MotoTT Track Day

[dpex]

Mother of God! What a buzz! What a learning curve!

Round one was decidely stuttery. I kept on messing with the rear brake and causing tyre tramp, so decided to just forget I had a back brake. Things improved.

Chopping down without equalising revs saw me wiggling all over the place. But got a handle on that after a while.

From there it was just a matter of trusting bike and tyres.

Round two saw me mess up a relatively easy corner, three times in a row. The third time I expected to end up in the kitty litter. Yarned with Frosty and several others about this. They said the first screw-up did my head in.

Understood that. Took more notice of the apex next time out. Problem went away.

Round three. Starting to get a handle on lines and speeds. Ergo, angles got better and speed increased. I was doing okay till some guy passed real close just as I was lining up for the chicane before the left into the main straight. I got fixated on him, lost the plot and ended up going straight ahead through the cones. "Won't do that again," (get fixated, I mean) I promised myself.

Back on the track, more of everything. Now I'm grinding the ends off my pegs, and still I felt like the bike was locked to the track.

NB: At no time, despite how hard I pushed, did I ever sense the arse-end slipping away. Damned good tyres, those Pilot Powers.

In between rounds Frosty gave me the Billy about all manner of thing, all of which I took on board.

Round four was just heaven on wheels. Not one screw-up and going averagely way faster throughout. Finally, I felt I was in the zone. Way slower than some. On the pace with others. But I realised I didn't give a rat's arse either way. It was just me, bike, track, and synchronicity, for me at least.

And even then I hadn't had enough, so Frosty drove the van home and I rode.

That was an interesting experience. I chose to just bumble along, cagers passing me time and again. I just smiled and thought, 'Buddy, after today I could eat your arse all the way to hell,' but the 'need' to demonstrate that point simply wasn't there, cos I'd just spent the day learning I can cane way harder than most cagers could imagine possible.

So I just bumbled along enjoying the freedom of not having to prove a point.

Fabulous day. Thank you MotoTT. Thank you Frosty and Shaun.

But I just have to do it again....and again. Grin.

[discotex]

So I just bumbled along enjoying the freedom of not having to prove a point.

Sounds like the best lesson you learned today.

Now see if you can hold onto that memory next time you're out riding in a group. Can you hold back knowing you could go faster but have nothing to prove?

[DMNTD:Me]

Had a couple of people in front of me cruise into the cones at the end of the back straight. Which group were you in?

It's all about the fun factor...and you scored that

[sinfull]

Had a couple of people in front of me cruise into the cones at the end of the back straight. Which group were you in?

It's all about the fun factor...and you scored that

That was our group bro, just about to go back through the vid Heidi took of the moment and utube it for dpex to savour !
Actually saw you have the other but different moment on the same corner (thought you were a gonna there)

[sinfull]

Had me a couple of moments on that same corner dpex (what worked for me was, fuck fixation my tyres work)


Edit : something else that may help, is a quote from a lines rider who "mentored" me on an earlier track day for a couple of sessions (am shit for brains with names, and accept any slapping due) who was hot on the track, took me wide on entry into that turn and as he said you can come in hot and grab a bike or two under brakes while still pulling up for the right hander of that mix ! Found today, that the same applied for the short twisties that make up the link for track 2 (can brake right up to the last left into the back st8 if you enter it correctly !)
Thanks again You lot who put the time in at the track to show the way out there !!!

[Boob Johnson]

Great write up mate

Gutted I couldn't make it

[dpex]

Had a couple of people in front of me cruise into the cones at the end of the back straight. Which group were you in?

It's all about the fun factor...and you scored that

Group three. I had on the flouro vest.

[DMNTD:Me]

That was our group bro...

Group three. I had on the flouro vest.

Don't worry about Mr Sinful...he can be a bit blonde sometimes

[CHOPPA]

Good read bro! Yeah road riding is boring in comparison, i had a mate there on a ducati who pretty much is just not interested in riding on the road anymore and want to turn a 40k bike into a track day bike haha

[sinfull]

Group three. I had on the flouro vest.

Don't worry about Mr Sinful...he can be a bit blonde sometimes

Opps then who is it that done the hell run off in the vid then ?
Gulp sorry whoever you were, only put it up on show, as dpex went public that it happened to him !

[Toast]

Haha, nice write up, good to see more getting in to trackdays and enjoying them.

[scuzeme]

It just really SUCKS watching this reading this thread and watching that vid roll on December when i get my cast off.

[Usarka]

+1 to awesome day

[erik]

Opps then who is it that done the hell run off in the vid then ?
Gulp sorry whoever you were, only put it up on show, as dpex went public that it happened to him !

I don't know who it was but here it is from another angle :



I've done the same and worse before, nothing to be ashamed of (not much anyway ).

[quickbuck]

I almost did that on Sunday, but I remembered that my tyres work and did a massive move on a motard to get around him on the outside.
It worked very well, and managed to hold it all together.....

I had a great day, and never went off the track once.
After it all I too think road riding sucks, and have a pile of track/ race bikes on my TM wish list.

I think I will paint the CBR and give it to the other half for Christmas.