The weather was much better than this past Nesba weekend event, but it was still cold in the morning and the track was not up to ideal operating temperatures. Unfortunately I thought I had to run Pirelli's (which now I find out I don't unless I'm getting paid to CR for that day) so I threw on the only good set of Pirelli Diablo SC that I had: SC3 front (which is the best front tire in IMO) and SC1 rear. The SC1 was the wrong tire for a cold day, because it never got up to temp. After the first Advanced session I ran, the tire developed a serious cold tear, and once that starts there's no turning back. After the 2nd A session, the right side tread of the tire was completely worn away, so everytime I got on the gas hard out of corners the back end was sliding out. It was kinda fun and eye-opening at the same time, but I got a lot of practice and more comfortable with sliding the rear out of corners.
So obviously I didn't break any personal best lap times, but I'm really starting to get more comfortable with the Gixxer. I really like the way Mark Junge from Vesrah has tuned the power curve on this bike: a lot of mid-range torque without the peaky HP hit near the top-end like the R6. This makes it GREAT for driving out of corners without fear of too much power coming on all of a sudden that would make you lose a lot of traction quickly (i.e. highside). Also the bike is planted and stable in the corners. Like I've said before it takes a little more "umph" to get it turned in compared to the R6, but once its on its side, the bike inspires confidence by giving heeps of feedback and feel mid-corner. Now I've just got to grow a set and get on the throttle earlier and harder out of corners to really take advantage of the AMA spec motor
! Much love to Ron Hix (who is really starting to become somewhat of a mentor on and off the track thus far this season) for pointing out this weakness in my riding just by looking at the wear on my rear tire-- You know someone knows what he's talking about when he can diagnose a riding flaw by looking at a stinkin' tire! And then to have the eloquence to tell you that you're a pussy but not make you feel like one-- That man can probably sell you a parachute on a sinking boat.
My other focus is to work on taking a wider line during corner entry to maximize corner speed and to late apex on exit which would also improve my drive out of corners as well. Funny how you can do this track thing for YEARS and still learn fundamental lessons that make you faster.
...yet.
I didn't know which ones were local. 
