TT Machine Test

Been absolutely flat-out finishing and prepping the bikes - so this is an update from Friday...

After getting back from collecting the Triumph and track prepping it with John Trigger at 02h00, I managed a few hours sleep before loading the bikes and van to be a Mallory Park circuit for testing by 08h30.

I get to the circuit and sign on - I miss the first session as I unload the bikes, get setup and get the bikes noise tested. After all the troubles over the last few years at Mallory, there is a 103dB maximum limit on a static test for the day with drive-by monitoring down the main straight. The KMR comes in at 100dB and the Triumph scrapes through at 102dB on the static test.

The Norton team are there with Cameron Donald and Adam Child testing their TT Superbike and Lightweight bikes. The Norton Superbike is a custom framed Aprilia RSV4. That V4 sounded the absolute dogs bollocks out there. The Lightweight bike is a Kawasaki ER-6 with different body-work on. Close up, both bikes are surprisingly rough. I am surprised... maybe they are test bikes. But I have a feeling that those are the only bikes. We'll see in 2 weeks time.

All geared up and I make my way to pit-lane for the first of my test sessions on the KMR. I get a few approving nods and people are checking out the KMR. Adam Child comes over and tells me "We're admiring the bike.". We have a chat about the KMR and the TT while we wait - within a few minutes pit-lane opens and we are on circuit.

Team Norton with Cameron Donald (he used to be my wife's favorite TT rider ;-)

With cold tyres, I warm up on the bike gently. First heavy braking into a corner and I make a mental not to adjust the brake-lever. The bike is surprisingly smooth and docile. I start winding it on and 15 minutes later when the session ends, I'm really getting into it. I fiddle around with the brake lever a few times during the session, the bars need adjusting but everything else is just spot-on.

After the session I give everything a check and change the brake pads on the Triumph. Soon, I'm on circuit again on the KMR. I was in the fast group. I though t that on my little 90 horsepower bike against superbikes with twice the power I would be blown away. There are 2 or 3 riders that do just that... but the rest I either overtook or was pretty much level with. The wee KMR is such an easy machine... so smooth, balanced and planted. Built for the TT :-) I am super happy with it when I come in after another 15 minutes. I park up and put the cover over it - no use wearing out the machinery!

1 hour 20 minutes of racing on the Isle of Man and 2 sessions on track - a race tyre... superb!

Next session and I'm due out on the Triumph for the first time. Unfortunately, there is an incident at the hairpin my session and they call lunch early. The two ambulances cart 3 riders off to hospital. A reminder that track-days can still be dangerous.

After lunch and there is another hour and a half delay as we wait for one of the ambulances to return. There was lovely sunshine with a cold breeze - perfect conditions for the sunburn that I got on the back of my neck while fettling the Triumph. I am so tired from the last few days work on the bikes and lack of sleep - I can't keep my eyes open and retire to doze into and out of consciousness in the back of the van.

I wake when they announce the next session on track. I scramble groggily onto the bike and head out on circuit. Despite having had the bike on tyres warmers for the last few hours, as soon as I ask more than just a pootle from the bike, the grip levels feel terrible. I pull in to have a check in case there is something wrong. All seems as it should. I head out again and start to wind that 3 cylinder up to it's max power at 14 000 rpm.

The freshly track-ready Triumph stayed in the van overnight...

The engine is just so smooth and creamy. She pulls from low down at 4000 rpm - like a big vee twin :-) She hits 10 000rpm and just keeps on pulling! Beautiful! On one lap, coming out of Devil's Elbow, a rider comes up my outside... I pin the throttle and level-peg with the other bike next to me all the way to the braking zone for Gerrard's. I roll off early - I then see it's Cameron Donald on the Norton Superbike next to me. Either he wasn't on it or the Triumph pulls damn impressively despite running TT gearing that is way too tall for a short circuit. On both bikes I only use 5 or the 6 gears.

The brakes are bloody fantastic on the Triumph. They really show the KMR brakes up to be mediocre. I'd say that's the only weak point of the KMR... on a short circuit. Around the TT course this will be far less of a disadvantage. Maybe it's just the Brembo feel that I'm used to - the KMR has a ZX-10 Tokico setup. The Triumph stops as quick as it accelerates :-)

Next thing, I'm getting the black flag waved at me. I cruise around and pull into the pits where I'm told my bike is too noisy and I must fit baffles. I have no baffles and with that open race exhaust is was always a risk of taking it to a track-day. Especially at Mallory. I promise to keep the revs down and they let me out on track again. If I get another black flag, I'm sent home so I keep the revs below 12 000. A bit disappointing because she pulls like a demon and sounds fantastic on full chat.

The offending object of beauty

A few adjustments here and there and I get out on the next session to just get some bike time. K-Tech sent the incorrect steering damper fitting kit and without a steering damper, she was real lively over the bumps and coming down from crossed-up power wheelies. JT will have the correct kit for me on the Isle - so that should work out ok.

More titanium exhaust porn on the KMR... 

