Chris Threadgill is preparing himself for what could be a very busy season as he looks to compete in two bike series.

He is already confirmed to race in the BMCRC MRO Clubman 600 championship and he is also looking to race in the Triumph Triple Challenge as part of the British Superbike support package.

A few weeks ago, Chris dusted off his motorbike and headed to local track Brands Hatch for his first pre-season test of the season.  Today he brings us up to date with how that test went and where he can improve ahead of the new campaign getting underway.

 

As the day started, the track was very cold and a little damp, so the first session I just used to get a feel from the new set of tyres we had put on the bike for the day, do a few sighting laps and just make sure the bike was running on good form.

As the morning progressed and the sun began to warm the track, I was able to push a little further each lap, and start to really dial into some good consistent laps.  One frustrating thing about going testing on a public track day is that you can often find a road bike planted right on the apex of the corner as you approach, and they will be going a good 10-20mph slower than you.

This frustration is compounded by the fact most of the road bikes are 1000cc compared to the 675cc of my Triumph, and so as soon as the straight arrives they scamper off, but then slow right down for the corners again!  Despite this, I was managing pretty well to weave in and out of the traffic, often diving up the inside on the brakes, or powering around the outside of them through the corners.

The conditions warmed up quite well in the afternoon, meaning that I had good amounts of grip, and felt more confident to leave it later and later to hit the brakes, and really push the bike through the corners – although this did leave me out on the grass on one lap as I tried to take Graham Hill Bend onto the back straight a bit too fast, and ran wide on the exit.

With Dad on the stopwatch at the start/finish line, times were consistent and getting quicker and quicker throughout the day, eventually managing to string together a run of laps with times between 52.7 and 53.5 seconds per lap.

Overall a positive test, with some good knowledge and setup being gathered, ready to be put to use at the first race of the year, again at Brands Hatch on 4/5/6 April with the British Motorcycle Racing Club.