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I couldn't find the the exact board to post this topic. Since this was the only place where articles were entertained I have put it up here. Mods you can feel free to move it to the right topic.
An account of my first ever track day rendezvous. It could also help a little to riders interested to participate in the next races. Forgive me for the [/B][B]long composition.
THE CATASTROPHIC FIRST-EVER TRACK DAY
An account of my first ever track day rendezvous. It could also help a little to riders interested to participate in the next races. Forgive me for the [/B][B]long composition.
THE CATASTROPHIC FIRST-EVER TRACK DAY
It was the 26th of June, 2009 and I had two reason to be excited on that day. Firstly it was the last exam of my second year bachelor studies. Secondly and mainly, after the exams I was boarding a flight to Chennai for my first ever racing track day opportunity. Now let me tell you how I managed to grab this opportunity for myself and how important track day opportunity meant to me.
Yamaha Motors India organizes a four season racing championship for its Yamaha R15 owners on a yearly basis at the Madras Motor Sports Club racing circuit in Chennai. The MMSC racing circut at Sriperumdur is a 3.717km long racetrack, 11 meters wide and has 10 major curves apart from 7 minor ones and has three straights, the longest of which is 250 meters. Thus as a marketing and promotional stunt Morang Auto Works(MAW), the authorized distributor of Yamaha bikes in Nepal, has been sending four nepalese participants to this championship on an all expense paid trip. The first time Yamaha sent the participants it was through a lucky draw selection from its R15 owners which I must say was really discouraging for real track day enthusiasts. But this time they flew in India's professional supersports racer Alisha Abdullah and her seven times national racing champion dad Mr.Riyasat Ali Abdullah for selecting the four deserving candidates. I should have probably been the happiest with this decision by Yamaha Nepal as this way I believed I stood a chance rather than the stupid lucky draw. I immediately persuaded my brother to purchase his Yamaha R15 a day before the selections, though he was still waiting to purchase the bike a month later. Now how I convinced MAW that it was actually my bike, is a long long story. Well anything for passion even if I had to cheat. The selection was based on the display of body language, cornering techniques, riding strategy, etc and boy oh boy did I get through along with two of my friends and a stranger. The championship was scheduled for the 28th of June and we left for Chennai on the 26th of June after the exams.
Being an avid motorcycling enthusiast, I have always wished for a track day for myself someday down the line. I have been determined to live up to the day to taste the thrill of track racing at least once till the motorcycling blood runs in me. Well to people who know me, I am off course not your traditional street racer with infinite lust for speed because I believe the street is an unpredictable environment where the rider has to keep track not only of his riding and the road but mainly should maintain a 20/20 vision and concentration on other road users and unexpected obstructions which can be lethally dangerous. So A race track to me is a safer and predictable playground to test one's real potential where its completely the rider's skill that counts and I wouldn't think twice wringing the throttle a little more in the track. But so immediate would this track day opportunity come knocking by that I had never imagined even in my wildest dreams. We arrived at Chennai on the midnight of 26th June. A practice run on the track was scheduled for the next day and we passed out for the night withholding the extreme excitement. But there happened to be a media event in the track on the 27th June and our practice was cancelled all thanks to the rainfall after the event. So all we earned was a look of what a race track looks like and stood gaping at the professional riders doing their speed runs. This itself was exciting to me as it was the first time I had stepped into a real international standard racetrack. We returned back to the hotel and joined Mr.Abdullah's family for dinner which was filled with delicious indian food and tips for the race day tomorrow. Not to forget, I have to confess that the father and daughter in spite of their acclaimed racing status has to one of the most down to earth persons that I have met in my life. I have always imagined racers to be full of attitude but the table turned for me on my meeting with these two first racers of my life.
