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Great videos and story! If at all possible, please continue to post stories like this.
On a side note, I always thought that the MotoGP video games' claim of being so accurate was exaggerated... until I saw these videos. It's amazing how accurate the game is.
On a side note, I always thought that the MotoGP video games' claim of being so accurate was exaggerated... until I saw these videos. It's amazing how accurate the game is.
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The drawing of turn 130R doesn't show the wall placement. Could you point us to a drawing that shows Kato's course? The outside exit has a huge asphalt run-off area; I understand Kato actually hit a wall on the inside of the 340' radius segment. So strange.
I was there, too!!
Ouch, not even any photography credits. I, too, was there, being brought along to take pictures of Craig. Here's my newbie point of view. Not too many people can say that they rode Suzuka for their first track session, but I am fortunate enough to. I was riding a far-from-race-ready Honda VTR1000F equipped with an Ohlins rear shock, Yoshimura slip-ons, and shod with a new set of excellent Bridgestone BT012SS shoes. I'll have to admit, lining up with 50 or so other bikes for my first track session was a little intimidating, and sometimes down-right scary, but fear soon gave way to pure bliss... until some guy on a 250cc two-smoke burnt me on the outside, mid-turn. Kinda breaks the concentration the first few times. As the day progressed, I stopped getting passed and began to do some passing of my own. I fondly remember trailing a Moto Guzzi for almost an entire lap before passing him in the chicane. The long right hander after the hairpin left is an absolute blast, just like Craig said, and my favorite part of the track. Just lean over and crank the throttle forever...awesome. I was consistently hitting 240Kmph on the front straight and one lap, I felt like I had a very good exit speed onto the front straight. I decided to try for 250 this time up. As I'm barreling down the straight on my 400 pound bumble-bee (yellow V-twin), I'm watching the tach and speedo like a hawk, perhaps a bit too much because I looked up and I was past my usual braking point. Approaching turn one way closer than usual and going 245Kmph, I suddenly learned how to use my brakes to their full potential. Exhilarating, to say the least.
End of the day status report; I've got a set of balled-up Bridgestones, scraped up knee pucks and toe sliders, missing my peg feelers, and an insatiable hunger for the track. I managed to run a 2:46. Not bad for a newbie on a streetbike on street tires, eh? The only negative part of my riding here is that every other track may pale in comparison, but I'll still have fun. With any luck, I should be riding Fuji Speedway and another Bridgestone day at Tsukuba this June, this time on some BT001 Pro's. Watch out, Craig!
Ouch, not even any photography credits. I, too, was there, being brought along to take pictures of Craig. Here's my newbie point of view. Not too many people can say that they rode Suzuka for their first track session, but I am fortunate enough to. I was riding a far-from-race-ready Honda VTR1000F equipped with an Ohlins rear shock, Yoshimura slip-ons, and shod with a new set of excellent Bridgestone BT012SS shoes. I'll have to admit, lining up with 50 or so other bikes for my first track session was a little intimidating, and sometimes down-right scary, but fear soon gave way to pure bliss... until some guy on a 250cc two-smoke burnt me on the outside, mid-turn. Kinda breaks the concentration the first few times. As the day progressed, I stopped getting passed and began to do some passing of my own. I fondly remember trailing a Moto Guzzi for almost an entire lap before passing him in the chicane. The long right hander after the hairpin left is an absolute blast, just like Craig said, and my favorite part of the track. Just lean over and crank the throttle forever...awesome. I was consistently hitting 240Kmph on the front straight and one lap, I felt like I had a very good exit speed onto the front straight. I decided to try for 250 this time up. As I'm barreling down the straight on my 400 pound bumble-bee (yellow V-twin), I'm watching the tach and speedo like a hawk, perhaps a bit too much because I looked up and I was past my usual braking point. Approaching turn one way closer than usual and going 245Kmph, I suddenly learned how to use my brakes to their full potential. Exhilarating, to say the least.
End of the day status report; I've got a set of balled-up Bridgestones, scraped up knee pucks and toe sliders, missing my peg feelers, and an insatiable hunger for the track. I managed to run a 2:46. Not bad for a newbie on a streetbike on street tires, eh? The only negative part of my riding here is that every other track may pale in comparison, but I'll still have fun. With any luck, I should be riding Fuji Speedway and another Bridgestone day at Tsukuba this June, this time on some BT001 Pro's. Watch out, Craig!
Re: Mecca for inline 4 fans
Funny you ask.
One of the Japanese riders on our team has a friend who was recently hired by Honda R&D to help work on the new Honda 1000.
This guy is one of the test riders/engineers. I'm having a BBQ on 14 June and after a few beers, will pump him for some info!
Craig
Funny you ask.
One of the Japanese riders on our team has a friend who was recently hired by Honda R&D to help work on the new Honda 1000.
This guy is one of the test riders/engineers. I'm having a BBQ on 14 June and after a few beers, will pump him for some info!
Craig
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