Brake dancing
I’D SPECTATED AT Rockingham loads over the years and I’d always wanted to drive or ride round the circuit, so this was a bucket-list moment.
But venturing out onto the fast, wide and very, very windy circuit for the first time, all I could hear were the voices of various RIDE writers past and present identifying corners they had crashed on.
The first session was dry and grip from the Suzuki’s new Metzeler Roadtec 01 tyres was excellent. Even with the high winds gusting across the open circuit making the lightweight SV dance around, I started to gain confidence.
Of course, this is when things start to go wrong. I left my braking for the left/ right/left combination onto the oval too late. I realised I wasn’t going to make it, so went down the escape road instead. I could hear the laughter from inside my helmet as I re-joined the track…
Between sessions, Lee and I discussed lines around the International circuit and next time out, I concentrated more on these than being last of the late brakers. Each lap felt more cohesive as a result, stringing corners together rather than attacking each individually. I learned to ignore other riders, many of whom had no business being in the Novice category, and enjoy riding Rockingham at my own pace. By the end of the second session, I was wired and tired but grinning widely.
Sadly, that would prove to be it, as the rain started to fall and we called it a day. But I was happy to have finally ridden around Rockingham after 17 years.