Cadwell Park Trackday 2009

We arrived at around 7:30 and walked into the paddock to see all our bikes ready for us and lined up line a proper race team - up until then I had been fairly calm, but as soon as I saw the bikes I started to get really excited!!

We signed in and then attended the briefing at 8:30.

On returning to the bikes, Matt from Smallboy Trackbikes called me over for a word. He went through all the trick bits on the GSXR1000 (a long list!) and warned me it was quite extreme so to be careful.

In what seemed like no time at all, we were out for our first session at 9:40.

Session 1
I jumped on the bike and was instantly shocked as to how high it was and how hard it was to ride down to the holding area.

As novices, we had 4 sighting laps before we were unleashed to do our own thing. These were plenty fast enough for me at the time as I was still struggling with the aggressive throttle, brakes and very hard suspension.

After the 4 sighting laps I continued to trundle round trying to learn the track and get to grips with the bike, I was basically a rolling chicane. A LOT of people overtook me!

After the session I came back into the pits thinking the bike was too much for Cadwell. Also as the rear end of the bike was so high, my head was pointing down, and I was having trouble looking up to see where the track went, so after the session I asked if the rear suspension could be lowered a little to make things a little easier. Matt set to it straight away.

After a bit of tinkering Matt said the best thing, to avoid any loss of track time, was to do the next session as it was, and then he'd whip the fairing off as soon as I came in the paddock again and sort it out.

Session 2
A much better session for me. I started to figure out the bends and the bike didn't feel as hostile. Every now and then I got a corner right and caught a glimpse of how good the bike was, then I'd mess a corner up and be back to struggling again. But it did make me realise there was nothing wrong with the bike, I simply needed to ride it more aggressively.

I finished this session a much happier person! I told Matt to leave the bike as it was, as it was me that needed adjusting, not the bike!

Session 3
This was a much better session for me. I now knew the corners a lot better and the bike was feeling good. I actually started overtaking a number of people.

Unfortunately this session was spoilt by a small number of very fast and aggressive people, who were doing some very close overtaking and spooking the rest of the field.

A lass we were with called Fee, as well as a number of other people, complained to No Limits and they went and had words after the session.

That said I finished the session with a huge grin, I was really enjoying the Gixxer Thou now.

Session 4
A good solid session, I was making steady improvements. I also didn't see any of the aggressive moves I'd seen in session 3 which was good. I had a good little battle with a Fireblade for a few laps, from which I finally came out victorious, and to me it was like I'd won a GP!

I was glad it was the last session of the morning though - I was looking forward to the 1 hour rest for lunch!

Session 5
After lunch, there were another 2 sighting laps, and then I had another really good session.

Session 6
I got behind somebody who was slightly faster than me on the bends, but I stayed with him by following his lines. I stayed with him for the entire session and learnt a lot about the track.

Session 7
I was 4th out of the pits behind Sharpy, Ollie, and another lad. They all had been to Cadwell before and knew it very well and they'd all been very fast all day, I knew I couldn't stay with them and within 3 laps I was on my own.

By this time, I was very happy with the bike and track and had a blast hammering it around the awesome Cadwell Park. I was definately a lot smoother and felt a lot faster. Nobody overtook me this session.

This was the last session, and to be honest I was quite pleased as I was exhausted!

Summary
This was one of the best days I've ever had. From the moment we turned up Smallboy Trackbikes made us feel like VIPs. All we had to do was jump on the bikes for our sessions, and chill out in between, they handled all the rest, from making any adjustments you wanted, to checking and fueling the bikes, to making us all tea and coffee.

We had wonderful company and good weather (though Jane could have done with it a touch warmer!).

Cadwell Park is an amazing place to ride round - I want to go back as soon as possible. My aim is to be able to keep up with Fee and Sharpy!

Finally I'd like to thank the most amazing person in the world, Jane, for buying me this!