I digress..
I'll skip all the boring crap as we got there at about 7:30 and had to unload 4 bikes and prep the bikes that rode there and stuff.
For a start, the noise testing bit was a bit disappointing. Held the bike at 5,000rpm and was only making 88dB. Bit sad over that, the sticker on my frame says 91dB at 4,250rpm. So the bike is without a doubt being made louder at some point, good thing I have those Renegade cans.. somewhere.
After the usual briefing stuff we went out on the track, obviously. When the day started I was obviously very nervous and falling behind everyone, being overtaken constantly as well.. ( Although there were loads of intermediate riders in our group, as the actual inters filled up really quickly ).
Needless to say I always gained a lot of space back coming out of corners anyway, I never went lower than 2nd gear or higher than 4th at any point. Even the hairpin was taken in 2nd and I still had enough acceleration coming off of it to keep everyone else at bay and catch up to those in front. I lost on the straight, but meh. Win some, lose some.
Nearer the end of the day though the Firestorm really got into its' groove, spent countless times on the straights bouncing off the limiter in 3rd and doing the same out of corners, started catching people up fairly quickly and managing overtakes. Although we did have about 4-5 different suspension set-ups throughout the day because I needed mine done anyway, and when it came to braking I could still outbrake quite a few of them there with the standard firestorm brakes.
What else to say... Hmm.. Bike seemed fine throughout the day on standard CCT's too with no stopper mod, always let it warm up to about 80`C before hitting the track and it was never ran on sidestand. But honestly I'd say the 'storm is still pretty potent round the track, I'm by no means a super fast rider or late braker and I still got past several dedicated trackbikes of varying types ( I remember overtaking a specific R6, I think, a couple of times ), I just think you need to pick your fights right after a corner.
Don't think I'll be doing another one any time soon though, towards the end of the day ( I only did up to the second last session and I only did a few laps of that one to confirm my set-up as the one I'd keep on the road ) the inters started getting stupid and were cutting up everyone, swerving around and just being absolute Richard. Came in early because of one prick on the hairpin trying to go under me and almost hitting me, and I didn't want to wreck the bike I'm gonna be using for commuting and using for weekends. Just don't think I'm the right sort of rider as well, I'm quite cautious too.
Does that satisfy your need for a write-up Jamie, did I miss anything out O'holy homo?
Also, have some pics !
