So .. what I learned at Donington Park

So what did I learn at Donington Park ?
Well we shall start with the positives. Max handles brilliantly, as he always did do until last year when a few problems developed with steering which resulted in a loss of confidence in myself. This was put to rights yesterday on the track as not once did I feel I had a problem with the steering. There was no headshaking and no wobbles no squirming in corners so the progressive springs, thicker oil and Ohlins rear have paid dividends.
The clipons I found much better on the track than they were on the road but I’m still debating if to leave them on or maybe go for a variation on normal bars. Clipons alter the way a monster steers . With normal bars, and to use a term Zimbo used, the “urban terrorist� feel is good. You can steer around anything and wander all over the place mid corner if that’s what you want to do. With clipons though I feel some of this manouverabilty is lost and I’m not sure I like this as yet.
I’ve booked a further trackday at Mallory and I’m going to change the bars to see how I get on.
The work done at Dave Woods Racing and on the dyno proved fantastic. Max pulls like a train out of corners and the induction noise sounds so nice. The engine is running much better and not once gave me cause for concern. As it stands I don’t feel we’ll be hindered by not fitting the big bore kit but only race day will tell that.
The only alterations made on the day were a lowering of my gear lever height as I missed one or 2 gears but that was soon sorted and 2 clicks on the Ohlins as I was running slightly wide on the exit of McLeans regardless of what I did to correct it. Oddly it wasn’t doing it anywhere else but maybe that was result of the camber.
The plus points for me personally were : I felt in control at all times. I felt I had time to technically “think� while I was on the track. My lines were good and all through from the start straight through Redgate – Hollywood – Craner – Old hairpin – McLeans and Coppice was fast and accurate for me. The only issues came for me at the esses and around the Melbourne Loop and I never really got to gel with the left hander back onto the finish straight. Frankly I was slow through them so that’s going to have to change. The day wasn’t helped by having brand new tyres and a soaking wet track in the morning where I found it very very slippy at times. But after lunch the track dried nicely and the speed picked up markedly.
Maybe I’m being a bit harsh on myself but to be honest I felt I could do better but on the plus side I didn’t have one hairy moment throughout the day and that at least made me consistant.

So onwards to Mallory on 12th April with the possible help of Dave Woods to check on geometry as weirdly I used all my front tyre and not all of the rear.
Donington
Donington