Cometh the 28th of June and we were there early on the track since we were promised a half hour practice run before the event by the indian Yamaha officials. It was the race day. We were given our bikes and were instructed to follow the Yamaha rider who would show us the appropriate racing line. There I was revving the bike on the pitlane with extreme adrenaline gushing within for my first ever track day run. I pulled in the clutch lever, shifted to first gear, accelerated, disengaged the clutch and set off to burn some rubber in the unbelievably butter smooth and inspirational tarmac. For around two laps I followed the Yamaha rider around the track getting used to both the bike and the track. It was really exciting taking the corners and hairpin bends in a predictable environment with no fear of obstructions and surprises like pot holes, slippery components,animals, etc at the corner exits unlike in everyday road riding. I tried scraping the virgin knee guards in the corners for a first hand experience of the blissful sound of the guard and tarmac scraping but every try in vain. Perhaps more practice on the track is the key to getting a real knee down. After getting a feel of the track I decided to push myself and test my potential. I overtook my friends gradually and sped to my full potential. For two laps I raced with all the skills and experiences I had garnered over all these years of my motorcycling. Believe me, I had never ridden any faster before and probably never will. I was riding imagining myself as a Moto GP racer leaving behind every thoughts with an empty mind blurring the vision around me. I was so much engrossed that I forgot it was a practice run and was making rapid corner entries and exits. Until this tight right hander came...
I was carrying too much speed into the corner and to avoid the side lane grass I quickly decelerated, the result of which I had least expected or fathomed. The bike did not take the rapid deceleration properly and I had a high slide at 90+ speed and was literally thrown over the bike and was airborne. The moment I flew from the bike I already started imagining ambulances and predicted that a major injury was going to occur. I landed head first on the ground and bounced and tumbled three four times before coming to a complete stop in the gravel. I immediately got up, made sure I had no broken bones and put the bike up. I then saw my friend Sohyal coming up and checked on myself. The riding jacket was tattered and I had bruises on my abdomen side and arm. Just as I was quite happy that there were no other major injuries, I realized the muscular strain on the neck and chest as I got onto the bike. It was painful but I decided that I would still try for the championship. But now the fear factor was there and I had lost all the confidence that I had come up here with. The bike was very much damaged and thanks to the understanding Yamaha officials, they agreed to give me another bike for the championship.
Mr.RA Abdullah was very much impressed with the way I rode those two laps and was willing to get me a riding gear if I could ride with the same confidence. But the bruises and the muscular pain kept reminding of the crash and built the fear in me blowing every inch of confidence I had in me. He tried motivating me by telling me to consider it was the bike's mistake and not mine but still I stood a scared loser. So he did not insist. I registered myself for the championship and took a nap in the car for rest and so that I could recollect myself. After few hours, the event commenced and I decided I would be taking part. There was a practice run for three laps or so for each group before the main race. I took it real slow this time leading at the back still trying to increase my corner speeds post the crash trauma. Since there was still time for my selection round I slept again so that the muscular neck strain would ease down. An hour later my turn for the first round came and I had to be it in the top eight to make it to the semi finals. I made sure I could still ride, prayed to the good lord and lined up on the track waiting for the go signal. It was a three lap round and by the end of the first lap I was in the fourth position. I knew I wasn't riding my bloody best but was at least confident of ending in the top eight. Just as I was maintaining my position midway to the second lap and already confident of passing the selection round, some stupid bugger hit me in the rear wheel on a right hander and along with him I started sliding to the left. Now the biggest fear was of being run over since I was still sliding inside the track. But luckily the racers behind me were a little far and I safely slid to the grass on the left side. I quickly picked up my bike and started over again since it was still two laps to go and I could possibly stand a chance. Just as I started riding again I realized the right footpeg was not there and the front brakes had gone kaput. But still filled with determination I continued since I wasn't using the front brakes anyway. Just as the race was coming to an end I could see six riders ahead of me. So I thought I had made it in the top eight. But later realized some three riders were already right up front those six. It was real sad but I had to accept it that I lost. I cannot afford to blame the bugger for my loss since the competition is a part of the racing package. You don't expect a path paved with roses in a race and off course racers don't make excuses. I lost and that's it. No silly excuses!
