As a much better alternative to a busy day in the office, I extended the long weekend and spent today at the MSV / Ducati track day at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. The day coincided with the Panigale hitting 1,300 miles on the clock, which I decided was close enough to “all run-in” to try her in the upper revs after limiting myself to 8,000 rpm for the two months that I’ve owned her. The day started off with the inevitable noise check. My base Panigale, stock exhaust, measured 105 dB static at 5,000rpm. I’m actually not a huge fan of noisy bikes, and actually wish mine was just a touch quieter (like 102dB ), but it was kind of amusing how the 600cc Jap bikes sound like hedge trimmers in comparison. It was the novice group for me: my first time at Brands Hatch, only my second time on a race track after several years away. Shoot me, but electronic assistance gratefully accepted: DTC set at a conservative 6, ABS still balancing rear brake (setting 2 from memory), DQS on obviously. As expected, the first few sessions felt quite intimidating and my line through Druids and Clearways could be described as “wobbly,” or more accurately as “doesn’t have a clue!” But by lunch time I’d found a reasonable line and was as up to speed as I was going to get. I think probably as quick as anyone in my group... so here’s my “hot” lap and impressions of the Panigale used in (moderate) anger ... Drive out of Clark Curve hard in 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] (probably a gear too high, but felt smoother), traction control flashing, flick up from 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] to 4[SUP]th[/SUP] at about 10k and the front wheel comes off the ground for a moment. Pin it in 4[SUP]th[/SUP]: the world goes blurry and the front feels light and then very light as I run over the slight crest midway down the straight. The acceleration is staggering: I enter the straight five bike lengths behind a GSXR-750 at full chat, but I’m past him before we’re half way down the straight. The BMW 1000RR a few laps later was a different story No ground to make there, though he wasn’t escaping down the straight so perhaps not full on the gas. I run out of courage just after crossing the start/finish line at the top of 4[SUP]th[/SUP]. Haul on the brakes to get back to about 80mph for Paddock Hill Bend, 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] gear and sweep through. I can only imagine how late you can brake and how fast you can go through that bend, but I can’t bring myself to go faster. Hard on the gas down the hill, feel the suspension squash at the bottom then drive up the hill, hard braking, down to 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and into Druids. The brakes on the Panigale were flawless all day – confidence inspiring and massively powerful. Druids is really hard to get right –initially I was entering it far too slowly to drive a good line through to the very late apex, but it got better later in the day, and I ended up with a knee down and satisfyingly close to the apex on a couple of occasions. It’s a short squirt down to Graham Hill bend, which is my favourite kind of bend. I sneak up behind a slightly slower bike, run a tighter line and we come out side-by-side. I crank it open to make sure I get ahead of him down the straight. Ugh, I prove my incompetence – big power wheelie, snap the throttle closed, front wheel back on earth, crank it open, up it goes again, short-shift to 3[SUP]rd[/SUP], down it comes... but by then the guy is half way down the straight and I’m feeling sheepish. Carry 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] (again, 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] I suspect if you know what you're doing) through the delicious Surtees bend, then cranked over through the long, long right hander which is Clearways before I’m driving back onto the straight and once again it’s “Helm, Warp One Engage!” and hold on tight! Now sitting on my couch completely shattered, but more than a little satisfied and loving the Pani. Great day.
Hope I didn't hold you up too much Ian, I was flat out most of the time and my heart was in my mouth preparing for the inevitable off every time I went round Paddock hill bend. I have never ridden a bike with knobbly tires before, the front tyre is made of Nylon and I had no idea what tyre pressures would be best . I can say it was a lot of fun though.
Grand day out, by the end of the day I was really enjoying Brands. I was on the yellow 748 in the Inters.
Was on the RSVR in novice group you may see yourself here somewhere, I'll get some more vids up soon and post Good day it was too
Not at all, it was great to see you out on track. Couple of years ago at Kyalami there was a guy out on a BMW 1100 GS, dragging his knees around corners. I thought it was a fine effort given how tall the bike is, but nylon tires on a race track ... a new level altogether! Ian
A rear facing view this time, most of novice group there I think.... HD avbl Brands Hatch Indy Aprilia RSVR 27-8-2013 Rear view Novice Group - YouTube
