I was looking for an evening trackday at brands to make myself feel better after not being able to go to cadwell, at least with brands I can always ride home if I get any pain but it seems I've missed all the evening ones for this year.

I just had a look at that Aprilia day on the 23rd too but that's booked up as well.

So I've come to this conclusion, Toby has booked all the bloody days for himself!

Anyways, so unless we have a late summer it doesn't look I'll get any trackdays in this year either

If I have the chance though I might pop up and say hello, maybe Luke might be up for it too, there may even be some pointing and laughing and not at him this time.

oh what!!? The aprilia days is fully booked? Dammit, I was hoping to get in on that one with a mate....bummer. I've never done a trackday and was hoping to get my first one in this year....is there any room on this evening one Toby? Brands is perfect for me...

I'm gonna look now...

yup. sucks! Guess we're just gonna have to meet up for a decent rideout again to take the edge off the disappointment!!

How much would it be Luke, I kind of have a couple things on but might be able to sort it if I can get my sister to babysit for an hour while my other half goes to doctors.

I'll be getting there early as I can! Thinking at about 3:30 to 4ish.

My mate was on the cancellation list and got a call yesterday and put his name down for it, so get yourselves on the list and you might get a call!

Look forward to seeing you there with a bit of luck!!!!

Watch yourself on Evening session Toby.

They mix the groups so that you get:

Novice / inter

inter / fast

In reality they are both about the same.

Trouble is that the inters (novices with attitude) are the feckers that keep crashing all the time.

I did one last year and have seen several since. Never seen so many red flags since Ken Livingstone got elected. You only get 2 hrs anyway so too much sitting in the pit lane for me.

Ride safe.

Cheers for the heads up fella, was like that when I went before. I'm in the novice group rather than the inter/advanced this time too.

Mate of mine who is significantly slower than me went in inter/advanced last time and didn't get overtaken much at all, but there were a lot more totally unnecessary crashes (we had a couple of straight line run offs whereas the other group had people highsiding and locking up the front a lot).

I'll be getting past people fast, minimise the chances of them taking me out!

Was a good day overall, was good to see Duncan and Toby again but I was having a mare on the track, my confidence was low and I haven't been for a while but I was quicker the first time I did brands than I was last night and just couldn't hold the lines I wanted, was braking much earlier than I needed to as well and having to accelerate round the whole corner.

Toby and Duncan were going really well and on the first session they both passed me, possibly both on the brakes coming in to Paddock Hill, Toby definitely passed me there for sure, I was braking way too early coming in there.

That gave me a bit more determination to try and sort my head out but although I was getting better in the 2nd session and I was still passing a lot of people anyway on both sessions and I even managed to touch my toes, I still didn't feel myself, so on the 3rd session I decided to not worry about my speed and try hanging off the bike a bit, I'd always been having too much fun just doing it upright on previous trackdays that I never bothered trying as I didn't want to mess with my flow by trying to move around on the bike too much.

So anyways, I put the balls of my feet on the pegs, moved one cheek off the seat coming into the corner and went for it......

Oh my god I had so much fun from that point on, I was really happy with how easily I got into it and balls on the pegs which had seemed so strange on the road before suddenly seemed to make sense, I didn't feel like I was going to fall off the bike while hanging off in the corner, I started weighting the inside peg better through the corner and I was having so much fun that it made my mindset better and I started braking later and generally just running much better.

Some of my movements into position were a bit clunky and some weren't but all in all I'm really happy I got over that hurdle of trying it for the first time and it turned what was a pretty bad session for me into a really good one and I can't wait now to practice it some more.

Was nice to talk to Luke too, I'm sorry I couldn't stop and help you with your trailer mate and I hope you got out ok in the end but I needed some food and to get home but I felt guilty all the way if that's any help

Great to meet you all and glad you all had a good evening on the track.

I had a mixed day really. First time I have used Superduke, or any twin, on track. I was amazed how much drive you get out of the corners. My gut feeling is that I am probably a bit quicker GSXR. Everything seems to happen much quicker anyway. But dont forget that is a track bike with upgraded suspension and Supercorsas. Rather than a standard road bike on 2CTs.

The Superduke was much more enjoyable to ride though. Much less effort. On the GSXR I am hitting 150mph + at end of straight. Whereas SD was more like 130. I bet there wasnt a great deal in it timewise though as SD carrys more speed through the corner and gets on the power quicker.

In any event, I managed to lap the whole group at least once each session and some of them twice. Now here is the problem, I overtook all of the instructors too. I dont mean I dived underneath them on the brakes. Every one of them got 6 ft plus of space. Which is what they asked for in the brief. Sometimes, I let two or three opportunities go before passing.

Trouble is Rapid are all serving or ex traffic policemen and typical of the breed (sorry Superdan) so they are never wrong. The first one singled me out and told me I was scaring some of the other riders by passing on the inside. In a later session I watched him nearly colide with another rider by guess what? passing on the inside.

Another whinged that I overtook him on the sighting lap. Perhaps, technically I did as I followed him round the circuit to clearways, gave up the inside line and ran all the way around the outside on quarter throttle and still went passed down the straight. Maybe on the start/finish line, maybe a couple of feet before but the width of the track apart so why should it matter?

Now I know trackdays are much more regulated than they were. Also, more leeway is allowed in the fast group. But on every trackday I have ever done I have been passed much closer than I did to anyone yesterday. As I have said before I am not a particularly fast track rider, neither am I particularly competitive or overendowed with ego. I am probably riding nearer 80% than 90% so do not expect to be treated like Tony Ellias or Hector Barbera for a few, IMO. safe overtakes. So no more Rapid Tracks for me.

On a brighter note, I stayed on to watch Toby, Twisted Jester and Shade on the evening session. They all rode very well and upheld the Suoerduke.net honour. What is more Shade and TJ were visibly improving every session as they got more into it. Toby was clearly the fastest in his group and has natural ability (or much more experience than he lets on

Then to end the evening on a low again, I took a different trailer this time. My other ones all get under the lower track tunnel. This one was about 3 inches too high!!!



No damage and no big problem as I am quite handly reversing a trailer. But of course everyone else is following me out! So big apologies to anyone who had to back up or turn around last night. At least now you know why i am called stupid.