Naked Twin
16-02-2009, 05:13 PM
I was able to do Phillip Island for the first time last week and I thought I would share the story.
A mate and I planned on doing PI on the Friday and Broadford on the Sunday, making it a double header weekend. Well unfortunately Broadford got canceled due to the fires on Tuesday, too late to change PI so we loaded up the bikes on Wednesday night for an early leave on Thursday morning. Didn't get off to a great start, the trailer was blowing fuses on the falcon so by the time we reached Goulburn we decided to disconnect the trailer and run without trailer lights, not ideal but after trying several different things it was all we could do.
We made Cowes by 6pm, found accommodation, got fed, had a couple of beverages and off to bed.
The Friday met us with some wind, but it was fine. Get to the track do the obligatory sign in 3 times and my mate realises he has left his gloves at the house, no worries hire some. $55 for gloves to hire, not happy, so off he goes to get them. Misses his first session in white (C) group. I am booked in green (B2) thinking wow never been here before and in over my head. I ask the marshal can he show me round a couple of laps as I have never been there before. He says we will do 2 laps at a slow pace. We leave pit exit as we come past the last of the armco the wind hits me and pushes me sideways, I am thinking shit this is going to be fun down the main straight. I look straight ahead and see the ocean and think wow you could really ride into the ocean (this would come back and bite me later on). I follow the marshal round into turn 2, staying wide, middle of the track then cranking back to apex, need to remember that. Down through turn 3 and into 4 he is braking quite heavily, oh shit turn 4 does come up on you, that also would be reminder for later on. Turn 5 and up to Lukey heights is all about turning in late and getting on it hard. Coming over Lukey into MG I am trying to work out where I should be heading and looking as the road just drops away and there is sweet all reference points. Staying tight on the exit of MG (turn 9) is essential but I can see why it is high side heaven. Turns 10 - 12 are something else accelerating up to crank into 12 the road drops away a little. This whole track feels weird. Second lap we are overtaking people whilst going slow WTF. Anyway 3rd lap in he lets me go down the main straight, I back off about 150m before I need to, looking for a reference point to back will be fun. Anyway I am away into it. Coming up to turn 4 I have no idea of a braking marker and nearly out do myself. May have to brake a little earlier as I speed up out of turn 3. Lukey heights is a nightmare I can't get a good line turn 12 just sucks and I am thinking this is going to be hard.
First session over I remember the first session is always crap for me, second session I concentrate on turns 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. I even get a good line through lukey into MG. I am feeling good, guys that were leaving me for dead are now being overtaken.
Third session it all comes together I am having a couple of good duels and apart for turns 11 and 12 I am happy with the way I am going. the third session always tends to be my best. I love going into 3 flat out to out brake into 4. I am gaining on a lot of guys in turn 2 so I feel the line is right, turn 1 I am still slow on entry but corner speed is good. The wind is pushing me sideways coming onto the straight and at the end of the straight, sometimes at 2 I being pushed a little wide but nothing to worry about, just need to allow for it. Out turn 9 I get the front off the ground, this is as good as it gets.
Fourth session I am dueling with some quicker guys, this is good. Towards the end of the session I am tiring so I am struggling to keep with them. coming through turn 1 something on the bike caught my eye, it was the fuel light. I take another look into turn 2, the winds gets me and I find myself running wide faster then I have ever gone through 2. Not going to make it. stand the bike up, lock up the front, let it go and off onto the grass. The rear is doing a compression lock up as I haven't pulled in the clutch. So I am "backing it in" on the grass as the gravel trap is heading towards me. Thinking this would be a good time to ditch, I pull the clutch in the bike feels like it accelerates into the gravel trap. No ditching now. I make it 3/4 of the way into the gravel trap before coming to a stop. Bike has stalled but I haven't crashed. Start the bike and head out the other side spinning up the gravel, that stuff is seriously deep. I get back on the track and take it easy for the next lap and the chequered flag is out.
Session 5 sees me trying to emulate my efforts at turn 2 though I stopped before the gravel trap only run off at turn 4 out braking myself. I deem it better to put the bike away early then try keep doing this. I really need to get fit.
