I was trying to get to Ales on the 14/15th with Pierre-Luc, however we ended up too late to get places, so I was on the search for another circuit. Magny-Cours still had places for the 14/15th August with Up-racing so I booked with them, Libby didn't want to go for both days, so I just took the Sunday (at 200 Euros!).
I packed the van and we left by about 13:00 on Saturday, and arrived at the circuit at about 18:00. The Up-racing organization was pretty good, they had tyre changing facilities, testing of helmets, and transponders to get lap times. Very hot day and difficult to get to sleep in the van, however up nice and early for the briefing. I was in the intermediate group, which they change throughout the day depending on your times.
First session at 9:20, and although the RG was still popping & farting between 6-8K it was pulling off idle well (thanks to the air screws being only a half turn open), but still difficult to ride. Was going well enough, and I decided to keep going on the 500 for the second session. They kept us waiting as a guy had blown an engine, and we also were warned of liquid coolant on the track, at various places.
Started off well, but on the second lap I pealed into the left hander at the end of the start finish straight, and lost the front going pretty fast (~130-140 kmph). I slid towards the gravel trap following the bike, which I saw flip over as it hit the gravel, and I followed doing a few rollie pollie's before coming to a stop in the gravel. I watched the whole thing happen at normal speed (for me), and I knew as soon as I stopped that I was OK, nothing damaged.
The bike however was a different matter, I knew that it had flipped so damage to basically all fairings. At some point it had landed on the top, so top fairing and rear fairing destroyed, plus the rear sub-frame looks bent, although this will need a closer look. Petrol was pissing from the tank as both left hand carbs were ripped off, and had pulled the petrol pipe off the tank, and the petrol tap was broken so no way to close the petrol. I stood with the bike as it emptied itself and the marshal looked on mencingly wielding his extinguisher - fortunately he didn't need it.
The bike was also stuck in gear, the gear change rod had snapped, but although I could move the gear change mechanism, it didn't want to change gear, so we had to manhandle it into the van to get back to the pits.
After cooling off back at the van, we reviewed the situation and decided retreat was the best measure for the day (despite having a second bike). My helmet was scratched badly by the gravel, my leathers were holed in 3 different places, so it wasn't wise to risk continuing. Besides that the pit team (Libby) was concerned about my state of health!
We packed up the van, I had to remove the chain from the bike to push it into the van, and then 5 hours to home! I really don't know what caused the accident, was it my tyre, or was it the track conditions, I am pretty sure I didn't do anything wrong, anyway we'll never know!
My only damage is some light bruising on my arm where it looks like the gravel hit. The bike is pretty much a right off, but we'll see......
I packed the van and we left by about 13:00 on Saturday, and arrived at the circuit at about 18:00. The Up-racing organization was pretty good, they had tyre changing facilities, testing of helmets, and transponders to get lap times. Very hot day and difficult to get to sleep in the van, however up nice and early for the briefing. I was in the intermediate group, which they change throughout the day depending on your times.
First session at 9:20, and although the RG was still popping & farting between 6-8K it was pulling off idle well (thanks to the air screws being only a half turn open), but still difficult to ride. Was going well enough, and I decided to keep going on the 500 for the second session. They kept us waiting as a guy had blown an engine, and we also were warned of liquid coolant on the track, at various places.
Started off well, but on the second lap I pealed into the left hander at the end of the start finish straight, and lost the front going pretty fast (~130-140 kmph). I slid towards the gravel trap following the bike, which I saw flip over as it hit the gravel, and I followed doing a few rollie pollie's before coming to a stop in the gravel. I watched the whole thing happen at normal speed (for me), and I knew as soon as I stopped that I was OK, nothing damaged.
The bike however was a different matter, I knew that it had flipped so damage to basically all fairings. At some point it had landed on the top, so top fairing and rear fairing destroyed, plus the rear sub-frame looks bent, although this will need a closer look. Petrol was pissing from the tank as both left hand carbs were ripped off, and had pulled the petrol pipe off the tank, and the petrol tap was broken so no way to close the petrol. I stood with the bike as it emptied itself and the marshal looked on mencingly wielding his extinguisher - fortunately he didn't need it.
The bike was also stuck in gear, the gear change rod had snapped, but although I could move the gear change mechanism, it didn't want to change gear, so we had to manhandle it into the van to get back to the pits.
After cooling off back at the van, we reviewed the situation and decided retreat was the best measure for the day (despite having a second bike). My helmet was scratched badly by the gravel, my leathers were holed in 3 different places, so it wasn't wise to risk continuing. Besides that the pit team (Libby) was concerned about my state of health!
We packed up the van, I had to remove the chain from the bike to push it into the van, and then 5 hours to home! I really don't know what caused the accident, was it my tyre, or was it the track conditions, I am pretty sure I didn't do anything wrong, anyway we'll never know!
My only damage is some light bruising on my arm where it looks like the gravel hit. The bike is pretty much a right off, but we'll see......
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