OK, Off we went to Llandow on Sat 9th sept (with the rebuilt motor from when it ate the crank at the NSR-World bash). The weather was really good and we were on for a good one:
The 3XV was running really well and out on the track we were having heaps of fun playing with the big boys - here I am trying the outside line around a GSXR600 (I think)
I was a bit concerned about the state of the front BT090 which I had really meant to change before going, but didn't have the time. By lunchtime it was a slick on the right because (as many of you will know) Llandow is a predominantly right handed circuit:
However the bike was running and turning very well, and I was enjoying scrapping with a 95 TZ and an Aprilia Tuono in my group particularly, so I just kept an eye on the tyre and kept going out there...
...and then, in the last session (it's always the last session isn't it?) in the fast right in the pic at the top the front let go and we went down - classic low-side. Seemed to slide for ever and the bike kept trying to get friendly with me so I kept having to kick it away as we hurtled off the track and through the trackside debris, before coming to rest in an ignominious heap . The marshals and medics did a great job of coming over to collect us and quickly transported us back to the paddock on the Llandow 'trailer of shame'
.
Gave the bike a proper look over the following day and It is a bit of a mess, but it's essentailly all just cosmetic, which isn't too bad considering the pace we were going. Here it is:
We went down on the right when we ran out of tyre:
But of course it couldn't resist a little flip as it slid, just to match things up a bit:
And here's the offending front that let go:
I am fine (physically if not mentally
), but the bike will need a bit of TLC to get it back to something pretty. Took all the panels off yesterday though and took it for a little ride and it is running and steering as well as ever, so I guess I got off pretty lightly, really.
Any donations of spare 3XV fairing panels would be warmly welcomed though
Just to add insult to injury my hard drive conked out the day after too so I'm having to use a diff hard drive and have lost literally years worth of bike-related stuff (anyone mentions the imprtance iof regular backups and they will be eliminated
)
Anyway, thought I would share my day at the track with you all. It was a shame about the off as we were going really well and it was an excellent day out. Just need to find the time and money to fix the old gal up again now... again
Still, as my fave 3XV is now off the road for a while, it might give me the inspiration I need to try to get the MC21 running and riding as well as I think it probably should, so it could be the beginning of my NSR conversion proper. If only the bloody thing would carburate properly off the bottom, and had a better gearbox, and didn't try to shake my fillings out above 7k...
Cheers
Wb