You need to arrive very early on the day to book. Can't pre book. I was here at 7:50 and already too late. The track sessions are lead as well. No overtaking so get in a faster group.
If you are short shifting an 899 you'd be lucky to stay in the same postcode as an RR if rider actually opens the throttle
How do they fix the groups ? I'm at Silverstone next week and would be fast group at a track day there. Not saying I'm Casey Stoner, but don't fancy bumbling round at 30% throttle After all, we're there to try the bikes in view of them selling them to us, so surely 'trying' means nailing it
Just got back. fabulous day and the 1299S is a brutal beast but the electronics make it so useable even for muppets like me. I don't think you get to choose which group you are in, it seems to be pot luck. Oh and my Multi would have failed the noise test even with the standard cans.
As to road test rides, i think they may have changed the format by next week. Some were booking three or four different road rides whilst many got nothing. I suspect by Silverstone you may only be allowed to prebook one ride, as they are aware of the issues some had today.
Thanks for the updates all. Will ensure I'm at Silverstone as early as possible anyway. Am I correct assuming that they provide some sort of breakfast as I'll need to miss out on the one at my B&B to get there in time.
If past performance is anything to go by, there is a cafe that does a decent if expensive cooked breakfast and sarnies. Andy
I was a little dissapointed to be told no overtaking and that we would have to follow an instructor. I was put in what should be the fasted group after circling the race experienced option but jeez it was so slow due to a couple of slow riders in the group which the instructor had to keep together. I flicked the lap timer on for a laugh and we were 2:25 under the bridge on the back straight But the last session the slower guys didn't turn up so had a decent blast overtaking the other groups out on track! I did go to book a demo ride for the road but saw it was an "escorted ride" I thought what's the point. You do get free breakfast, lunch and icecreme oh and £100 Ducati voucher but they choose which dealer its for so thanks to them I've got to go to Romford, what a great ride out destination
It was dependent on what group you were in. I was fortunate in that all the other riders in my group were a bit quicker than me ( i wasn't one of those very slow riders either - no one passed our group all day) so i was having to ride hard (for me) to keep up but that worked for me. I'm not sure i will ever get the opportunity to ride a new £21k bike on track again like that. Saw 270kmph on the speedo a couple of times at the end of the back straight. Absolutely brutal power but the electronics work so well keeping it all rideable.
I went from being very annoyed in the morning, not being able to jump on a road test after getting there so early. To nearly leaving after the first track session, because it was so slow it was very frustrating. To being absolutely blown away on the next 2 sessions. The track is amazing definitely going again. The 2nd session I was on a 959 and the other 4 in my group were on 1299s. There is no over taking but the 2 guys in front of me were slow so I overtook them on the back straight and caught the others up. Although still not at full pace in the 2nd session as the leader was backing off a bit early on the straights. The 959 more than held its on against the 1299, through the corners as you'd expect and onto and down the straights. Where they started backing off early is where the 1299 would have pulled away though. The 1299s brakes are in a different league as well. The 3rd session I was in a good group and the leader was happy to take us round as fast as we could go and we blew past a couple of the slower groups. The session was just awesome. The 3 guys in front were slightly quicker and I couldn't keep with them coming onto the back straight but I'd always catch them back up with in a few bends and then stay with them again which meant I was pushing myself but not holding them up. It was explained afterwards that the first session is what the California superbike school normally use as a no brakes allowed session building up to an as fast as you can go last session. There were 5 of us of different abilities spread among a few groups and we all came away with big grins on our faces. Best 50 squid ever spent.
Looking forward to Silverstone next week The forecast is pants though, and I'm there Wednesday on a track day too Do you have to ride your own bike on the roads at all, as I'll put my 899 back to road kit if so ?