PI awesome track and I will be back to do it later in the year hopefully with Broadford on the same weekend.
Nick
A mate and I planned on doing PI on the Friday and Broadford on the Sunday, making it a double header weekend. Well unfortunately Broadford got canceled due to the fires on Tuesday, too late to change PI so we loaded up the bikes on Wednesday night for an early leave on Thursday morning. Didn't get off to a great start, the trailer was blowing fuses on the falcon so by the time we reached Goulburn we decided to disconnect the trailer and run without trailer lights, not ideal but after trying several different things it was all we could do.
We made Cowes by 6pm, found accommodation, got fed, had a couple of beverages and off to bed.
The Friday met us with some wind, but it was fine. Get to the track do the obligatory sign in 3 times and my mate realises he has left his gloves at the house, no worries hire some. $55 for gloves to hire, not happy, so off he goes to get them. Misses his first session in white (C) group. I am booked in green (B2) thinking wow never been here before and in over my head. I ask the marshal can he show me round a couple of laps as I have never been there before. He says we will do 2 laps at a slow pace. We leave pit exit as we come past the last of the armco the wind hits me and pushes me sideways, I am thinking shit this is going to be fun down the main straight. I look straight ahead and see the ocean and think wow you could really ride into the ocean (this would come back and bite me later on). I follow the marshal round into turn 2, staying wide, middle of the track then cranking back to apex, need to remember that. Down through turn 3 and into 4 he is braking quite heavily, oh shit turn 4 does come up on you, that also would be reminder for later on. Turn 5 and up to Lukey heights is all about turning in late and getting on it hard. Coming over Lukey into MG I am trying to work out where I should be heading and looking as the road just drops away and there is sweet all reference points. Staying tight on the exit of MG (turn 9) is essential but I can see why it is high side heaven. Turns 10 - 12 are something else accelerating up to crank into 12 the road drops away a little. This whole track feels weird. Second lap we are overtaking people whilst going slow WTF. Anyway 3rd lap in he lets me go down the main straight, I back off about 150m before I need to, looking for a reference point to back will be fun. Anyway I am away into it. Coming up to turn 4 I have no idea of a braking marker and nearly out do myself. May have to brake a little earlier as I speed up out of turn 3. Lukey heights is a nightmare I can't get a good line turn 12 just sucks and I am thinking this is going to be hard.
First session over I remember the first session is always crap for me, second session I concentrate on turns 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. I even get a good line through lukey into MG. I am feeling good, guys that were leaving me for dead are now being overtaken.
Third session it all comes together I am having a couple of good duels and apart for turns 11 and 12 I am happy with the way I am going. the third session always tends to be my best. I love going into 3 flat out to out brake into 4. I am gaining on a lot of guys in turn 2 so I feel the line is right, turn 1 I am still slow on entry but corner speed is good. The wind is pushing me sideways coming onto the straight and at the end of the straight, sometimes at 2 I being pushed a little wide but nothing to worry about, just need to allow for it. Out turn 9 I get the front off the ground, this is as good as it gets.
Fourth session I am dueling with some quicker guys, this is good. Towards the end of the session I am tiring so I am struggling to keep with them. coming through turn 1 something on the bike caught my eye, it was the fuel light. I take another look into turn 2, the winds gets me and I find myself running wide faster then I have ever gone through 2. Not going to make it. stand the bike up, lock up the front, let it go and off onto the grass. The rear is doing a compression lock up as I haven't pulled in the clutch. So I am "backing it in" on the grass as the gravel trap is heading towards me. Thinking this would be a good time to ditch, I pull the clutch in the bike feels like it accelerates into the gravel trap. No ditching now. I make it 3/4 of the way into the gravel trap before coming to a stop. Bike has stalled but I haven't crashed. Start the bike and head out the other side spinning up the gravel, that stuff is seriously deep. I get back on the track and take it easy for the next lap and the chequered flag is out.
Session 5 sees me trying to emulate my efforts at turn 2 though I stopped before the gravel trap only run off at turn 4 out braking myself. I deem it better to put the bike away early then try keep doing this. I really need to get fit.
PI awesome track and I will be back to do it later in the year hopefully with Broadford on the same weekend.
Nick