Jerez Trackday: Report and Pictures

[Silver]

Got back this afternoon from Spain, after two days on track in Jerez (home of the opening round of this year’s MotoGP calendar) with Tracksense.

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The first part of the trip was last Sunday when we dropped off the R6 to a hanger at Kemble Airfield, where it was crated up ready for transport down to the south of Spain. The trip started for real at the ungodly hour of 3:30am on Friday morning when we left for Stanstead Airport. The flight was just before 7am, which got us into Jerez Airport at around 11am (local time). A short ride in a taxi and we were at our hotel, which was billed as being right next to the circuit (ideal since we didn’t have a car and didn’t fancy paying out for taxis all the time). In reality, although it was right next to the circuit, it wasn’t right next to a gate that was actually open. This meant a 15 minute walk round to the main entrance. Hardly the end of the world but, as I discovered later, not something to be encouraged whilst wearing leathers, after a full day on track when the temperature is 30 degrees.

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The hotel was nice enough and was completely filled (it seemed) with bikers, which was nice (respect to the two RSV riders who rode down, although they didn't have an answer to the question of how they'd back if they stacked it). Met up with a couple in the bar, and later their two mates and ended up spending most of the time with them and sharing a garage. The downsides to the hotel were the god awful food and the fact that there seemed to be no soundproofing whatsoever. Anyone who has ever been woken up by snoring at 2:30am will sympathise… and this guy wasn’t even in the same room!

We arrived on track for the first day and saw them unloading the bikes from a lorry, which was… interesting.

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Once that was done we had our briefing and set out on track. With Wave’s eternally encouraging comment of “what if you bin it in the first session?” ringing in my ears, I followed around the instructor on the sighting lap. Three laps later and I was dizzy. I can’t think of a track I’ve ridden that has so many corners, and the worst part (when you’re trying to learn it) is that some of them are quite similar. When I say quite, I mean 'quite' in terms of enough of a difference to put you in the gravel if you got them mixed up. Anyway, two sessions in and I was really getting in to it, having a better idea of what was round the next corner.

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What can I say? It’s an awesome track. There is everything you need; sweeping (very) fast bends, hairpins, undulations… the lot. It is very hard work as a track, and looking at a map doesn’t do it justice – you get hardly any time to rest. The start-finish straight is gone in seconds and the only other place where you’re upright for more than a couple of seconds is the back straight. Everywhere else you’re either pulling out of a corner, or tipping into one.

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I’ve ridden 9 circuits over here and by far my favourite was Donington Park, however, Jerez is going to run it close, and I can’t quite decide at the moment. Can’t give it much more of a compliment than that. Weather’s a bit better in Jerez than Derbyshire though. Twenty five to thirty degrees is very hot to be doing a track day in, but wasn’t as bad as I expected (although I think I drank about twenty litres of water) but it is still very tiring. There no wonder that the professional racers (MotoGP, WSBK etc) train so much on their fitness. After 10-15 minutes I was backing off a bit, feeling myself tire. These guys race, full on, for 45 minutes in these temperatures, and more.

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That was Saturday, then I had a day off. Most of the riders had gone for the full three day package (Sat, Sun, Mon), but I’d gone for the two day option (Sat and Mon) for two reasons; I had Jeanette with me and didn’t want to bore her to tears (too much), and my parents live two hours from Jerez, so they were coming over to see us.

Jeanette's standard position between sessions...
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Back on track Monday (after I’d woken Sunday with a hint of jealousy of the others), and more of the same. It seemed even hotter and tyres seemed to be falling to pieces – you could literally warm the tyres in half a lap, it’s staggering. There were three groups of 20 minutes sessions, and after a 40 minute break my engine temperature was still reading 70+ degrees.

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There were a few crashes as, I guess, tiredness and overconfidence set in. One lad (17 years old), bumped up into the fast group and binned it on the fastest corner of the circuit (Sito Pons), leaving a trail of oil on track. His caring dad filmed him as he came back with his battered bike on the recovery truck. A couple of sessions later his was back out, albeit looking rather beaten up.

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Our group was doing fine until one of the others hit first gear coming into the last hairpin corner and coasted straight on, no harm done. Same session I came round Sito Pons (avoiding the dusted oil slick), knee on the deck when the back wheel broke traction. It’s a fifth gear corner. And it’s scary when that happens. I picked a nice spot in the tyre wall just as the tyre gripped again. Luckily I was on the inside line (to avoid the oil), so I just slightly ran wide, changed my underwear and carried on.

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That’s it really. Packed the bikes up, back to the hotel for a couple (more) beers and then flew back this morning. In total I got 7 x 20 minutes sessions each day which was plenty. By mid-afternoon people were dropping out like flies and it felt like you had the track to yourself.

On a side note, is it really a sensible idea of stick a bunch of trackdayers in a hotel with a big bar the night before trackdays?

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It's an expensive trackday (well, two trackdays really) at around £800 for the two of us but, for me, worth it. That included two days track time, two flights and four nights in a four star hotel for two people. I've had worse value for money doing a trackday over here; Oulton Park £230 (inc. B&B) and what did I get? Four laps on a soaking wet track before it was canned for being too dangerous. Anyway, I got some quality track time, met some great people, had a laugh, got sunburnt, got drunk and it didn't even rain!

One final note; onboard pictures are courtesy of British Sport Photgraphy - top bloke.

[.....]

Top stuff mate and great write up

Would love to do the same thing.

[loply]

I'm fucking jealous of you lot, you get to go everywhere. I have no time off work, and no money.
Still, good to know someones living the dream!
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[Gazdaman]

Nice one Silver! Enjoyed reading that, nice pics too.

Oh and the British Sport Photography guy covered our Track Time Promotions day at Snetterton last year, and he is indeed a top bloke.

Gaz

[carlnicholson...]

Looks brilliant mate, would love to do that one day.

Hope you don't mind me saying, but your Mrs is fit.
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[Dark]

Cool! that looked like fun!

The series of rights at the back of the circuit before the last hairpin are supposed to be some of the best corners in Europe
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My Bikes in order:- Yamaha RXS100 / Suzuki X7 250 / Yamaha RD350LC / Kawasaki
KR1S 250 / Kawasaki ZXR750 H2 / Honda C50 / Kawasaki ZX7R P5 / Kawasaki ZX10R / Suzuki GSXR 400 / Honda CBR1100 Blackbird & Yamaha FZR 600

[FreshAL]

Great write up.

Plus, I agree with Carl

[distortion]

Nice write up dude

Sounds like you had fun on and off the track

Did Jeanette get them pics of you on the track ?

I remember meeting you two at Oulton, Slightly soggy track

[Silver]

[chris___]

Great write up mate, looks like you had a top time out there
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Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[Black Knight]

Great stuff. I hope to do the Jerez track on day myself.
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Where does a turn end? 'Where you can do anything with the gas you want to, where you are brave again, where your attention is free from the turn, where you are sure you can do it better next time; that's the end' - Keith Code.

[carlnicholson...]

[Silver]

[quacker_boy]

[Rookie]

Sounds wicked, cracking pictures too. The heat has to be the biggest advantage there, when you're on the track. The cold conditions we so often get is why I'm not that keen on a trackday.

[fast_tzr]

[brooky]

Great read and interesting pics, I think the prices is pretty good as you seem to get a lot for your money.

I hope to do some track days this year, but it will be in england to start with.
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Suzuki GSX-R 750 K6.