Kim and I did our Putnam marathon on Saturday. Packed up at midnight, hit the road at 1:45am, and got to the track at 6:30am Indiana time.
For me, it was the fastest I've ever ridden and most learning and adjusting that I've ever done at a trackday. I put my head down right from the start in the morning and rode my fastest and cleanest laps.
After lunch I decided to try and ride with some other people and see if I could learn some things from them. I rode the 4th and 5th sessions but skipped the 6th because I was so hot and tired.
I went out for the 7th session with the intent to string a few hot laps together and then call it a day. I had been really happy with my drive from turn 2 through turn 6 all day but I wanted to see if there was more to be found. On the 3rd lap I was hard on the gas out of turn 4 and set up for turn 5. I turned in quick and put my knee on the candy cane. This time I turned in a little harder and my knee drifted off into the grass only to let the front tire touch the candy cane at full lean and on the gas. The front tucked so fast that the frame slider landed on my inside thigh and pinned me underneath as we slid across the track. Once we hit the grass, the bike stopped and I went on another 25 feet. I got up pissed knowing that I caused the only red flag in Advanced but I guess that's the price for learning a lesson at speed. My suit took the brunt of the damage and the bike only needs a firing stay and left clip on. I should have everything ready for BHF in July.
For me, it was the fastest I've ever ridden and most learning and adjusting that I've ever done at a trackday. I put my head down right from the start in the morning and rode my fastest and cleanest laps.
After lunch I decided to try and ride with some other people and see if I could learn some things from them. I rode the 4th and 5th sessions but skipped the 6th because I was so hot and tired.
I went out for the 7th session with the intent to string a few hot laps together and then call it a day. I had been really happy with my drive from turn 2 through turn 6 all day but I wanted to see if there was more to be found. On the 3rd lap I was hard on the gas out of turn 4 and set up for turn 5. I turned in quick and put my knee on the candy cane. This time I turned in a little harder and my knee drifted off into the grass only to let the front tire touch the candy cane at full lean and on the gas. The front tucked so fast that the frame slider landed on my inside thigh and pinned me underneath as we slid across the track. Once we hit the grass, the bike stopped and I went on another 25 feet. I got up pissed knowing that I caused the only red flag in Advanced but I guess that's the price for learning a lesson at speed. My suit took the brunt of the damage and the bike only needs a firing stay and left clip on. I should have everything ready for BHF in July.
