No, Personally I don't think so, there are some corners that are harder when you want to go really fast, turn 5 onto the back straight is tricky to get right, but as a novice a rider would just run around the inside, likewise turn 9,10 are 1 corner nearly when you are faster, but as novice they are two fairly standard right handers. Then FF1 and FF2 (F*cking fast 1 and F*cking fast 2) are the two right handers that lead back into the last corner, they are simple enough, just need to make them into a big ark and not mess around with the bike too much at big lean. It's BEAUTIFULLY smooth, and wide, so the trick to being fast is to use all the track, some of the really fast guys are out on the curbs etc using them for extra track width.
I like to use a bit of curb....... As a starter I would try and get turn two sorted early on as it sets you up for three and the epic turn four. Brake late, turn in hard and stay on the inside curb until the green paint ends, then flick it left for three.
The track has its challenges but then any track you have never ridden before has challenges. One fabulous and historic track I’d love to do again. Andy
I did Andalucia for the first time last month. That is not an easy track to learn at all. Compared to Almeria, the other side of the car park, it has no obvious flow and a lot of blind entries. I binned it day one by just trying too hard. By day three I had calmed down and was into the 2:18s. Still slow, but constantly improving.
I’ve been once before for a 3 day gig. And it pissed down for 2 days so I’ve only had one day there. Did I find it easy to learn? No, not really. I’ll spend day one learning it again. Day 2 new rubber and pads. Day 3 hospital for getting too cocky. It’s quite kerb to kerb from what I remember. And 2 fab corners at the end of the lap. Can’t wait for another crack. Weather’s looking better than last time
Yeah, I didn’t really get on with that place. Good surface and grippy but definitely not my favourite place… Love Almeria though…
I did it on a Daytona 675, so it wasn't a super big powerful bike to stop and turn so it was very very flowing for me. As Paul says, the first few turns, if you are greedy in 2, you are wide and then compromise turn 3 and 4 so you have to have patience.
Almeria is such a 1 line track. I'd never considered or experienced this before. So I found it really tough. Esp as there are so many blind turns. Never had a prob with the blind into coppice at Donnie. But for some reason Almeria baffled me and dented my confidence until I watched Crafar.
Totally agree. Donnington for example, you can be wide at Old Hairpin, the top right before the right onto the straigh (Mcleans?) and it ruins your speed but it's not the end of the world on a trackday, where as Almeria, if you are wide in that middle section up over the hill you risk just wanting to leap on the brakes or you just wreck the whole middle of the track in terms of flow. Cartagena is the same, you are always leant over, lots of surface inconsistency, like on the downhill right, it's slippery there, but no obvious reason why. You can tell Jerez is a 'proper' GP track though, it's just so grippy and smooth. I think Almeria is 2nd for me and Cartegana 3rd in terms of how I'd rate the 3 I've done. If it's windy though Almeria is horrible on the back straight...
I agree about not easy to learn. I did 4 days last year and never really enjoyed it at all. Went back in Feb, and it started to click on day 2. Then I crashed last session. Missed day 3 and 4. Jerez is easier to learn, and really pays to use the curbs
That blind into Coppice at Donington is one of my favourite corners anywhere. Especially with a new rear- you can rocket out of Coppice 2 like a right rockety thing … weeeeee…..
I wouldn’t say so. It’s flowing though and rewards consistency. the challenge with the aforementioned is linking it all together
It's the one you have to get right to make the most of three and four. Stay on the inside line until the green paint ends.
