From a mighty M1000RR to a done-up R3 everything was spotted at BIC but it was a complete over-representation of BMWs and Panigales.

BHPian narula123 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Been a while since I update this thread. The 10R has been seeing a lot of tracktime and limited street use since the Ducati joined the garage.

Post a very very enriching experience at California Superbike School in Jan’24 it was time to put those learnings to use. So off we went to BIC with ISBK for a track weekend and boy oh boy what an experience.

If you ride at the racetrack and you haven't ridden at the Buddh circuit then believe me you are really doing yourself and your bike a disservice. The circuit is absolutely world-class, specially after the recent upgrades for MotoGP and it will wow you in almost every way. The first time you arrive, the enormity of it all takes your breath away. The same grandstand from where we saw MotoGP now loomed like a massive goliath when seen from the pits. They have all the infra ready and sorted. Needless to say, the first time you go out on the track, you cannot help but marvel at the thought that you are indeed riding on a MotoGP circuit.

BIC is also a circuit where every single horsepower advantage will manifest spectacularly unlike a tighter circuit like MIC where, I believe, a 400-600cc bike is best placed. At BIC, you will in all likelihood max out the limits of your litre class supersport. Both man and machine pushed to the edge of your capabilities with enough run-off area to give you that confidence in safety (I learned it first hand).

The circuit is fast and the back straight will see you go past the 300 kmph mark in a jiffy right before you slam your brakes to get ready for C4. This circuit will also manifest any gaps in your setup and hardware and put a strain on your brakes and tyres. I did the stupidity of going in with the same set of EBC extreme pro pads that I had run already at MIC while at CSS. Big Mistake! On day 2, just when my pace was picking up, the pads which were now severely depleted just after 1 day of use, heated up and consequently heated up the caliper and the fluid. End result - I brake hard for C11 to realise I have lost all and complete front brake. Fortunately, training kicked in, and thanks to the generous run-off area I managed to bring the bike back into the pits. While for most looking in the pits It would have been funny to see me stop the bike ala Flintstones style with my feet, the incident was quite freaky and an eye-opener on how demanding this circuit is. I am not kidding when I say the mechanics couldn't touch the calipers for at least 30 minutes since they were so hot. And needless to say, when speeds are high and machines are put to their limits the risks shoot up. The quick throttle was such a boon along with the suspension setup that Dave Moss had guided me on. I couldn't help but marvel at how fiery Shredder was out there despite being almost 8 years old. Any upgrade itches I had vanished on Day 1 itself. She still is a mad bike running a potent setup.
Immediately added to the shopping list were front winglets (she kept popping power wheelies on the back straight on full gas) and Cf brake cooling ducts

From a mighty M1000RR to a done-up R3 everything was spotted at BIC but it was a complete over representation of BMWs and Panigales (both of which had their dedicated pits setups. Big time J all of us poor Japanese folks were)

I can recommend the Radisson hotel in Greater Noida as a good stay option considering its proximity and please do choose a self-drive car instead of depending on cabs. Also, the circuit is very particular about their processes and safety so please keep all things and paperwork in mind. I, fortunately, had a support team from Hexxcode for trackside assistance who were helpful in taking care of everything on the bike when it was parked between sessions. A shoutout to my good friends at ISBK for organising a good weekend for us all.

The only pain points - the plug point for tyre warmers are of the industrial type and there is no fuel bunk within miles of the racetrack so you better come prepared with your fuel backup.

I honestly cannot wait to go back and I keep wondering how will riding at Chennai ever match up to this experience at least on a litre.

Cheers to more fun. Leaving you with some insane shots taken by some very talented photographers.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you meet some of the nicest and coolest people at any track day.

BHPian deepfreak15 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Thanks a lot for the awesome company you all! I really envy Narula123 for being in the white group and riding with all those exotic bikes. I won't lie, every time I watched them fly by I had a sense of yearning to be among them… sigh if wishes were horses...

I have had the pleasure of knowing CrAzY dRiVeR for a while so leading up to the first track session I was literally ragging him for not taking the rental RR310, I couldn't take such liberties with shyamg28 since I was meeting him for the first time so tried subtle manipulation (obviously it didn't work) but boy was I proven wrong after their first session. Both of them took to the track like fish to water and you could literally see them ramp up as the days progressed and were happily flying around by day 3.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you meet some of the nicest and coolest people at any track day, it's like its own ecosystem. Starting from our transport guy, Appu Raj, what a gem of a person. He was more excited than us and kept asking why we were taking a touring bike to the track and why my bike was stock and I hadn't removed the number plate etc. Though all was good when we gave the bikes to load them for the return journey.

He looked at both our tyres and was beaming like a proud father. Taking on the services of Aditya Bedre for photography turned out to be a good move as all these days I have been riding around a track I didn't have a decent picture to show for, this time round I can't decide which pictures to shortlist from the ~250 that he gave. Joe's garage was on hand in case anyone needed support albeit for a fee I guess, same with most of the other services (photography, transport etc).