I then realized I had added another bruise on my right knee and the muscular pain only got worse from the back to back impact. Thus this was the ill-fated result of my first ever track race. But the track day did add up some more gyan to my motorcycling knowledge too. The track taught me the ethics of respecting the machine's potential and not overdoing it. I also broke the street riding myth with respect to the track on which I always had doubt on. So riders be informed that a good street racer will not always necessarily do well on the track. But yes touring around in the hills can be assumed as the nearest thing to track racing. In track riding it is more human potential and skill, then the bike as opposed to street riding. You are there mostly leaning your bike rather than riding it straight and upright. I learned the vast difference in street riding/racing and track racing. The track is a good teacher as it teaches you your appropriate corner lines and apex point. I recommend every die hard motorcyclist to experience the track at least once in their lifetime.
Talking about the racers at the beginners level there, they were lot better than I had imagined. There were guys who rode down to the track for practice one whole day twice or thrice in a month. Some of them were enthusiastic riders who were determined to start track racing as a career from the beginners level. Some had been coming to participate in the championship ever since the competition started in 2008. While the other were first timers just like us. There are stuffs like the perfect racing line, body positioning, cornering techniques, aggressive nature, crash survival techniques, veteran mentoring, etc which a track racer cannot afford to build up in a day and is very important to guarantee one's win. You cannot really be the very fast street racer and easily expect to confidentally win in the track. The rules of the game are totally different. A street racer might do very well on the straights but when it comes to the corner it is likely he will mess it up or lose the pace.
Well I brought no trophy home but the commendation from Mr.Abdullah later in our evening dinner later that night did actually make the crash worth after all. He mentioned to his daughter that those two pre-crash practice laps I rode like a professional racer inspite of being a first timer in the track. Now who wouldn't pride such a statement when it's especially tagged to you by a seven time national racing champion himself and your friends are listening. So with that pat on the back the crash didn't go wasted after all! Though in the end he did say I chickened out after the crash not being able to ride well, of which I entirely agree. Once bitten always twice shy, especially when its a motorcycle crash. Off course as a consolation prize, I at least made it up for a half page color advert of myself in the nation's most popular daily on being selected to represent Nepal.
Jokes apart, will I be trying for the next track event again? I would definitely love to but I cannot afford to go against the will of my parents as I am bloody sure that there is no chance that they will approve again. After all from the practical point of view I am also not going to make a career out of racing and I have already had my wish fulfilled. So I better not going to argue and even loose the liberation I enjoy from my parents for touring to which I am more inclined.
Anyways this ride to me is the very few adrenaline moments in my life that will remain etched in my minds forever until I succumb to the call of the almighty...
Yamaha Motors India organizes a four season racing championship for its Yamaha R15 owners on a yearly basis at the Madras Motor Sports Club racing circuit in Chennai. The MMSC racing circut at Sriperumdur is a 3.717km long racetrack, 11 meters wide and has 10 major curves apart from 7 minor ones and has three straights, the longest of which is 250 meters. Thus as a marketing and promotional stunt Morang Auto Works(MAW), the authorized distributor of Yamaha bikes in Nepal, has been sending four nepalese participants to this championship on an all expense paid trip. The first time Yamaha sent the participants it was through a lucky draw selection from its R15 owners which I must say was really discouraging for real track day enthusiasts. But this time they flew in India's professional supersports racer Alisha Abdullah and her seven times national racing champion dad Mr.Riyasat Ali Abdullah for selecting the four deserving candidates. I should have probably been the happiest with this decision by Yamaha Nepal as this way I believed I stood a chance rather than the stupid lucky draw. I immediately persuaded my brother to purchase his Yamaha R15 a day before the selections, though he was still waiting to purchase the bike a month later. Now how I convinced MAW that it was actually my bike, is a long long story. Well anything for passion even if I had to cheat. The selection was based on the display of body language, cornering techniques, riding strategy, etc and boy oh boy did I get through along with two of my friends and a stranger. The championship was scheduled for the 28th of June and we left for Chennai on the 26th of June after the exams.
