Brands Hatch GP

Booked onto the GP circuit for a track day on Tuesday. Probably the last one I'll do this year and just hoping the weather holds up and remains dry because it's such a good course and I only have my one set of tyres with a brand new Racetec K3 on the rear so if it rains it will really spoil it for me. Forecasts look promising though. Session is run by No limits so Klinky and Stalker will be there and a chance to catch up with them. (Not on the track - at the burger stand! )

I need to have a good look over the SD tomorrow and prep because I've only done road miles for months now - most of them in the rain and crap - and I haven't been out for a few weeks on it so I bet there are a load of little rusted up bits and it could do with a really good sorting. I've been too busy riding the H2 lately - it still gets my preference on short trips and fun rides when I go into the garage and have to decide which bike to take.

One thing I have to sort out is the SDR seat unit attachment. Somewhere along the way the front bracket and mounting, (that slots over the small bobbin on the subframe), has broken and fallen off so there is no fixing at that point. Has anyone else had this problem? The only thing I can think of is to take the metal bracket off the other side and machine a copy from sheet metal and then hand make a similar post/part and fiber-glass it all in place. It will be a long job.

I don't suppose anyone has a spare metal bracket bit do they?

Have spare seat unit - you're welcome to borrow that or just bracket if that helps.

Bike prepped and burning off it's liberal coating of WD40.

This will be the first trackday with the clip-on handlebars. I'm looking forward to seeing if they are as good as they feel on fast roads. They better be good because other wise I will revert to the straight Rizoma bars because the compromise in comfort for a lot of road time is a lot to pay.

Full GP circuit is a bit daunting for me in my memory. It's a lot faster than the short circuit and you have to work hard against all the big IL4s, (and still loose). And the last time I was on the GP ended up a week in hospital with suspected broken back after high-siding at Clearways.

There will be demons

What a great day!!!! Arrived to a foggy, wet track but by the time we started sun was coming out and track pretty much dry! Only 2 red flags across all 4 groups all day so maximum tracktime for everyone! Brands GP has to be my favorite UK circuit even though I've only ridden it twice. Just has everything and is a proper man the fook up track!

Great to see you too Bic I dragged the SDR out of the van for the last few sessions, shame I didn't see you out there.

All went well. Only two red flags all day, one bike up in flames but generally good time was had by all. It was a great day and good to see Stalker and Klinks there. I'll post more when I get the chance.

Here's a few pics. I didn't ride very fast on this day - the pictures don't lie! I was out of practice and my knackered knees and elbows really stopped me from going faster.

The GP, much more than the Indy, seems a one line circuit to me. If you can find the line you can carry a lot of speed but if you dont get enough time on the circuit you may struggle to find the right line.

Last time I did it I was too fast in places and too slow everywhere else. I ended up pootling around for a session behind a journo from Superbike magazine who knew his way around just to get a good idea of how to ride the extra bit.

Glad you had good weather for the day though.

Doesnt that fooking bridge seem low the first time you go under it?