Great two days

Nutter67 · 11-01-2007, 6:44 PM

I have just had the best two days. Went down to Phillip Island - where they hold the Oz MotoGP - to help out with marshalling, and of course have a bit of a ride when I could.

The track time I got was 3 and a half 20 minutes sessions (was supposed to be 8 sessions, but got cut short by a couple of tumbles that required ambulance attendance - no serious injuries tho).

I started out in the slow group - (a) because I have only had the bird for seven weeks and didn't know what we were capable of, and (b) because I have only ever been on a race track twice before for rider education, and (c) because I am not that fast. It took the first session to start getting comfortable, the second session to start getting some confidence, and I started speeding up i the third session to the point of nearly lapping someone just before the chequered flag came out. Just before going out for the fourth session was to start, I got tapped on the shoulder by the organiser who told me that I was to go on the track with the next group - they were the intermediate group. I was one of the slowest in theat group, but even the fast guys were having a bit of trouble getting past the bird because the lines I took allowed me to get on the power at just the right time and then the bird took over and just took off. Thrid gear wheelies at the exit of Siberia. At least the faster group I was trying to follow weren't getting too far away from me.

Unfortunately (and I know it is a safety thing) I had to have the speedo taped up, so I dont know how fast I was going before I chickened out and slowed down for turn one, but by the end I got the tacho up to 8500rpm in top gear. Does anyone know what the indicated speed would be? I'm guessing 260kmh.

I had a great time and I am still smiling the next day. I cant wait to do it again.

Many thanks to Garage Motorcycles in Adelaide and Roadcraft Techniques for putting this on, and the guys from OzBlackbird and OzVFR for there help.

Here is a pic of the sportmax after riding 70 miles home (I think it looked beter at the track

.)

flblackbird · 11-01-2007, 8:45 PM

Lucky SOB!! Glad you had a good time.

PJNXX · 11-01-2007, 9:04 PM

Good for you. That's an awesome experience. From the looks of the rear tire you really had some fun. Just curious, how do you become a marshall for a MotoGP race?

8500 rpm in top gear. Not bad for a silver bird. If it were a black bird you would have hit redline, no problem.

Nutter67 · 11-01-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flblackbird

Lucky SOB!! Glad you had a good time.

And the best part..... It was FREE. I volunteered my time as marshal, they paid for accomodation and waived all track fees.

Nutter67 · 11-01-2007, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJNXX

Good for you. That's an awesome experience. From the looks of the rear tire you really had some fun. Just curious, how do you become a marshall for a MotoGP race?

8500 rpm in top gear. Not bad for a silver bird. If it were a black bird you would have hit redline, no problem.

My rear tyre really doesnt like me any more after that

. It would have been a better photo if I was allowed to do all eight sessions.

I think to become an official track marshal you need to know the right people. There is a company who provide all of those services to MotoGP, F1, etc but I dont know who they are.

I may have been able to redline a black bird, but I wanted to do it in style

.

Nutter67 · 11-02-2007, 7:39 AM

Oh, and I forgot to mention "No more chicken strips"

TWEET · 11-04-2007, 1:14 PM

I see chicken in that pic

Nutter67 · 11-04-2007, 5:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWEET

I see chicken in that pic

Ok, so I lied, but they are a tenth of the size that they were.

mattz · 11-07-2007, 12:20 AM

Hey sounds like a good time was had by all try this toolhttp://www.xs4all.nl/~ator0437/gc/

Nutter67 · 11-07-2007, 4:06 AM

Thanks for that. It says approx 237kmh. I am doing it all again in December, this time with the speedo exposed

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