Being an avid motorcycling enthusiast, I have always wished for a track day for myself someday down the line. I have been determined to live up to the day to taste the thrill of track racing at least once till the motorcycling blood runs in me. Well to people who know me, I am off course not your traditional street racer with infinite lust for speed because I believe the street is an unpredictable environment where the rider has to keep track not only of his riding and the road but mainly should maintain a 20/20 vision and concentration on other road users and unexpected obstructions which can be lethally dangerous. So A race track to me is a safer and predictable playground to test one's real potential where its completely the rider's skill that counts and I wouldn't think twice wringing the throttle a little more in the track. But so immediate would this track day opportunity come knocking by that I had never imagined even in my wildest dreams. We arrived at Chennai on the midnight of 26th June. A practice run on the track was scheduled for the next day and we passed out for the night withholding the extreme excitement. But there happened to be a media event in the track on the 27th June and our practice was cancelled all thanks to the rainfall after the event. So all we earned was a look of what a race track looks like and stood gaping at the professional riders doing their speed runs. This itself was exciting to me as it was the first time I had stepped into a real international standard racetrack. We returned back to the hotel and joined Mr.Abdullah's family for dinner which was filled with delicious indian food and tips for the race day tomorrow. Not to forget, I have to confess that the father and daughter in spite of their acclaimed racing status has to one of the most down to earth persons that I have met in my life. I have always imagined racers to be full of attitude but the table turned for me on my meeting with these two first racers of my life.
Cometh the 28th of June and we were there early on the track since we were promised a half hour practice run before the event by the indian Yamaha officials. It was the race day. We were given our bikes and were instructed to follow the Yamaha rider who would show us the appropriate racing line. There I was revving the bike on the pitlane with extreme adrenaline gushing within for my first ever track day run. I pulled in the clutch lever, shifted to first gear, accelerated, disengaged the clutch and set off to burn some rubber in the unbelievably butter smooth and inspirational tarmac. For around two laps I followed the Yamaha rider around the track getting used to both the bike and the track. It was really exciting taking the corners and hairpin bends in a predictable environment with no fear of obstructions and surprises like pot holes, slippery components,animals, etc at the corner exits unlike in everyday road riding. I tried scraping the virgin knee guards in the corners for a first hand experience of the blissful sound of the guard and tarmac scraping but every try in vain. Perhaps more practice on the track is the key to getting a real knee down. After getting a feel of the track I decided to push myself and test my potential. I overtook my friends gradually and sped to my full potential. For two laps I raced with all the skills and experiences I had garnered over all these years of my motorcycling. Believe me, I had never ridden any faster before and probably never will. I was riding imagining myself as a Moto GP racer leaving behind every thoughts with an empty mind blurring the vision around me. I was so much engrossed that I forgot it was a practice run and was making rapid corner entries and exits. Until this tight right hander came...
I was carrying too much speed into the corner and to avoid the side lane grass I quickly decelerated, the result of which I had least expected or fathomed. The bike did not take the rapid deceleration properly and I had a high slide at 90+ speed and was literally thrown over the bike and was airborne. The moment I flew from the bike I already started imagining ambulances and predicted that a major injury was going to occur. I landed head first on the ground and bounced and tumbled three four times before coming to a complete stop in the gravel. I immediately got up, made sure I had no broken bones and put the bike up. I then saw my friend Sohyal coming up and checked on myself. The riding jacket was tattered and I had bruises on my abdomen side and arm. Just as I was quite happy that there were no other major injuries, I realized the muscular strain on the neck and chest as I got onto the bike. It was painful but I decided that I would still try for the championship. But now the fear factor was there and I had lost all the confidence that I had come up here with. The bike was very much damaged and thanks to the understanding Yamaha officials, they agreed to give me another bike for the championship.
