Manfeild test day Friday

**KS34** · 1st June 2009, 16:06

I decided to take friday off and go to Manfield for the test day, and I'm glad I did. I meet some great people, Dave and his wife, Dave has a k7 750 the same as mine only pretty trick, Glen Skachill and Chris Osbourne were also there and once introduced they were more than happy for a chat and Chris was fantastic giving some much needed info on suspension tips. A big thanks Chris, this was my first time with fiddling the standard suspension and although I must have come across as pretty thick he was more than happy to help. Anyway last time I was at Manfield I did a 1:18.3 with a slipping clutch and I was convinced I could do a bit better. For the first session out suspension settings were standard and I went out and felt pretty confortable considering I had not been on the bike for 2 months and came in with a 1:15.9!! I was leaping for joy. Its hard to explain that feeling we all get when things go right but it's a goodun! So after Chris had explained a bit of stuff I had a fiddle and got back out and did a 1:15.7 a wee bit pissed as Dave came in and he was on high 1:14's he's a nice guy, not his fault I was slower, and I had to suck it in and concentrate on the job at hand, my head was not in the right place I was trying a bit hard. I played some more and went out again, head is in right place and took off not pushing just relaxing and enjoying myself, and enjoy myself I did, came in with a 1:15.3 Stoked! unfortunately Dave had a slide coming out of the hairpin and came off, luckily the bike was'nt too bad but Dave looked a bit worse for wear (hope you are ok dude!). Next time out and the rear started sliding a bit out of turns and I'm still a lift off sort of guy instead of keep the power up it sort. Mentally it got to me the tyres are 3 trackdays old I know I should of persisted but I found myself running round in the 17's not alot of fun. At the end of the day though I was Happy, I acheived more than I thought I could, I learnt plenty, meet some fantastic people and most of all I know next time I go back I can go even quicker with the knowledge I gained about the bike and myself. I'd also like to thank Big Rick (my pitcrew) you rock! and Daves wife for some great photos below.
One small thing I must mention is concern over the test days becoming abit like trackdays, there were a couple of bikes out there that were headlight wearing road bikes with the guys just out for a fang, and a slow one at that! and an SV650 rider that was just dangerous!

**Deano** · 1st June 2009, 16:11

Let the good times roll !!

**325rocket** · 1st June 2009, 16:29

Originally Posted by Deano

Let the good times roll !!

Haha. so does that make you the dangerous SV650 rider???

**KS34** · 1st June 2009, 17:55

Deano would be quicker on a pushbike than this person was on the SV!

**Tony.OK** · 1st June 2009, 18:17

Nice one man....................was that Dave with all the tatoo's on the other semfiddy?
If it was..................next time ya see him tell him I said he's still a slow prick!

**KS34** · 1st June 2009, 18:56

ha ha Yep thats our man

Great to see you have the new bike dude.

**quickbuck** · 6th June 2009, 21:52

Originally Posted by KS34

One small thing I must mention is concern over the test days becoming abit like trackdays, there were a couple of bikes out there that were headlight wearing road bikes with the guys just out for a fang, and a slow one at that! and an SV650 rider that was just dangerous!

That is a Major......
I know there are some racers that do use a pretty much standard road bike, but I also know they (the particular SV650 I'm thinking of) aren't that slow....

**sinfull** · 6th June 2009, 21:58

when's the next test day ? I need some track time on the new bike !!!

**Tony.OK** · 6th June 2009, 22:58

Originally Posted by sinfull

when's the next test day ? I need some track time on the new bike !!!

http://www.manfeild.co.nz/events.asp?filter=3

**KS34** · 7th June 2009, 20:42

Originally Posted by quickbuck

That is a Major......
I know there are some racers that do use a pretty much standard road bike, but I also know they (the particular SV650 I'm thinking of) aren't that slow....

I think the important thing to remember is the words "Test Day". And I'm not slagging Slow racers, I'm one! The person on the SV and it was a race bike had obviously not raced and I'd be supprised if they had done much riding at all, it was just very dangerous as they were all over the track in an eratic fashion. The guys with road bikes were just a pain in the bum.

**scuzeme** · 12th June 2009, 14:14

Your not slow mate leave it out!

**Shaun** · 12th June 2009, 19:09

Be carefull guys, I said the very same thing years ago on here, and man did I get slagged

**roadracingoldfart** · 12th June 2009, 19:16

Originally Posted by KS34

I think the important thing to remember is the words "Test Day". And I'm not slagging Slow racers, I'm one! The person on the SV and it was a race bike had obviously not raced and I'd be supprised if they had done much riding at all, it was just very dangerous as they were all over the track in an eratic fashion. The guys with road bikes were just a pain in the bum.

Dont take it as a dig but ...
Did you give the said rider a bit of advice or just avoid him to make it easier ???
If you just ignored his riding badly then the next time you have to avoid him may be at a race meeting, we all got to start out as bad / slow racers, the diff is in the advice and training given, then ability can come out.
A mate of mine is what i call an awesome rider on the road but he couldnt keep up at a CD day and he was on a 1098. I made him follow me for 6 or so laps and he didnt know the parts of track i showed him could be used , good road riders dont always make good racers.

Paul.

**KS34** · 13th June 2009, 17:24

Originally Posted by roadracingoldfart

Dont take it as a dig but ...
Did you give the said rider a bit of advice or just avoid him to make it easier ???
If you just ignored his riding badly then the next time you have to avoid him may be at a race meeting, we all got to start out as bad / slow racers, the diff is in the advice and training given, then ability can come out.
A mate of mine is what i call an awesome rider on the road but he couldnt keep up at a CD day and he was on a 1098. I made him follow me for 6 or so laps and he didnt know the parts of track i showed him could be used , good road riders dont always make good racers.

Paul.

See where you are coming from, and at a Trackday thats fine all the luck to them I wouldnt offer them advice myself, but would certainly point them in the right direction (and they were in a garage with plenty of talent) but again it wasnt a trackday, and a trackday is where you should start not in the thick of a test day. I think this also comes back to needing to pass a race licence rather than buying one but as we know thats a whole other thread thrashed before!
Ken