I struggle with edge grip. As soon as I get the bike down, she feels like she is loosing grip. I hardly touch my knee down and can't get her on her ear. I had a few slides in the earlier session, but I start getting her stepping out on both the left-handers (the only two on the track). It's those crap road tyres. Michelin Pilot Road 4 tyres just aren't meant for the track. I had some old Pirelli Supercorsas that I was going to fit... but after midnight, JT and I just didn't have appetite to change tyres. I am getting frustrated that I can't accelerate like I want and the cornering is also limited by the tyres.

Triumph - One and a half sessions an a new road tyre... they're shit.

My riding starts to get scrappy - the lack of sleep and sunburn factoring in. I get a big slide coming out of Edwina's and I decide to call it a day. I didn't have the energy to change tyres for the last session and on those tyres there was nothing more for me to learn... and a lot to lose. Lesson: rather go on track with worn out old race tyres than brand new road tyres.

I left frustrated that I couldn't get more out of the Triumph, that I had to wait another hour before they opened the gates to let us out but mostly by fatigue. But... the shake-down was a success. The testing is done, some adjustments made, some lessons learned and most importantly, some bike time on the machines that are going to take me around the Isle of Man in two weeks time. Nothing broke or fell off. No leaks or problems. Both bikes felt comfortable and strong. I stayed on. We're happy :-)

These two bikes followed me home... I'm happy... really... I am...

Now... to finish off the Triumph build and get both bikes prepped for the TT!

Mallory Testing

On Wednesday I took some time off work and got up to Mallory Park to test the Manx weapons. Because of work (so much for taking time off), I arrived late and missed the first hour :-(







Sure beats the hell out of work! 

All set to get out on track and the noise tester comes around, that's when I find the Aprilia RSV is in 'limp' mode and won't rev over 3k. What a ball-ache! A few calls and help from Aprilia guru Don  and I manage to get her running ok - looks like a faulty oil pressure sensor. Must be faulty becasue I unplugged it and the engine didn't much itself. In the end I managed to get 2 decent 10 lap sessions in on the SV and 3 sessions in on the Factory. A good shake-down.

Shit way to start a test session...

Setup for racing around the Isle, of course they were way overgeared but felt solid and stable. Just what's needed. The new SV front-end is superb... feels like a proper bike now. You can brake so much later and harder, all while keeping perfect composure. It feels solid and doesn't waggle around and flex under heavy braking. The Factory is fast, but I struggled with the way-too-tall gearing around the menagery Mallory - I couldn't get out of 5th gear. I need to get used to that quickshifter and the feeling of keeping it pinned while changing gear.

Neither of the bikes blew up or fell to pieces - the new front-end on SV worked and feels great... and the Factory felt strong. I found a few little potential problems that need attention...  so just a bit more work and they'll both be ready to haul ass down Bray Hill. :-)

Mallory Park DD

It was beautiful, sun-shinin' morning to take the Wee Monster out for a spin. Warm-up all done, I got stuck into qualifying but it was cut short to only 5 laps because of an incident. No worries... I qualify 5th.

Race 1 - Red lights on.. revvs up... feel the clutch... lights off and we're away with a little wheelie. Stylin! I hold my start position and the race settles down quite quickly.  It's a long 18 lap race and soon there's a white bike on my six - he stays there lap after lap. He finally makes a move and pushes through going into the super-fast turn 1 on about lap 13. I return the complement the next lap... game on!

Some feckin starlings have taken to the tree over my driveway... if they don't move on soon, they're gonna get it!

We're lapping riders and going around the outside of a backmarker through the looooong turn 1 (Gerrard's) I cut it a bit fine as the slower bike drifts wide and clip his footpeg with my elbow. "Sorry..." I press on. Another backmarker and I get held up - the white bike's through again.

We go through plumes of white smoke into turn 1 and I back off - looking for the trail of oil. At the exit of the 180 degree turn, a backmarker's bike finally shat itself and spewed a 2 foot wide oil slick on the race line. Whooooah! I dodge the oil and the offending bike is sliding riderless across the grass. A small justice when a rider goes down on their own oil.

I lose touch with the white bike through this excitement and on the next lap another backmarker goes down on the oil in front of me - he was probably just ahead of the blown-up bike so had no idea what was there. Race red flagged and a result called. 6th.

Race 2 - Red lights on... revvs up... feel the clutch... hmmmm, a little too much feeling there. I roll forward a yard before the lights go out. Bollocks! Jump start. :-( No worries, I pile into turn 1 underneath the guy on pole who got a bad start... turn 2 and that white bike comes up my inside. On lap 2 the 2nd and 3rd place riders take a fast trip to the gravel in turn 1... I get there to see 2 bodies and 2 bikes tumbling through the dust. Restart.

Red lights on... revvs up... I fondle the clutch too much again and creep forward... lights out and I give her beans. The white bike gets a rocket start from 8th and is up my inside at turn 1... I in turn get up the inside of another and am in 3rd. Turn 2 and I outbrake that pesky white bike to get up his inside. I chase 1st. End of lap 2 and I'm still 3 bike lengths off 1st.

