Have you been on the track at the same time as a GP racer?

[Beemer-5]

It was fairly common practice in the 1970s to have 'general practice', where club racers could end up on the track at the same time as the top stars.
Thankfully, the 'mobile chicanes', which we effectively were, aren't allowed out there now!
But i remember Ricardo Tormo, (he has a circuit named after him in Spain), on a 50cc GP bike, making me feel ever so silly through tight bends.
The guy simply didn't slow down and he got through corners at speeds i couldn't believe. That was with 1970 technology, too!
I managed to talk to him, over a drink or two afterwards and things like boots a size too small for less wind resistance was one one of his ploys!
Him and Angel Nieto, who also made my TZ350 look terribly slow in corners, were incredible on the tiddlers!

[Beemer-5]

Those 50 GP bikes weighed just 75 kgs!

[castrolcraig]

been out on a track day when yukio kagayama was learning the circuits so him and john reynolds were scorching around in the fast group with us........

also steve brogan peter hickman and kenny gilbertson (all british supertstock) were practising last year.

[a boardman]

I was on a running machine next to carl foggarty (his wife was on cross trainer) at the gym does that count.

[sprinter885]

Does walking next to Agostini at Goodwood FoS count???
The way that bloke put one foot in front of another......incredible!!!

[Chilli]

I've been on the track, battling with Simon Crafar.
Ok, I had a training day with him. You wouldn't believe how easy it is for them. As I've said before on here, in one session Sir Simon said he'd have to take it easy for 3 lap or so, as he had new cold slicks on his R1. Well, I managed to keep up with him for about half a lap, and he just went.
Unbelievable.

[Exige46]

Yes - we were driven around Donington by Max Biaggi in a 50 odd seater coach, and Troy Corser the next year. Donington Day of Champions a few years ago. Think Biaggi was still in 250s, competing for his fourth title.

It was a great day, and you didn't really know who would be taking you around until you were on the coach, so the realisation we were getting Max caused a real reaction. It was very funny, Max was very entertaining, and didn't have a clue how to drive the bus, with a fair amount of kangarooing over the kerbs at the Foggy Esses. On the otherhand, Troy was rather dull.

Does this count? Do they even stil do this>

[The Pits]

ditto that. I was at a brands gp trackday when Kagayama and Reynolds were there on crescent suzuki gsxr 1000s (presumably same one as already mentioned). I asked JR what they were doing at a trackday with numpties like me and he said just learning the gp parts of brands which weren't available to try that often. I guess it was more for yukio than JR. They were both top blokes and very down to earth. JR said 'I'll try not to get in your way!'. Of course I did my best to keep up, just for a couple of corners but no chance. They just disappeared, seemingly without any effort at all. Almost eerie. I was on a 2001 gixer 1000 myself, with proper sticky trackday tyres. Of course it's delusional to think I could keep up but I'd have loved to follow them for longer to try and learn a bit more from them. The scary part was that they weren't on their bsb bikes, just mildly tweaked crescent road gixxers.

I've also followed max biaggi round the gp circuit at brands at a more recent track day. Unlike JR and Kagayama he was easy to keep up with. In fact I passed him a couple of times. To be fair though he was in an Audi R8 and I was in my Caterham with cheating-bd-spec engine. Good on him though, he gave that R8 a decent enough shoeing to set the brakes on fire. He was also 'learning' the track for WSB, beats playstation I suppose.

[Chipchap]

Fortunate enough to have been in the same race as:-

Jon Ekerold--was defending 350cc champ at the time
Franco Uncini--was current 500cc champ at the time
Dave Petersen--went on to race RG500 & NS500 as privateer

all raced in GP's

Also:

Michael Dowson--Superbikes
Fred Merkel--was WSB champ I think
Jeff Sayle--rode Armstrongs for Ruth Randle in UK
Joey Dunlop--everyone knows him
Ron Haslam--ditto
Rob Phillis--rode inWsb
Dave Hiscock--rode IOM

All of these guys and many more used to visit SA for a "winter series" on Production based Superbikes in the early 80's

Cheers

CC

[big_rob_sydney]

I've been on track with Kevin Curtain, Craig Coxhell, Marty Cragill, and maybe a few others you might have heard.

This was in Australia at Eastern Creek raceway.

I will never forget Kevin coming past me betwen turn 5 and 6. Its only a short run uphill, but as I was braking, he came past still accelerating. OK, I was on a roadbike (R1) with road tyres, and he was on his factory R1 with slicks, etc, but seriously, after 2 corners, he was gone. I almost fell off, he came past me so quick, and up till then, I actually thought I wasnt doing too badly.

In all seriousness, these guys are just amazing. I'd love to have a go on their machines, just to see how much slower I am (either significantly, or stay-out-of-the-way-significantly).

All good.

[AdeTuono]

A mate of mine was on a trackday where Chris Walker was instructing. They were all on FZR600's (it was a few years back). Mate was carving through the corners, fairing lowers on the deck, right on the edge of the tyres, convinced that NO-ONE could go any faster....then Walker came round the outside, one hand on the bars, looking back and giving him the finger. They're not human, these racers.

[A1ec]

Not a GP racer, but last year I was on track with John Reynolds, ex-BSB Champion.

[dibblecorse]

I was out on circuit in February at Gaudix in Spain with Jeremy McWilliams in attendance, damn he is quick, and not a GP star but did my CSS Level 3 at Laguna Seca with Leon Camier as my student partner for the day back in Dec 05, even then he was ballistically quick.

Also been on circuit with Maria Costello, the quite cute and accomplished girlie racer that makes me look like a wuss at corner entry speeds.

[FourWheelDrift]

Yes, but we were in karts at the time

[Beemer-5]

One memory i have is of Angel Nieto outbraking me into Paddock Bend as if i was trying to stop and turn the QE2.
I was turning decent enough 56-second times on the shorter circuit.
It was lovely blasting back past him on the straights!

[Biker's Nemesis]

John Surtees.