So after 10 years of riding and 6 track days it has finally happened, I want to find that person who said “it’s not if but when” and punch them in the face. I had my first off at Donnington yesterday . I hate hairpins even more now that this has happened. One of the things I decided to work on was bleeding off the brake rather than just dumping it. My approach is ok as I progressively engage but then I dump. Going into Goddards a bit to hot, did an overtake which in retrospect I shouldn’t have, was central of the track rather than to the right, so went heavy on the brake as I started to tip in, thought shit am I way to fast so leaned in to compensate, and blam lost the front. Funny thing first thing I thought was shit my bike rather than am I ok.
All the protection did the job and took the brunt of the physical damage, engine cover, bar ends, bobbins, only 1/4 broken clutch lever and heel guards and a few scuffs. Picked the bike up no leaks, no on board warnings, rode down the parking lot and back and instructors cleared me to continue.
I booked in an instructor at the start of the day (which is free, never knew that) so he went out with me on the next session and did his thing and his main feedback was a bit shocking, “You scrub way too much speed off going into corners so you don’t have the proper momentum to load the front tyres and carry you through the corner which reduces grip” See I always took it really easily into and out of corners as that is here I see most incidents like mine, either someone is to aggressive coming out and high ends, or over cooks and goes into the gravel, so the concept was a bit difficult to grasp. Also I play peak-ah-boo down the straights, nice and tucked in, then half way down start to raise up slowly , his response what the hell are you doing stay tucked until you break that’s the only point you need the extra wind drag.
I also discovered that I commit early to the corner which results in a super wide exit or having to slow even more, so taking it just a tad later made significant difference.
Humble pie eaten, and tried the pointers and waaw the difference, but it takes a lot of confidence to carry the right speed into the corners, but when you do the additional grip is felt the bike just sticks and sling around. Still very cautious cause the fear is even more real after my incident. Thought the RR would have scared me but had it in dynamic mode and it was perfect. Also I got much better at the old hairpin I could never figure out the right line, but following the
Funny I thought I would be discouraged, but I always have more fun on the track than on the road, just the time and the cost is not feasible to do more than a few.
Lots of lessons learnt to mull over and get ready for the next session. Tired as hell, proper full body workout.