Dicing with the bigger boys

Scrambler Café Racer takes to Silverstone’s imposing GP circuit

This is going to be fun, but also a bit scary… The Café Racer is off to Silverstone for laps of the full circuit on a Ducati trackday. There are two things adding to the trepidation: firstly, the Scrambler could well prove to be the least powerful bike there and secondly, it’s my first time out on a track since a jaunt around Brands Indy on a Kawasaki Z750 in maybe 2007. Still, what can possibly go wrong?

The night before and I’m making a few final preparations. Chain tension and lube? Check. Oil? Check. Tyres got plenty of life? Check. We’re all good. Next day and it is an early start. Sign-on starts at 7am, but the bike and I are there before the gates have opened. We’re not alone, there are a gaggle of bikes already there and a few in vans and on trailers too. I get chatting to a guy who has come up from the Isle of Wight. Everyone is friendly and tensions ease.

Briefing time

The day is organised by Ducati but proceedings are run by the California Superbike School. The safety briefing is at 8.30am and there are instructions on track etiquette and safety. “Remember guys, it’s not a race.” That sounds good to me, now bring on the opening session.

Ready to go

The first novice group outing starts with two sighting laps and then we are let loose. There’s one other Scrambler here, a 2019 Full Throttle, and I’m happy to be on a bike that doesn’t put me under too much pressure. We’re waved out onto the track, and bloody hell this place is massive, but the Scrambler’s easy manners mean I’m reasonably confident from the off. Slow-ish, yes, but happy and having fun. The Café Racer’s clip-ons put me in the right position for action but it’s still easy to keep my head up for a good look through the corners. No idea how fast we’re going (I’m not looking at the dash), but I’m mostly in second, third and fourth. Responsive gears are the way forward.

They’re coming

OK so this is the novice group, but there is nothing novice about the bikes out on track. There’s a host of Panigales, there is even one guy on a V4 R, wings and all. The Café Racer barely stands a chance down Hangar Straight, but who cares? Everyone is leaving me plenty of space and there is zero stress, I think I could get into this.