[Zeeman]

Went to the Circuit Breakers race school yesterday (24th of October) and man did I have ablast.

The day wasn't perfect, though that was by no means the fault of the school. I went into the first session with a 2:04, and anded the day with a 2:00.8 best lap. It was incredibly helpful to hear some of the top Aussie races talk about how to turn, body position and basically just being smooth. Watching them rip around the track and checking out their lines was also helpful, as I noted my entry into turn to was way too wide, even the the end result put me in the right spot for turn three, the change in that line wa sprobably worth over a second in overall track time.

Since this is the first time I have actually been time around Eastern creek, I have no idea if this was my fastest ever lap, as I found that inititally, taking the right line slowed me down, as I constantly had to "force" myself to turn when normally I am still going straight. In the long run though, I hope this will become mor enatural (with practice).

Ont he down side, I have discovered I have aproblem with my front wheel. On a previous track day, I noticed a huge loss of air pressure in the front tyre on my last session. At that stage, I was on brand new BT 0014's. It went form 30psi to about 12psi in about 3 laps. Initially, I thought I was pushing to hard for my suspension (turn 1 in particular, a hi speed corner that for me is a 160 - 180km/h corner depending on how far into the session I am and how stuffed I feel). I would come into turn 1 at about 170 - 180, a bit faster than the previous lap, and find the front end weaving as though a hi wind were trying to blow me around. I would lsow down for the next pass (about 150) and feel the same thing - by this stage sure that something is wrong, slow right down and take the next track exit into the pits. This happenned at the last session of my last track day. I searched for punctures and nothing. I pumped up the front tyre and it did not los epressure again for the rest of it's life (until two days ago) .

Yesterday, I fitted a set of BT 0012SS tyres. On the first session out, I spent most of my time warming up the tyres and scrubbing them in. I ended up takin gmor elaps than usual to do this as I had a bit of a scare on the 3rd lap, the rear gave out a bit like I had hit oil around turn 2, so I spent another 2 or 3 laps making sure they were scrubbed in. By the end of the session I was getting fairly confident and my best time was a 2:04.

Next session out, after having been allocated my instructor, we went out and followed him around the track, slowly getting faster and faster, following his lines and wacthing him carve through the track. By about the 10th lap, I was starting to have a lot of trouble keeping up, it wasn't that they were going all that fast, I just found it impossible to turn the bike, pulled off at the end of the lap and, sure enough, front tyre was down to 15psi, and was very hot.

Rolled the bike back to the tyre guy, who checked the tyre, and valve ( I missed a session doing this, so he was quite thorough)a and nothing. Set the tyre pressure to 30psi again, and went out after lunch to try the "race start" (which was lots of fun, and taking a new R1, new ZX10R and a 1000RR to the first turn was a buzz...). Only did two slow laps (2 race starts and slow lap to get back to the grid) and checked the tyre pressure. It seemed fine at about 32ps (warm) It started raining for the next session, but decided to go out anyway, as I wanted to see if my tyre was going to hold air. I was going to be lapping slow anyway, thanks to the rain, so I figured I may as well go out.

Riding int he rain was interesting - very freaking slippery, though I did get somewhat comfortable with the bike sliding a bit by the end of the session. The rain did stop at the end, and the track was starting to dry.

In the pits, I checked the front again, and still about 32psi.

Next session went out, and rode somewhat hard, the bike felt OK, though I was never truly confident that the front was fine, did a 2:00.8 as a fastest lap and was slowing dowb towards then end as I wa sgetting thirsty and tired, and decided to pull in. Now, I made a mistake here, in that I didn't check my tyre pressure. I got a drink, heard the calla bout a suspension set up session, and totally forgot about the tyre.

For the final session, I went out, and once again as I was about to really start trying, I felt the front weaving at turn one and decided it was time to call it a day. a check of the front tyre revealed 18psi - smoking hot.

Now, if anyone knows why a tyre would deflate only under high speed conditions, and hold it's pressure during normal road riding, I would love to know. I'm taking the bike to the mechanic today, get him to check the valve and wheel again. Even though the rim is straight, with no dents, and the valve has been checked and OK'd. In hindsight, I should have just asked for a new valve to begin with, but such is. now I have to wait for my next track day to find out if my front will hold air... Very frustrating.

Z...

[CBRVFR]

Don't know what the deal is with your wheel, but happy you made good riding progress.

I'll bet the valve stem has a crack in it.

[luvtolean]

Just for the heck of it, next time you go, put marks on the tire and wheel to see if it's spinning on the rim.

I still bet it's something with the valve stem but you never know. Personally I wouldn't jeopardize a trackday, or my ass, over a front tire. I'd replace it and get a new valvestem.

[Zeeman]

Well, got my valve changed, now have to wait for my next track day to see if this is the fix...

Marked my tire and wheel for the heck of it

Z...