[Zeeman]

Well, not 12 hours after getting back from Vanuatu, I was pulling into the Eastern creek car park, getting ready for my first track day since the CBR1000RR "Bladeblast" about mid year last year.

Had done an oil change the night before (about 20 mins after walking in the door) but needed new tyres, as the rear was full of plugs and was a bit worn from too much road use anyway.

So, my first session comes and goes whilst buying and having some new BT0014's fitted to the rims. (2nd choice after the Corsa's, but anyway, there was no Pirelli man at the track)

2nd sessions comes, and I decide take it very slow for a few laps. I had put myself into the B2 group, and was kinda feeling I should have picked C, and moved up once I was comfortable with the tyres, but, of course, this ran through my head about the same time I took off from the pits.

Was circulating fairly slow, feeling like a speed bumb but happy that I wasn't going to be the next "low side on new tyres" statistic. Got to the start finish line and started to ride a little harder, leaning a bit more, but still overall, fairly slow for the group.

As I come around turn 2, starting my second (and first full) lap, I see an unconcious rider in the middle of the track, his bike on it's side on the left, with another bike parked on the left of the track, and it's rider running across the track to the fallen riders aid - the wannabe helper was not a mashial, and clearly did not listen to the pre ride brief telling people to NOT stop to help a fallen rider, but to let the staff take care of it. Anyway, I apply some brakes, look where I want to go, finish the lap and pull into the pits, without completeing a single full lap from finish line to finish line. Having had to wait an additional 30 minutes with the bike sitting in the pit lane ready to go due to another crash in the session before, this was slightly annoying, but still, I hoped the rider was OK.

When the third session came, I left the pits hoping for no more "incidents" and a nice smooth session. After taking 2 laps to finish scrubbing in and warming up, I turned the notch up a few levels and started to go hard, not too hard, as I wasn't 100% comfortable on the tyres, they seemed to move around a lot, and I was wondering if my suspension settings weren't right, or what else could be causing the problem - but the session finished without incident, and I was glad to have finished a full session.

Started talking to a buddy in the pits, and he asked what pressure I got in the tyre when the Bridgestone guy was fitting it, I told him I had asked for 32psi front and rear, and he suggested I may have been better off with 30psi front and rear, though I should check the pressure as it should be about 35psi hot. Got the Michelin guage out of the boot of the Blade, stick it on the front, and it showed 30psi - hot. Stuck it on the rear, and it showed 20psi - really freaking "cook an egg in 10 seconds" hot.

Thinking my guage may be busted, I borrowed his, and sure enough, the same pressures showed. I couldn't believe the bridgestone guy had put 12psi less air in the tyre than I asked for - and it also made me wonder if any of the people who had crashed had just used his air pump/guage to adjust their tyre pressures. (saw a lot of people filling tyres with air using his pump and the attached guage to check pressure)

Once the pressures were adjusted correctly to my guage (should have checked to begin with) I set out on the next session, I immediately felt way faster, far more comfortable, with the only sliding being due to excess throttle use or the odd over zealous downshift, but the bike now felt planted and very predictable around the track. I was soon using the guys on smaller bikes as pace setters around the twistier bits and seeing the chequered flag marking the end of the session coming out way too early.

I spent final session following a CBR6F4 around, taking it a little easier and just enjoying the last few laps, the flag came out and I pulled into the pits with a huge smile on my dial. The heat was pretty intense during the day, I think it was 30 degrees C +, and the end of each session saw me gulp down a bottle of water.

I quite enjoyed the day, though there were quite alot of crashes. I think this was mainly due to there being too many people riding on the track at any time. This was the last track day held before the new regs came in, which mean only one company now holds track days at Eastern Creek. This means the price for a track day has jumped from about $120 a day to about $200 a day. Because it was the last "cheap" track day, I think they allowed too many riders, not wanting to deny anyone, I thinkt hey let way mor epeople in than they normally do. Though I think it cost a few people a lot more than they planned, I counted 7 crashes all up, though there may have been more.

Anyway, I myself had fun, and am looking forward to participating in a riding school in April to learn to ride better This was also my first ride on the track with the bike modded. My last track day was with my 954 stock. I now have a full Arata, PCIIIR (mapped by the Sook) with about 144rwhp,Ohlins 3 way rear shock, Ohlins damper and the all important 3 second a lap saving rear seat cowl Even though the time between was long, I did notice the improvements - higher corner speeds, mor epower, better acceleration, a calm front end - but all this has made it even more obvious how bad the front end of the blade is (suspension wise), Having just ridden Futants new ZX10R today, I noticed how much better the suspension is on that bike stock, compared to the 954. the springs, at least, feel right, not like the 954. So now I'm really wanting to get my front end done before the school day. Here's to hoping for the $$$!!!



Z...

[K9inAZ]

Great to hear that you had a good time!