Phillip island

[foddder2002]

Going down to the island monday for track day just wondering
if anybody else is going down I will get there about 11am
after work. Black & Blue Busa's Rule

[Beestroyer]

So you'll be tired before you start? Thats going to be a tough day.

[foddder2002]

Beestroyer It was a tough day and i nearly craped by pants
at one stage coming out of turn six. poured the throttle
on and the arse end of the bus did the sideways dance. But I got it back, after that I went back to the pitts to calm down
and have a smoke ( big girl I know)But after that I got in to it and mate I don't know why I haven't done this before....
It was the most accelerating experience I have ever had and can't wait to do it again it was and eye opener and I learned alot. There was about three stacks two not so bad but the third one the bike was totaled the girl was fine just a little bruised.I still can't get the off my face....
Black & Blue Busa's Rule

[Beestroyer]

I was thinking the exact same thing last weekend (9th)... "why in hell havnt i done this earlier!!!"

Glad you enjoyed it.

[Scott W]

Fantastic Fodder, good on you. I agree that doing a ride day at the Island is something that all sport bike riders should try at least once in their life.

I thought there may have been a bit more discussion from our club day down there last week. I am very curious to know what everyone thought about riding the track.

How do you compare it to riding on the road?
What were your favourite parts of track and favourite corners?
Which parts did you find the most challenging?

That kind of stuff.

Fodder, I'll be going down there again on 17th May for a track day if you want to give it another run.

[foddder2002]

Hi Scott well compared to the road you feel alot safer on the track because 1) the surface is smooth no pothole's no ripple
strips 2) no car's or other traffic comeing in other direction.

favourite parts of track and favourite corners ( stright bits
of track) and the corners at the moment left handers.
right handers I need alot of practice Honda corner was hard
I slow to early but one time come in to hot and did the run off thing. and the other tight corner was the one at the top part of track you know just befor you come around on to the straight again. and the other parts I need to know what gear to be in on what corner and so on. Which I started to get right at the end but it was my first time so I can only get better (well I hope)

And Scott I will let you know about the 17th may My work is changing over to contractors so I don't no if I will have the money but I will try REAL HARD ok.. Black & Blue Busa's Rule

[bigshowbusa]

Good to hear you enjoyed it Fodder…it has always puzzled me that people can be so reluctant to get on at PI, then when / if they do you can’t keep them away!

To get a discussion going, bit of a walk thru for (my personal version of) an ideal lap at PI on the busa (standard gearing)


Heading into turn 1 there's double white lines at the 200m board. Keep going past there (absolute worst case start braking there), ideally hit the single white line (100m board) still with gas wide open, approx 290 - 300 showing on the dial, try braking about 25m past the 100m board (can go at least as far as 50m past - depends how big your nuts are ) drop it into 4th prior to or just as you tip in and pray that you've still got the BTL

Get on the gas real smooth straight away, it’s bumpy on the inside (you can use a wider line) but the busa is so stable don’t really need to worry. Run it out wide on the exit, don’t worry about wasting time setting up Southern Loop (bc it’s a double apex) At Southern, give the front a quick tap just b4 entering and drop to 3rd (ideally 2nd if u can handle mega wheelspin on the exit) double apex so your looking to run out nice and wide in the middle of southern (there's a surface change in the middle you'll know it when you see it , use that as a guide as to where the bike should be)
Exit southern with the gas wide open you'll have no choice but to run it right to ripple on the exit, run thru the box heading up to the bridge b4 honda (should be near limiter in 4th) roll off just a little then tip it in and get back on hard thru the kink.

Heading into honda just look for the 50m board you want to start braking hard say 10m b4 then but can swing it as late as 50m...(great passing opportunity) drop 2 gears to 2nd at earliest convenience.
Tip into honda as late as possible, may need to trail the front in a bit to get rid of excess speed. Ideally you don't want to be going in early to honda bc you'll be real wide on the exit and you have to waste time getting across the track to set up Siberia.

Siberia can be tricky, you don't want to tip in early as you'll be in a world of hurt on the exit. As soon as you've tipped in (or even before) turn your head a mile to the left and look at the exit. Manage wheelspin near / on the exit (it can be quite dirty / slippery), hit the outside ripple (that you've been looking at the entire time) and shift 3rd. Keep it left after the exit to set up the right hander b4 the hayshed and short shift 4th (recommended but not necessary) If you've got the hayshed right you'll think that you're gonna bin it and end up in the hayshed but you won't

Hold it wide open while your still cranked exiting (see 4th gear recommendation) don't worry about going real wide setting up Lukey Heights somewhere slighlty left of the centre of the track is good. I tap the front at the bottom of Lukey, probably don't need to as a downshift to 3rd should be enough to run it up the hill. Try and get close to the inside ripple all the way around and be aware the top of Lukey Heights is crowned so if you're wide (as in not to the left of track) there's less grip. Also expect wheelspin around the top of Lukey as the rear unloads...

Hit at worst the 50m board braking for MG (no excuses, it’s easy and a great block pass opportunity) shift 2nd and trail the front a bit if you need to. Make sure to tip in real late to MG and be aware that lowsides are common. Short shift 3rd on the exit just as you change direction (you're nice and wide with a great run into 11 bc you turned in late at MG ) Turn 11 is somewhat tricky but doesn't look it, almost guaranteed wheelspin from the apex to the exit just be gentle with it. Get out nice and wide exiting 11 and short shift 4th b4 entering 12. Take a truckload of speed into 12 (you’ll need it later), just slam it in there and immediately look at the exit. Once you've apexed hold it wide open in 4th while your still cranked, you'll get slight wheelspin but it's very manageable (hopefully you've got supercorsa's or better ) the exit of 12 is somewhat blind you just need to be confident of where your going and hold the gas open. Aim for the ripple (that you can’t see) on the exit but you don't need to use it, it's your margin for error use it if you need to...


Any comments are most welcome, I’m always looking to improve my lines / markers…

Probably should also say you'd be a nutter to attempt the above without EBC HH front pads, braided lines and Pirelli Super Corsas or better (and there is no better street legal tyre at the moment )

And b4 the fisherman get their boats out, yes I am going racing next year…it’s just a question of $$

[foddder2002]

Bigshowbusa you sure went into great detail (thanks) that will help me next time I go to phillip island but as I only have a standed bike no braided lines and my rear tyre in a bat-020 I will not be going that hard but thanks for the info I will study it hard and try and put some of these things into operation but slow and steady till I get more experience at it

thanks again for that valuable lesson
Black & Blue Busa's Rule