'd be more than happy to lend a hand if needed

Originally Posted by Griff-SV

Fair play to you Mike, some good pics there! How was it getting back on the bike after the winter break?

Are you planning on venturing southwards for any events this year? Gurston Down isn't far from me and I'd be more than happy to lend a hand if needed

Getting back on the bike was a doddle now I have the 650 road bike too, much less adjustment to make between bikes.

I will only be doing the local hillclimb championship as that will keep me busy enough, but thanks for the offer.

Hopefully I'll have a Donington Race report by the end of the week.... it was brilliant fun!

Donington Park: NGRRC May 7th

Me and the old man set off on Friday and were very early to arrive at the track so set up in the only place we could find grass for the tent:
(Rebellious as always )



It must've been a good spot because Johnny Rea's truck was just next door!



After a rough night sleeping under the wheels of the landing Jets and Turboprops at East Midlands we moved onto the only available spot of tarmac left in the paddock, right near the exit



But anyway the action got underway as the practice sessions began.
I eased into riding and pootled around getting my bearings again.
The freshly replaced foot brake lever touched down pretty quickly which put me off a bit and so soon after I attacked it with the hacksaw and removed what I could from the extremity of the lever.

Race 1: "Mobile Chicane" was never truer!!
As I had entered the event pretty early in the year it meant I had a very high grid position, 9th in fact, out of 30 bikes entered!

Of course I expected to go backwards until I found my fellow paced riders, which I did on lap 6 of 6! All the way back in 23rd place!
To be fair I still loved the racing and the first corner melee was fun, I was sure I was about to wipe one lad out on the JHS racing bike but thankfully he got the throttle back on just in time!

I played it safe too, wanting to ensure I at least finished one race, so anyone that came past I kept well away from and even though on occasion I had a chance to sneak back past, I held back and just tried to go as quick as I was comfortable with.

On lap 6 of 6 I was keeping with the guys who'd passed me and I think a couple more laps I might've sneaked one or two places back.

Some shots from the race: (Photo credits: www.kerryrawson.com)







Race 2: "OH YES!!"

The minitwin races were at the back of the race order, so my final race would be about 6pm. At around 5pm the heavens opened!

The sunshine was long gone and replaced with claps of thunder. I fitted the wet tyres and took some deep breaths!

I was contemplating not going out, the track was sodden and I didn't want another race day to end in a rebuild of either myself or the bike!

But I had to go for it, I told myself I could stop anytime I wanted if things got too much.

We were given two warm up laps and I was comfortable enough, the sun was peeking thru a little so I lined up in 23rd position on the grid.

Another decent start, I held my own in corner one and tried to figure out how fast I could go. Turn 2 I was ready to get off the bike, we were three wide heading into Craner's and visibility was tricky!

But then I found out I was doing ok! Crossing the line after Lap 1 I had been overtaken BUT I'd also overtaken others so was still 23rd.
Not only that but I was right behind three bikes in front, so I took up an inside position and braked where I thought I should, doing so I overtook two bikes and closed in on the next, he left a little gap going down Craner's so I went for it! I rolled the throttle to avoid any front brake and swept past him on the inside braking late for the old hairpin.

By now I was loving every second, even as the rain started to fall again I just kept things smooth and steady.

Around Macleans and Coppice two riders had fallen so waved yellows kept us bunched in line. Once clear I managed some more overtakes including into the final chicane.

I crossed the line in 15th place! Making up 8 places in one lap.

I was catching the riders up the road at a decent rate but it still took up a couple of laps. Once I'd caught them, another rider made it back passed me as I was struggling to find a good place to overtake anyone and so went back to 16th until some dicing on the last lap took me back to 15th out of 25 starters.

I crossed the line in jubilation and threw a fist up like I'd won it. I probably looked like a tit but I didn't care!



Looking nervous before the final race:
(Photo Credit: www.kerryrawson.com)



Lap progession Race 2:




I learnt a lot from the day, mainly that I need to work on a lot of things!
Mainly corner exit and getting braver on the throttle.

But I was pleased to have raced again and even though it was a day of two halves, I was chuffed with the outcome.

Onwards to Cadwell sprint on July 3rd!

[DarrenSV650S]

That was an exciting read! Well done