Mr.RA Abdullah was very much impressed with the way I rode those two laps and was willing to get me a riding gear if I could ride with the same confidence. But the bruises and the muscular pain kept reminding of the crash and built the fear in me blowing every inch of confidence I had in me. He tried motivating me by telling me to consider it was the bike's mistake and not mine but still I stood a scared loser. So he did not insist. I registered myself for the championship and took a nap in the car for rest and so that I could recollect myself. After few hours, the event commenced and I decided I would be taking part. There was a practice run for three laps or so for each group before the main race. I took it real slow this time leading at the back still trying to increase my corner speeds post the crash trauma. Since there was still time for my selection round I slept again so that the muscular neck strain would ease down. An hour later my turn for the first round came and I had to be it in the top eight to make it to the semi finals. I made sure I could still ride, prayed to the good lord and lined up on the track waiting for the go signal. It was a three lap round and by the end of the first lap I was in the fourth position. I knew I wasn't riding my bloody best but was at least confident of ending in the top eight. Just as I was maintaining my position midway to the second lap and already confident of passing the selection round, some stupid bugger hit me in the rear wheel on a right hander and along with him I started sliding to the left. Now the biggest fear was of being run over since I was still sliding inside the track. But luckily the racers behind me were a little far and I safely slid to the grass on the left side. I quickly picked up my bike and started over again since it was still two laps to go and I could possibly stand a chance. Just as I started riding again I realized the right footpeg was not there and the front brakes had gone kaput. But still filled with determination I continued since I wasn't using the front brakes anyway. Just as the race was coming to an end I could see six riders ahead of me. So I thought I had made it in the top eight. But later realized some three riders were already right up front those six. It was real sad but I had to accept it that I lost. I cannot afford to blame the bugger for my loss since the competition is a part of the racing package. You don't expect a path paved with roses in a race and off course racers don't make excuses. I lost and that's it. No silly excuses!
I then realized I had added another bruise on my right knee and the muscular pain only got worse from the back to back impact. Thus this was the ill-fated result of my first ever track race. But the track day did add up some more gyan to my motorcycling knowledge too. The track taught me the ethics of respecting the machine's potential and not overdoing it. I also broke the street riding myth with respect to the track on which I always had doubt on. So riders be informed that a good street racer will not always necessarily do well on the track. But yes touring around in the hills can be assumed as the nearest thing to track racing. In track riding it is more human potential and skill, then the bike as opposed to street riding. You are there mostly leaning your bike rather than riding it straight and upright. I learned the vast difference in street riding/racing and track racing. The track is a good teacher as it teaches you your appropriate corner lines and apex point. I recommend every die hard motorcyclist to experience the track at least once in their lifetime.
Talking about the racers at the beginners level there, they were lot better than I had imagined. There were guys who rode down to the track for practice one whole day twice or thrice in a month. Some of them were enthusiastic riders who were determined to start track racing as a career from the beginners level. Some had been coming to participate in the championship ever since the competition started in 2008. While the other were first timers just like us. There are stuffs like the perfect racing line, body positioning, cornering techniques, aggressive nature, crash survival techniques, veteran mentoring, etc which a track racer cannot afford to build up in a day and is very important to guarantee one's win. You cannot really be the very fast street racer and easily expect to confidentally win in the track. The rules of the game are totally different. A street racer might do very well on the straights but when it comes to the corner it is likely he will mess it up or lose the pace.
Well I brought no trophy home but the commendation from Mr.Abdullah later in our evening dinner later that night did actually make the crash worth after all. He mentioned to his daughter that those two pre-crash practice laps I rode like a professional racer inspite of being a first timer in the track. Now who wouldn't pride such a statement when it's especially tagged to you by a seven time national racing champion himself and your friends are listening. So with that pat on the back the crash didn't go wasted after all! Though in the end he did say I chickened out after the crash not being able to ride well, of which I entirely agree. Once bitten always twice shy, especially when its a motorcycle crash. Off course as a consolation prize, I at least made it up for a half page color advert of myself in the nation's most popular daily on being selected to represent Nepal.
Jokes apart, will I be trying for the next track event again? I would definitely love to but I cannot afford to go against the will of my parents as I am bloody sure that there is no chance that they will approve again. After all from the practical point of view I am also not going to make a career out of racing and I have already had my wish fulfilled. So I better not going to argue and even loose the liberation I enjoy from my parents for touring to which I am more inclined.
Anyways this ride to me is the very few adrenaline moments in my life that will remain etched in my minds forever until I succumb to the call of the almighty...
...riding immediately after any crash is aint easy...u did a commendabale job in competing the next day...u cant blame the bugger in hitting for anything it happens in all the races....i dint know the yamaha officials were this kind
...giving another r15 just after you took her to the junkyard or perhaps a future showroom
...kudosss
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