TRACK Attack Premier is a new trackday experience which gives bikers the chance the ride the GP circuit at Donington, where Valentino Rossi has won famous victories. Alastair Walker sampled a day there.
Donington Park's 2.5 mile MotoGP circuit is a legendary piece of tarmac for many bikesport fans. This is where Jeremy McWilliams snatched a last corner win in the 250cc class and Valentino Rossi has battled at over 180mph, elbow to elbow, against the likes of Biaggi, Hayden and Gibernau. The Track Attack Premier events give riders the chance to enjoy six or seven 20-minute sessions on the full Grands Prix circuit, with a 98db noise limit to stop too many pukka race bikes turning up.
Like most trackdays, there's a safety briefing - given by Niall Mackenzie, ex British Superbike champ, then we were split into three groups; novice, intermediate and experienced track riders. Scorpion exhausts were on hand to offer tips on setting up your bike plus Mackenzie himself was one of the instructors who were available all day for questions and one-to-one assessments.
I hadn't ridden Donington for years and set off slowly, plus I was getting used to riding a Buell XB12R, which isn't a trackday bike, with its old tech pushrod engine and torquey power delivery. But the Buell handled brilliantly and after two or three sessions I was starting to actually overtake a few riders on GSXR1000s.
The final session was the most memorable as I diced with another Buell rider for two laps, trading places and finally nipping past at the chicane on the last lap - I felt like I'd won the Buell Cup...even if there were only two of us in the running.
Big Grin
That's what trackdays are all about; pushing yourself and the bike to a comfortable limit and going home with a big grin on your face.
The Track Attack Premier event also had a superb lunchtime stunt show from Buell factory rider Craig Jones. A buffet lunch is included for cost of £195 per person.
Donington Park has recently refurbuished its paddock facilities, so the whole day was very much a cut above the sort of trackday you might have at a smaller circuit where you're often lucky to get a portakabin.
There are just a few dates for the Mackenzie-hosted Premier days at Donington this year, with the next scheduled date being 7th July.
For more information try the website listed below.
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