last trackday of the year on the R6 (dial up warning;pictures)

[mademiriam]

So there was another trackday, which was held as a charity event to help a local rider recover from a terrible crash. It turned in to a great day for a great cause.
The day started with me seeing the first frost on the car, air temp around 3 C (37 Fahrenheit) but the sun decided to show itself and the air warmed up to 13C (55 Fahrenheit).

Getting up early and cold was worth it. Since the bike was set up for a much heavier rider, we adjusted sag some. But I will need to get a new spring for the rear shock to get it just right. Slowly in course of the morning the R6 started to feel a bit like my bike, rather than like a bike I had just bought. After the suspension adjustments I really hit a great zone and did some nice laps, dragging knees in places I normally hadn't. Which promptly lead to a short off track excursion which ended in both the bike and I being covered in mud. I was a bit sore but unhurt and could just pick the bike up and continue to the pits. My other half got it ready for the next session while I got checked out by the EMT, the bike once again through tech. I managed not to miss a single session.
The rest of the sessions, which happen to be where the video and pictures are from were a bit slower but still a great time! I'm excited to see what the rear suspension figured out and a softer tire will do for me!
Pre-incident

clean R6

dirty R6


great view from turn two up towards turn 1

heres a link to the video my other half uploaded, turn 4-5 down to the bottom straight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz0ediGTRgY

[solman]

Doesn't look like this chap was going too fast or he didn't pick a good line, eh?  BTW, nice looking bike you thought it needed a mud bath why? :motorsmile:lol

[mademiriam]

Doesn't look like this chap was going too fast or he didn't pick a good line, eh?  BTW, nice looking bike you thought it needed a mud bath why? :motorsmile:lol

Not sure what he's doing there  turn 2 is a bit on an enigma for many of us. I've followed some of the pros through and still don't know just where I want to be. Amazingly the pic of me leaned over (right above the one you pointed out) is almost exactly where I want to be. The exit to the turn is very bumpy on the inside and outside. I always find it hard getting the power down without floating the front wheel, a rider AND suspension issue. I have a feeling the pic of him, and I know several of the videos are from the very first lap of sessions where I wished I had tire warmers. It always took me at least a couple laps to wring any life in the the pilot power ones.
As for getting it dirty...well it just looked to clean really! And the grass looked so inviting! Who knew there was a muddy ditch in there 

[smooth operator]

 Glad to see you had a chance to get it out! As far as hitting the grass, Oh well that'll happen.Glad to see your alright though,and it didn't look like it did much to the bike either.
  I know what you mean about the warmers. I like to tail the fast riders as long as I can,but by the time my tires are warmed up they are long gone.
  I have some suspenssion isues too. Getting them sorted out would sure help. Unfortunatly it may be a long winter befor I get the chance.    Dan