Most of the track day orgs out here don't let you use any helmet/body mounted cameras. =[

 

Sunday 03-23-2025 ThunderHill West (clockwise)
Rode the 950S all 7 sessions. Started out fast and got quicker all day. The 14T sprocket change let me put down some of the best laps I've ever had on the SS. The power out of the turns is vastly improved with the sprocket change. It took very little time to get use to it, rear tires are probably not going to last as long as they did with the 15T. I rode with Dave Moss the last couple of sessions pushing the SS hard as I could. The suspension will need to be set up a bit better as I was bottoming out the front under Braking. We did set things up a little softer due to my weight change but we missed, I think will need to take out a little rear pre-load, tires worked well all day. The last session the traction control was kicking in ever corner exit and the abs light was showing with the rear tire off the track surface.
Our next outing will be at Laguna Seca for one day and I'm not sure which bike all be using, The Ducati was a lot more fun this weekend than the BMW.

Ridding with Jesse Carter:

 

Saturday 03-22-2025
Spent all day on the S1000RR. We were trying to get the suspension and tire pressures to match up to the track. Chased them all day, never got comfortable on the bike. First time I've ridden the RR at ThunderHill West, it's a technical type track. Started getting the hang of it towards the end of the day riding with a buddy with a new M1000RR. Spent a lot of time getting around other ridders in the turns way off line.

 

@Swamper now you are making me jealous LOL.

 

Got the tires I'll be using for the year.

 

Not coaching this year and probably not riding for myself much, either. I can tell MotoAmerica is going to eat up all my attention and time. 2026 is looking better for me 😁.

 

And I thought I was using up tires going through one rear on a Speed Triple 1200 in 6 track days, haha. Guess I'm not getting that traction control working enough coming out of turns...

3/29 is my first track weekend at Carolina Motorsports Park. First time I've been there. Probably only time this year. Driving 7 hours one way is not my best idea...

 

PS. Forgot to mention in last post, it doesn't bother me one bit seeing the pics on the BMW.

 

02-22-2025 Saturday ThunderHill East 3mile, W/ Carters @the Track
Morning started out visiting with Dave Moss and base setting the suspension on both BMW S1000RR's. Completely different setup on the two bikes due to riders weight. I've lost weight so Dave turned everything to lite settings even the preload. Ended up every session coming in for adjustment with Dave, never got to where I could push the corners and traction was an issue coming out of the turns on acceleration. Dave told me I was really working the front end hard, harder than he expected so needed higher setting than what he set things at, maybe next Track Day he'll be closer. My sons S1000RR got as good as it was going to get but he needs heavier fork spring for his weight. He did do a few very quick laps however.
I know these aren't Ducati's but thought you guys might want to see what I'm up to when not on the Supersport.

 

Budget for the Track Days is unbelievable these days. I'm getting together my tire order for 3/4 of the year to qualify it for free freight. Have to order 20 tires at a time, my order is $3,800, the freight would have been $720, so it does save by buying them this way.

 

I'm hearing you, Tyres, track day entry fees, oil changes, bits and pieces all add up. More so when you take more than 1 bike.
I try and do 8 a year and i reckon I spend around $8k to $10K a year which is pretty good compared to some of my track day buddies.

 

Swamper, love your track day reports and pics.
Unfortunately, my days will be limited this year, need to take the wife to Italy to visit relatives, been too long since last visit.
Will do Spain and Portugal while over there. So, my track day budget is blown. 😢

 

02-23-2025 Sunday, ThunderHill East W/ Carters @ the Track:
Rode the Ducati 950S and worked with Dave Moss all day on the suspension setup. Started out pretty soft and chased it the first 5 sessions tightening everything up, preload as well as Damping N Rebound. Finally after lunch break it was spot on and I was able to hold the Supersport with the AMF guys on their 400 practicing for MotoAmerica, about eight in the pack drafting each other. Ran laps in the 2.11's which is the quicks I've done on the Ducati.
I did ride the S1000RR on Saturday and worked with Dave on it also but we never got things ironed out with the suspension. Hope to work with him again next week at Sonoma.
Tyler Ohara was there Saturday with the Indian Bagger practicing for MotoAmerica. He ran it out of gas and Had to park it on the side of the track, so he missed the last three sessions. Pretty amazing watching him in person.
Dave telling me I'm really working the front looking at the tire.

Here are the 400, I stayed with them but at a distance not to screw them up drafting each other.

 

Not really, just prevents the OEM plastic from getting destroyed in a crash. The OEM BMW stuff to replace is over $5,000.

I should have said, Not the ones we're getting.
They have Carbon Fiber ones available which are very light and expensive.

 

@Swamper Track Plastics significantly lighter?

 

Just got an Email from Carters, they have added another day to my season pass schedule, March 3rd @ Sonoma. Only 4 weeks from now. I hope to get the bikes tuned with Dave Moss before at ThunderHill the week before this Sonoma Track Day.
I've order a couple new set of the Metzeler TD slicks for the Supersport and the BMW's.
My son is coming over this weekend to work on all our Track Bikes. Both BMW's will be getting new Track Plastics. All other required maintenance will be looked into. We keep log books for each bike so not to get mixed up on things. Dave Moss has given us starting Suspension settings so will be double checking all of those too.

