Hi all,
Sorry for the last minute post, but I'm close to pulling the trigger on Oulton Park next Wednesday with NL. I have a voucher to use and with this good weather looking to be going well into next week I might get it done.
Anyone up for it? I very much appreciate that it is last minute and not everyone is local. I'll be at the back in the novice group. I'll be travelling over and home in the same day.
Oulton Park - June 7th
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Dodgy69
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Re: Oulton Park - June 7th
Well I'm booked on and the weather looks good. Sold out too, but that makes me nervous. I know that NL love to fill the track in all groups. Let's hope for a smooth day.
Yamaha MT09 SP
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Yorick
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Dodgy69
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KungFooBob
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Re: Oulton Park - June 7th
Okay, I'll fire up a few photos later, I didn't take that many.
I was a bit nervous of NL trackdays, they're too busy, everyone rides like a knob etc etc. Well it wasn't like that yesterday, apart from all the red flags....
Anyway, got signed on and through the noise test before the briefing having caught in a bit of traffic on the way over. I noticed that I was one of maybe 3-4 bikes with a number plate on. The fact that I shared a garage with a V4 SP2 tells you about what kind of bikes where there.
I was in the lower group and thankfully it wasn't sold out. I'd say maybe 20 riders or so. Day started off cool but dry and my first 2 sessions went well. The many hundreds of laps I've done virtually around here really helped and I think I had my lines nailed pretty early on. I spoke to the instructors before my 3rd session and I went out for a 1 to 1 with them. It was 2 laps following and then 2 laps being followed. I got a debrief when we got back to pits and overall I rode okay. I got a few pointers, mainly on upper body position, and getting into the right position much earlier than I was. So I had plenty to work on. And what a difference that made. I was finding that getting that upper body in the right place really helped with turn in and being settled in the corners. Session before lunch got red flagged so took my lunch early. I did 2 sessions after lunch and I felt really good, even starting to pass a few riders, so I'm seeing progress there. The day finished in the warm sun and I was sweating at the end of it. I was tiring at that point and called it a day. So 6 sessions done, a big smile on my face, and home in one piece. No, I didn't trawl the classifieds last night looking at track bikes......
The MT was great. Obviously it is much faster than the Trident. I was well over a ton on 3 or 4 points on circuit. The engine is a peach, it pulls like a train and short shifting is absolutely fine to do. Handling was really nice actually, it's a really nice chassis, lots of feel and the suspension was great. It never felt unsettled, even when moving around, and I feel more comfortable on it. I was loving the many moments around Oulton were you are going over crests and having the bars go light and just keeping it pinned the whole time. I had tinkered with the suspension for the road, but to be honest I'm not pushing it near the limits to need it changed. Those really high bars do make it hard to get over the front, but it was much better for me once I changed my body position. The only negative was the brakes. They have loads of power so clearly no issue with the hardware, but they are devoid of any feel early in the lever stroke. I reckon I will upgrade pads when it comes to it.
Really looking forward to Pembrey now! And I imagine I will book another one or two before the year is out.
Oh, and the worst thing about the whole day? Having to drive home on public roads with the general public!
I was a bit nervous of NL trackdays, they're too busy, everyone rides like a knob etc etc. Well it wasn't like that yesterday, apart from all the red flags....
Anyway, got signed on and through the noise test before the briefing having caught in a bit of traffic on the way over. I noticed that I was one of maybe 3-4 bikes with a number plate on. The fact that I shared a garage with a V4 SP2 tells you about what kind of bikes where there.
I was in the lower group and thankfully it wasn't sold out. I'd say maybe 20 riders or so. Day started off cool but dry and my first 2 sessions went well. The many hundreds of laps I've done virtually around here really helped and I think I had my lines nailed pretty early on. I spoke to the instructors before my 3rd session and I went out for a 1 to 1 with them. It was 2 laps following and then 2 laps being followed. I got a debrief when we got back to pits and overall I rode okay. I got a few pointers, mainly on upper body position, and getting into the right position much earlier than I was. So I had plenty to work on. And what a difference that made. I was finding that getting that upper body in the right place really helped with turn in and being settled in the corners. Session before lunch got red flagged so took my lunch early. I did 2 sessions after lunch and I felt really good, even starting to pass a few riders, so I'm seeing progress there. The day finished in the warm sun and I was sweating at the end of it. I was tiring at that point and called it a day. So 6 sessions done, a big smile on my face, and home in one piece. No, I didn't trawl the classifieds last night looking at track bikes......
The MT was great. Obviously it is much faster than the Trident. I was well over a ton on 3 or 4 points on circuit. The engine is a peach, it pulls like a train and short shifting is absolutely fine to do. Handling was really nice actually, it's a really nice chassis, lots of feel and the suspension was great. It never felt unsettled, even when moving around, and I feel more comfortable on it. I was loving the many moments around Oulton were you are going over crests and having the bars go light and just keeping it pinned the whole time. I had tinkered with the suspension for the road, but to be honest I'm not pushing it near the limits to need it changed. Those really high bars do make it hard to get over the front, but it was much better for me once I changed my body position. The only negative was the brakes. They have loads of power so clearly no issue with the hardware, but they are devoid of any feel early in the lever stroke. I reckon I will upgrade pads when it comes to it.
Really looking forward to Pembrey now! And I imagine I will book another one or two before the year is out.
Oh, and the worst thing about the whole day? Having to drive home on public roads with the general public!
Yamaha MT09 SP
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weeksy
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Re: Oulton Park - June 7th
i recall the days of trackdaying with riding to and from track really well... They were honestly some exceptional times in my life
Re: Oulton Park - June 7th
A few photos....
IMG_9942edit by Colin, on Flickr
IMG_9939edit by Colin, on Flickr
IMG_9945edit by Colin, on Flickr
IMG_9951edit by Colin, on Flickr
IMG_9942edit by Colin, on FlickrIMG_9939edit by Colin, on FlickrIMG_9945edit by Colin, on FlickrIMG_9951edit by Colin, on FlickrYamaha MT09 SP
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Le_Fromage_Grande
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Re: Oulton Park - June 7th
I remember riding back more, trying to get my head into road speeds, 70mph would feel like walking pace after a day at Snetterton on an R1
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KungFooBob
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Yorick
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Re: Oulton Park - June 7th
Only ever did it once. Cadwell Park 1999. My pal binned his Fireblade so had to take him home to Milton Keynes on the back of my ZX9R. He didn't enjoy 140 down the A1KungFooBob wrote: ↑Thu Jun 08, 2023 11:10 am Riding back from trackdays was like, hey when did the road get so bumpy?
