couchcommando
When I got my superduke a few weeks back I had to get it on track, last time on a superduke on track was Spa Francorchamp in 2008 on my SDR, not done many trackdays in recent years and stopped racing so earlier this year on my then new to me CBR600 I did Rockingham, the CBR was to be a big change after ten or so years racing,riding and trackdaying big twins. I booked inters and the CBR was prepped, I won't dwell on Rockingham and the CBR as I hated it, I didn't know if it was me being rusty or the bike not suiting me, I was quite disappointed in me and the bike although I had a good time.
So the donington day couldn't come any quicker for me and the superduke, I'd already ridden it a fair bit on the road and had my knee down, something I failed with on the CBR on track ! I fitted some new racetecs and set the suspension to track settings, I also changed the brake fluid. An old racing mate on his 848 came with me and again we booked inters, not sure why but fast had 20 or so national racers practising so probably a wise move
First sessions and the sighting laps, got stuck behind a slow guy who wasn't going quick enough to scrub my tyres in and for 2 laps I didn't use the brakes, once clear to overtake it took less than a lap to get upto pace and start enjoying the bike, it can clear tho that inters was not the place to be although with around 40 overtakes it was good practice for different lines. The bike was fantastic in that session.
Next session and I think a few had been moved down but we still lapped some riders twice, despite this we found plenty of space and could really try as hard as I wanted, the pegs touched a couple of times and out the foggy Essex the bike was nervous over a bump on the exit, down Cramer curves it was superb, saw 122 on the clock there and was catching my 848 mounted mate quickly, elsewhere we were a close match with some good play racing.
By the end of the day we had 6 dry sessions, it starting raining in one session at the end, I stayed out for a few laps till I had a couple of slides and came in, the sd performed great and didn't stop me going as fast as I wanted, Donington is my local favourite track and the sd one of my favourite bikes and both proved to me I could still ride as I wanted which was a relief.
The SDR arrives this week and I can't wait to book a trackday for it, it wil be donington again
So the donington day couldn't come any quicker for me and the superduke, I'd already ridden it a fair bit on the road and had my knee down, something I failed with on the CBR on track ! I fitted some new racetecs and set the suspension to track settings, I also changed the brake fluid. An old racing mate on his 848 came with me and again we booked inters, not sure why but fast had 20 or so national racers practising so probably a wise move
First sessions and the sighting laps, got stuck behind a slow guy who wasn't going quick enough to scrub my tyres in and for 2 laps I didn't use the brakes, once clear to overtake it took less than a lap to get upto pace and start enjoying the bike, it can clear tho that inters was not the place to be although with around 40 overtakes it was good practice for different lines. The bike was fantastic in that session.
Next session and I think a few had been moved down but we still lapped some riders twice, despite this we found plenty of space and could really try as hard as I wanted, the pegs touched a couple of times and out the foggy Essex the bike was nervous over a bump on the exit, down Cramer curves it was superb, saw 122 on the clock there and was catching my 848 mounted mate quickly, elsewhere we were a close match with some good play racing.
By the end of the day we had 6 dry sessions, it starting raining in one session at the end, I stayed out for a few laps till I had a couple of slides and came in, the sd performed great and didn't stop me going as fast as I wanted, Donington is my local favourite track and the sd one of my favourite bikes and both proved to me I could still ride as I wanted which was a relief.
The SDR arrives this week and I can't wait to book a trackday for it, it wil be donington again