Last Track day of 2024.

 

Metzeler TD Slicks don't require tire warmers, we used them all of last year.

Metzeler RaceTec TD Slick

RACETEC™ TD Slick joins the range of METZELER™ racing slick tires, dedicated to riders and club racers with a focus on competition and training use. RACETEC™ TD Slick is a slick tire for the track that is quick and easy to use. It can also be used without tire warmers and does not require any...

moto-garage.com

 

Metzeler TD Slicks don't require tire warmers, we used them all of last year.

Metzeler RaceTec TD Slick

RACETEC™ TD Slick joins the range of METZELER™ racing slick tires, dedicated to riders and club racers with a focus on competition and training use. RACETEC™ TD Slick is a slick tire for the track that is quick and easy to use. It can also be used without tire warmers and does not require any...

moto-garage.com

Interesting! And they are a pretty good price, too!

 

Probably the main thing that will keep me off slicks is warmers. I really don't feel like buying a generator and dealing with all that, or hoping for a hookup at the track. If a better skilled rider can kick my ass on the same bike with DOT legal track day tires then I think I'm fine to not move on to slicks, haha.

 

We use them without warmers/blankets. We take the first session laps warming them up and the rest of that session fairly easy. The second session normal speeds and they are great, much better than any other tires we have used for Track Days. Turn in and traction are excellent, I've set my quickest lap times with them. My lean angle registered on the dash has been over 50 and haven't felt any sliding. With the exits towards the end of the day we are both getting towards the end of the rears life and see the Traction control kicking in. The good thing is the rear is reversible. Tracks we run at are very hard on the left side, so we get a couple days out of them at best. Front goes about four days and starts sliding towards the end of it's life, if you don't push it you'll be ok, if sliding isn't your thing you better get of track and change it.
Were using these tires on all our Track Bikes. Pressures very with the Ambient temperature but we usually start out at 29 front, 26 rear on the 1000's and 28 rear on the SS and 600's

 

I'm now using Metzeler RaceTec TD Slicks and the rear is 180 60 17. I went to that size to raise the bike to solve hard parts draging. Dave had me drop the forks 4mm in the triple trees. It has raised the bike about 4-5mm where the hard parts were dragging.

 

How do you find the TD slicks? I have a set I am about to fit to Baby Zed for a track day mid February. The Q4s are knackered…

 

I'm actually pretty happy with setting up the Supersport for Track Days. While it will never be a race bike it has turned out to be a very good Track Day bike, probably why I haven't sold it since I bought the S1000RR.
I haven't had to do a lot to the Supersport to get it where it performs to my liking. Working with Dave Moss has helped tremendously. Rear sets, Front fork springs N set-up and rear tire size change is about it. The only thing I'd like now to do is the exhaust but that's a warranty issue with Ducati. Since I have already had an engine replacement I don't want to void my warranty but saving 9 LBs sure is enticing. I'll be paying close attention to what Teabowman thinks with his changes on his bike with Termi exhaust installed.

 

What tires size are you running, I assume you're running full sport street /track tires?

 

Ok, I know this is 3 wheels not 2 but was still a Track Day.
I recently signed up and completed a track day that included Sidecars. This was a HUGE one from my bucket list. Have always followed the sidecars at the IOM TT and love watching them.
This was a track day where you can come and have a go on a Sidecar. So, I did.

One of the main reasons for me going was that I knew Darryl Rayner was going to be there.
Darryl has competed at 6 IOM TT's. The bike we were on he raced at 4 of those IOM TT's (F2 class 600cc).
I was lucky enough to get 3 sessions swinging off the back with Darryl.

The track was a shorter fairly tight track, so speeds weren't that high, but the corners were a great workout for arms and body.
I still can't believe I was on a sidecar that has raced at the hallowed TT circuit ridden by Darryl.
(Me in the black leathers)

 

Yeah it sure does, however I expected something so all the Manufactures could compete/represented.

 

I just read that Moto 3 will be changed to 500cc twin spec engine. This blow a hole in the Kramer deal.

 

The Kramers are more used in club racing anyway, won't be a huge thing to them; they'll simply pivot and start will a new motor. The Aprilia 457 (? or whatever it is) would be great, the 390 KTM should be fine, lots of choices.

 

Would really like to do the track / road conversion on the YZ450 supermoto like the picture, but the cost of doing this would be near the cost of a used Kramer.
They tried to get this class happening in OZ back in 2013 I think but it all fell over.

 

They tried it in the US as well, I bought an older WR450F about that time, but the class didn’t go far. I had done some research and cost depended on how far into it you wanted to get and what could do yourself. In its most basic form it’s really just lowered suspension and 17” wheels with bolted on rearset pegs, wrapped in bodywork or not so the cost of the bike is your biggest factor. Must have been around 09, maybe 10 or 11 because I had an ‘03 (or ‘04) WR that was a steel frame and carbureted and the FI ones were just coming out or had just come out.

You could go crazy, R6 fits and triple tree, custom subframe, longer swingarm, etc. but again the cost goes way up.

 

I think after the initial sales they will only be in the sanctioned race groups. That in my opinion will make for a small market. I know a lot of the 400 crowd that has zero interest in them.