Post by physiogixer on Jun 2, 2016 20:51:00 GMT
Just got back from my first time there, loved it.
1st day - forget the braking markers and lines, just go balls out and see how fast I can go. Quite technical and undulating, and seeing as I ride my bike like a 2 stroke, I was struggling to keep the front down as high in the rev range (1st / 2nd / 3rd gear coming out of corners)
2nd day - slicks now giving up the ghost, they have done Spa last year also so 2.5 days on track isn't bad for a tyre that is meant to last race distance....also, akin to 2007, Brembo front brake lever fell to bits on me again....this time I stayed out of the airbags though but did have to change my knickers when back in the pits. Coming down the start / finish straight flat chat in 5th (about 160ish), lever came back to the bar.....looked down and one of the bolts in the clamp had come out, and the thread stripped out of the second / remaining bolt holding it to the handlebar. Managed to re-position it and apply some brake pressure and combined with the back brake, overshot the corner and did a VERY big arc round just on the edge of the gravel trap. Re-joined at corner 3 and back into the pits... Spent the afternoon trying to re-thread it but to no avail. It needs helicoiling but not sure if that will work as very little meat around the area. Ho Hum. The thing is also brand new...put road wheels back on as slicks now worn out and bike starting to move around on them.
3rd Day - Rain in morning, but needed a new brake reservoir hose as putting standard lever back on, but the Brembo has a different bore....get a bit from Portimao Kawasaki dealer, but it's wrong bore altogether....someone helps me out with a bit that fits and I now have brakes again. No-One on track as it's damp but drying out, even though they're on full wets. I go out and there is 6 of us from the whole group....great fun splashing about and learning lines. In the afternoon, I go for a tour of the Algarve with one other as I have never been to Portugal before, and find the most sublime roads ever...fantastic sweepers and hairpins. Back to the track at tea time to put bike away and drive back to hotel in rent-car.
4th Day - Road tyres so concentrate on lines, bumps on the track, and rolling into the corners faster than normal, but a gear higher and then using the grunt to pull me out instead of high in the rev range and fighting to keep the front down. Seems to be working as set fastest time that day and I'm not having to remember which way the track goes...Bike crated up ready for shipment back to the UK that night, fly back following day (Monday).
All in all a most excellent time. I did get beat up a couple of time and there were some seriously quick lads there, but I was the only road bike and it did me proud for the duration.
Roll on Spa and Nurburgring
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hso28QQkGmo
1st day - forget the braking markers and lines, just go balls out and see how fast I can go. Quite technical and undulating, and seeing as I ride my bike like a 2 stroke, I was struggling to keep the front down as high in the rev range (1st / 2nd / 3rd gear coming out of corners)
2nd day - slicks now giving up the ghost, they have done Spa last year also so 2.5 days on track isn't bad for a tyre that is meant to last race distance....also, akin to 2007, Brembo front brake lever fell to bits on me again....this time I stayed out of the airbags though but did have to change my knickers when back in the pits. Coming down the start / finish straight flat chat in 5th (about 160ish), lever came back to the bar.....looked down and one of the bolts in the clamp had come out, and the thread stripped out of the second / remaining bolt holding it to the handlebar. Managed to re-position it and apply some brake pressure and combined with the back brake, overshot the corner and did a VERY big arc round just on the edge of the gravel trap. Re-joined at corner 3 and back into the pits... Spent the afternoon trying to re-thread it but to no avail. It needs helicoiling but not sure if that will work as very little meat around the area. Ho Hum. The thing is also brand new...put road wheels back on as slicks now worn out and bike starting to move around on them.
3rd Day - Rain in morning, but needed a new brake reservoir hose as putting standard lever back on, but the Brembo has a different bore....get a bit from Portimao Kawasaki dealer, but it's wrong bore altogether....someone helps me out with a bit that fits and I now have brakes again. No-One on track as it's damp but drying out, even though they're on full wets. I go out and there is 6 of us from the whole group....great fun splashing about and learning lines. In the afternoon, I go for a tour of the Algarve with one other as I have never been to Portugal before, and find the most sublime roads ever...fantastic sweepers and hairpins. Back to the track at tea time to put bike away and drive back to hotel in rent-car.
4th Day - Road tyres so concentrate on lines, bumps on the track, and rolling into the corners faster than normal, but a gear higher and then using the grunt to pull me out instead of high in the rev range and fighting to keep the front down. Seems to be working as set fastest time that day and I'm not having to remember which way the track goes...Bike crated up ready for shipment back to the UK that night, fly back following day (Monday).
All in all a most excellent time. I did get beat up a couple of time and there were some seriously quick lads there, but I was the only road bike and it did me proud for the duration.
Roll on Spa and Nurburgring
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hso28QQkGmo