I get the 'Bus Stop' chicane slightly wrong and land up clipping the 2" high concrete domes that are used as a rumble strip. I must have hit it square - the poor monster takes a big hit and goes skywards. I'm bucked out of the seat and land back on with a mighty "Whump!".

Ouch! No major damage though...

Shit! I crack on the gas again... no time to lose. There goes second... and third... fourth... what the f... ? Fifth... sixth... I'm going nowhere... just coasting. Shit! Bollocks! My chain came off. Doh!

I coast into the pit and that's my race over. A bit disappointed - I was in the hunt. But... the objective of the day was a signature for the Manx GP. Done. Four down... two to go!

Mallory Park Hero Pics

Just got some hero pics form Mallory Park the other weekend...

I normally look like I'm tootling around looking for parking!

Thanks to Racing Line Photography for the fantastic shots!

Three Down - Three to Go

Headed out to Mallory Park for a wee bit o road racing on Saturday for the third of my six qualifying races for the ManxGP (I earned my first two by finishing ManxGP 2010). It was a ThundersportGB event - well organised.

Suzy V lookin' damn fine an sweet!

When I got there the paddock was rammed - everyone had been there since Friday morning doing testing/practice. My first session was Qualifying. Having had zero practice, being a crap 'Qualifier' and the first time on Suzy V on a short circuit - I only placed #19 on the grid of 21.

First time out on wickedly-sick-bling Braking discs from one of my sponsors: Talon Engineering. Man, they are the mutts-nuts on track... and just propped up on paddock stands

Race 1 - I get a rubbish start and stay out of trouble in the first corner - easy when you're last! I make up a couple of places on the first lap. Things settle down and a few laps later I'm at the tail of 4 bike train. I'm thinking "Race On! This is gonna be fun!". Then dear Suzy starts to feel flat above 8000 rpm. Like she's running on one cylinder. I just twist that throttle harder! She gets worse and I start dropping off the pace... over 7000 rpm and she chugs along. I couldn't hear any strange noises from the engine so figure it must be a spark or fuel problem... I screw that throttle harder. I get overtaken... she's just not going. Now over 6000 rpm she's running one one cylinder. I keep going. I HAVE to finish!

I get lapped by the leaders... a good thing because I have 1 less lap to do! It's the first time I've ever been relieved to be lapped! Suzy was getting worse and I was just circulating... expecting to be black-flagged. I finish second last - no idea what the guy in last place was doing out there!

The part of racing I hate - sorting bikes that don't work properly

Between races I pop the tank up and find a frayed and loose coil connector.They have such crappy connectors on the coil - cheap Suzuki shit. I sort it and she seems ok.

The offending 2 penny shitty connector

Race 2 - Of course... the more time you have before a race, the less sorted you'll be for the race. I started riding to the assembly area without gloves... I was wondering why my hands were so cold! Doh. The grid is just about to set off on the warm-up lap as I scramble to my spot. 'Sorry' I wave and then it starts raining. It really comes down during the warm-lap, but by the time we're around it's stopped. They hold us there for 5 minutes, then give us another warm-up lap. It's not going to be a wet race as the track is drying.

Plenty of time for a gearing change and some suspension tweaks between races - more wicked Talon products!

I get a decent start off the line and we all tip-toe into the first corner. I barrel through the spray and make up another 3 or 4 places. Wet race - bring it on! I make up a few more places during the next 2 or 3 laps and am in the top 10. Yeeha! Then everyone starts going faster... apparently there was a dry line - but I couldn't see it through my dark visor. Doh! I can only think of the finish as I'm doubtful the lapped, second-last place in Race 1 is going to count. I ride careful to make sure of the finish. I must have pulled quite a gap on the guys behind by lap 5 because I was only caught by 2 riders on the last lap. They passed me easily and I took 12th.

Happy with that, but a little annoyed with myself that I had the wrong visor on and I backed off so much to make ultra-sure of the finish. A 10th was there for the taking. Oh - and Suzy was faultless!

Three down - three to go!

Suzy came good in the end - but I couldn't really make good of her in the limited laps and conditions

In all a successful day and I made a new race friend - I parked up next to Rob Chisholm on a similar (old and cheap) SV with a 916 fairing (nice!). Rob also has ManxGP aspirations, is a heck of a nice guy and a living hero. He's a combat medic in the Army who has already done 3 tours in Iraq and is off to Afganistan in a few months. I think Anglesey in early May is my next meeting with ThundersportGB - hope to see you there Rob!

 Sergeant Rob C

2011 Race Season Starts - Tomorrow!

Suzy V is all prepped and ready... I'm ready.
Tomorrow I head up to Mallory Park for my first road race of the season. It's still cold, there could be rain and I haven't short-circuit raced since May last year... and I've never raced Suzy on a short circuit. Just going to take it easy and finish in the numbers to get the third of six signatures I need to qualify for the Manx GP.

Looking forward to seeing what she's like with all those extra ponies under the tank.
Bring it on!