17th February 2001 - Lydden

Having finally got a van and having managed to get the bike started it was off to Lydden for the first practice day. Despite getting lost on the way I arrived in time to sign on and unload everything. Although I managed to take the bike out for a shakedown run last November this was vastly different. For a start my ribs have healed so I can try to move around the bike, the group I was in was full of quick racers rather than the slow boys I was at the track with and not least because I now have the Dyno graph that show how vicious the power delivery can be.

First session out was scary. As much because I hadn't ridden for three months as the fact I had never seen the track before. Managed to confuse myself by trying to juggle trying to learn the track, trying to get used to the reverse gear shift and trying to move around on the bike. I was in agony by the time the session finished as the rearsets were far too high for me so I adjusted them to drop them down one setting.

The second session was much better. Starting to get more of a feel for the bike and the track although I'm still being far too cautious with the throttle. Having said that I did manage to cover most of the hill coming out of the Devil's Elbow with the front wheel in the air. Went much quicker although I had cramp in my hands by the end as it felt like the throttle was slipping closed at every opportunity and I was really having to hold it tight. I noticed afterwards that I had left the grip covers on which rather explained everything although did make me feel like a complete idiot.

We waited so long to go out for the third session that not only did the bike overheat but allowed the battery to go completely flat on me. Needless to say by the time I got back to the van and put on the spare battery which I had bought yesterday the session ended and that was that.

Session four proved to be my last of the day. Managed to make it around the first lap until the Devil's Elbow (the only left-hander on the track). My brain said 'Left hander, be careful on cold tyres', unfortunately it didn't say 'concentrate on your riding you idiot' which would have been far more useful. Not quite sure what happened, I think I lost the front end although I ended up eating some tarmac which left the bike looking rather worse for wear.

The end result of the little 'off' was a broken screen, a very bent clutch lever and right hand side footpeg plus a large gouge in the alternator cover that was enough to let it weep a tiny amount of oil. It only makes me mad to think that I went to all the trouble of buying the crash bobbins but couldn't fit them as they had given me two right hand ones and no left hand ones!

In the end the day should be considered a success as I met lots of people I'm going to be racing with, I made a start on learning the bike (not that two sessions really amounts to much) and I've got a vague idea where the track goes. Hopefully I can get everything sorted in time for the next practice on the 1st March.