the bb trackday thread.

[mckeann]

Not as good body position as Graeme, and my bike and leathers are definitely not as shiny.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Pleased you both had a good trip. (apart from crashing)

Neil, your arse looks massive in one of those pictures matey. xxxxx

[moanthebairns]

Photos look great. Such a contrast in colours, the bikes really stand out from such a dusky background.

Glad yous enjoyed it.

[graeme4130]

mckeann said:

Not as good body position as Graeme, and my bike and leathers are definitely not as shiny.

Good to finally meet you Neil, and thanks for the advice on warning lights. Got my bike booked in to get sorted as soon as it's back
That was a cracking trip, but i'm battered now
Glad to get home for a proper cup of tea, a bath and not having someone in the room with me that snores like a rhino

[Sebo]

Some nice pics there, looks like you had cracking weather. Bang for buck, Cartagena for some winter sun is not bad value for money. That tyre wear is phenomenal, presumably in part to how quickly you're running? Only been on a bike for a year Graeme.. fair play!

[Pebbles167]

Had a great time, hell of a trip and decent value for money. The track itself is massive fun, and the area of Spain Cartagena is in is absolutely lovely. I went alone and made some decent friends out there. Had a dew words with Graeme and Mckeann, who are great guys and even gave me a few decent pointers

a few pics, some mine, and some the excellent stuff from Peter Wileman.

Flew out from Luton at around 1:40, finally got to sleep after sorting everything out by around 02:30. An early 05:30 start and we got down to the track to unpack and sort everything ready for the day ahead.




The usual no limits briefing for the weekend, and immediately everything felt more relaxed. The guys decided that 10:00 starts, and 18:00 finishes were better and so that's what we all went with. THe weather out there is nice and warm all day and so gave us time for breakfast, and was still light by 19:30.



The track is hard to get to grips with at first. Very few of the corners seemed particularly simple and for me at least I really had to work at it. After the first day though I'd found a rhythm and was able to move up to Fast.






Mark, Myself & Robert. Just a couple of the decent guys & girls who basically looked after me, and made me feel welcome for the weekend. Everyone seemed a lot happier, and because of the 4 days, and being able to leave bikes ready to go, no one was in a rush and people had time for a decent chat.



Went for a little wander around the local area. Really nice. Found a decent beach, before taking a walk alomg the port before our flight home.





Had a bit of an excursion over the gravel and into the tyre wall on the last day, smashed the fairing up a bit, but no real damage. Carried on for 5 laps and set a personal best. Other than that the trup was a complete success. Strongly considering booking Portimao next year.

[mckeann]

It is VERY hard on tyres, much more so than other tracks I've been to abroad.

If I'm honest, I didn't like the track at all. Too slow, too many hairpins, too much like a twisty road TBH. I prefer the big fast wide GP tracks. If that's your thing though, it's good for some cheap winter sun, but I won't be back.

[Pebbles167]

I wouldn't go back anytime soon, not because I disliked the track (although I have preferred most of the UK tracks more) but because there are so many others out there. Everyone is raving about some of the GP tracks, and they are high on my priority list.

I think I'll take your advice Mckeann and keep an eye out for a reasonably priced 675 and just race/track prep it. My bike is beginning to feel its age!

[mckeann]

I know an absolute shed of a Daytona 675 track slag that you could probably get for about £1500. Only thing is it's been crashed to buggery at just about every track in the uk by Alex the miserable bd peacock.

[Fleegle]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Neil, your arse looks massive in one of those pictures matey. xxxxx

To quote Bucks Fizz ........ The camera never lies

[graeme4130]

mckeann said:

I know an absolute shed of a Daytona 675 track slag that you could probably get for about £1500. Only thing is it's been crashed to buggery at just about every track in the uk by Alex the miserable bd peacock.

Only works in the rain too

[moanthebairns]

graeme4130 said:

mckeann said:

I know an absolute shed of a Daytona 675 track slag that you could probably get for about £1500. Only thing is it's been crashed to buggery at just about every track in the uk by Alex the miserable bd peacock.

Only works in the rain too

oi, its in the process of getting stripped down, new suspension, some bling and NEW, not painted by me fairings!!! some tlc this winter

So far I've washed it.

[moanthebairns]

mckeann said:

If I'm honest, I didn't like the track at all. Too slow, too many hairpins, too much like a twisty road TBH. I prefer the big fast wide GP tracks. If that's your thing though, it's good for some cheap winter sun, but I won't be back.

Sounds like a track id like to be honest, I love a good hairpin.

[Biker's Nemesis]

moanthebairns said:

mckeann said:

If I'm honest, I didn't like the track at all. Too slow, too many hairpins, too much like a twisty road TBH. I prefer the big fast wide GP tracks. If that's your thing though, it's good for some cheap winter sun, but I won't be back.

Sounds like a track id like to be honest, I love a good hairpin.

I was going to do this trip but Aky said I would hate it, he didn't like it either, now Neil has said the same I'll never bother with this track.

[graeme4130]

Pebbles167 said:

Had a great time, hell of a trip and decent value for money. The track itself is massive fun, and the area of Spain Cartagena is in is absolutely lovely. I went alone and made some decent friends out there. Had a dew words with Graeme and Mckeann, who are great guys and even gave me a few decent pointers

Good to meet you too
Keep in touch, as you're just down the road from me

Edited by graeme4130 on Wednesday 2nd November 12:34

[graeme4130]

We never did get the £500 for our mates aprilia after it broke down as usual on the 2nd day

Edited by graeme4130 on Wednesday 2nd November 12:41

[Fleegle]

It's unusual for an RSV4 to break down on a trackday

[graeme4130]

Fleegle said:

It's unusual for an RSV4 to break down on a trackday

We had a sweepstake between the 4 of us as to which day it'd crap itself. I lost as I had my money on it not starting from the crate
Luckily, we took a spare bike between the 4 of us, so he still rode - albeit on a rather crappy old Fireblade that Ian had in his garage. He still managed 1:45 laps though, bd

[graeme4130]

moanthebairns said:

mckeann said:

If I'm honest, I didn't like the track at all. Too slow, too many hairpins, too much like a twisty road TBH. I prefer the big fast wide GP tracks. If that's your thing though, it's good for some cheap winter sun, but I won't be back.

Sounds like a track id like to be honest, I love a good hairpin.

I quite liked it, but wasn't blown away by it - I've not ridden other Euro tracks to have anything to compare it to, but had walked Portimao a few weeks back when I was near there on Holiday, and that looks fun
Cartagena's definitely a track for the smaller lighter bikes, and my bodies knackered from throwing around my ZX10R for 4 days (and picking it up out the worlds deepest gravel)
Alex, you'd hate it as it's always sunny

[daniel-5zjw7]

Graeme, when you say you've only been riding since last oct, do you mean just on track and you've been riding on the road for longer or literally that you've only been riding a bike for a year? Did you jump straight on a zx10?!

Of course given the amount of trackdays you've done this year you've probably got the equivalent of at least 8 years experience compared to your average trackday goer!