I've been through a few on-track training sessions but I learnt so much this time it was mind-blowing. But the biggest difference was my mindset, in previous classes, I would go with the intent to learn but the moment I got on the track I would lose all restraint and try to overdo it. This time around I decided to do only the drills I was told and ignore everyone else on track (there will always be someone faster than you or ignoring the drills and blasting past everyone, you get your money's worth only if you ignore that and just do your thing). I stuck to that and surprisingly everything felt so calm and relaxed and slow! Pretty soon I realized I was passing people and I guess I did learn to ride fast in the end.

The bike was a hoot to ride but it did have its limitations. The suspension wallowed a lot and the foot pegs kept scraping so I had to change my riding style and try to ride with the bike as upright as possible.

Literally can't wait for the next track day (hopefully it will be with a much better bike)

Signing off with some pictures taken, I personally think I got my money's worth

Hanging off the bike to keep it upright has its advantages (looks good)

Small bikes are a hoot on track. I had the throttle wide open almost everywhere

Insert cliched "You go where you look ...focus blah blah blah".

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I was on my limit. I've never imagined myself leaning into corners like I did.

BHPian SaurAswale recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

This is my first time writing anything, and I recognize that some may find it overly detailed or potentially boring. Forgive me for any mistakes I've made, and I kindly ask for valuable feedback to improve for the next time.

Race Track

A place to test yourself and your machine to the limits. It's an experience that is matched with nothing else. The ecstasy of feeling like you're losing it yet remaining in control is incredible. It's a place where legends are crafted and fools are punished. If anyone is serious enough to improve their skills and be a better rider or driver on-road, Track days are great for finding the limits of the man and the machine. Back in my college days, I used to be the driver for our go-kart team. Unlike karts in adventure parks, it was a 125cc 5-speed machine and surprisingly quick (and scary!!). Also, I was a little familiar with racetracks and knew what to expect (or that's what I thought!!)

When I bought my Yamaha R15, handling and engine prowess were a top priority for me, given my love for motorsports. Otherwise, it was hard to eliminate Apache RTR. (Full ownership review is coming soon). But the track day didn't cross my mind for once.

Call of the blue

My bike has been with me for the last 45 days, I rode her 620 km to Hyderabad. Owning a Yamaha naturally led me to follow YamahaIndia on Instagram and stay on the lookout for the events. Then, an unexpected opportunity surfaced. There was a track day scheduled on 4th and 5th November in Hyderabad. But for some reason, I was having some technical problems in registration. Despite my efforts to contact Yamaha officials, I hit a dead end. Then I gave up.

The boring weekend

There is a standard format for weekends that most bachelors living in a PG follow - Sleep -Eat- Mobile- Chai- Sleep. On that particular Saturday, after going through the first two steps successfully, I found myself scrolling through Instagram. To my surprise, Yamaha India had posted the first updates of the track day. It 'tingled' something inside and the next thing I knew I was on my bike set for a 40 km ride to Chicane Circuit, near Shameerpet. For no apparent reason, I slipped the small bike document bag into my backpack.

At The track

I arrived at the track around 2 pm, and to my delight, I was greeted by a sea of Yamaha R15s. Most of them were v3 and v4 models, in every colour. The receptionists gave me a visitors band and just as I was entering, there was a batch of 6 riders gearing up to hit the track. I took a stroll around the small paddock and saw everything there was to see.

The track session began, and the kid in me was excited to see these machines in action, with riders leaning into corners and the thrilling vroom of their engines. While watching, I struck up a conversation with a Yamaha official and mentioned my registration troubles. To my surprise, he offered a solution: "Do you want to register now? You can choose to have your session today or tomorrow if you wish." He recommended doing it on the same day since all the sessions for the day were over, and I would have the entire track to myself. Entire track for myself? this was tempting. I asked for a few minutes, called my cousin (not that I needed his approval), quickly checked if my net worth had enough zeroes to make the payment, and signed up for it.

The Experience

Things moved very swiftly after, the visitor band was taken out and replaced by another one. Documents were verified (Thank God I had those with me). Then my bike was taken for inspection and I was taken to the briefing area. I was introduced to Ashish, the instructor for the day and Racer for the Yamaha factory team. He walked me through do's and don'ts followed by a safety briefing and riding position on a sportbike. After 5 minutes of the 'exclusive for me' session, they directed me to gear up. Yamaha provides the piece of leather suit, racing boots (from BBG IRRC), racing gloves (again BBG), and an ECE-rated helmet (unmistakably Axor Apex) to all riders- included in the registration cost. I decided to ride with my own helmet. Then there was a very brief photo session.

I was then led to my bike, where I received clear instructions: follow the Yamaha rider piloting an Aerox scooter on the track until the red flag.

What followed for the next few minutes was the best time I ever had in my entire life. My immediate response was, "Oh my god, this is so much different than go-kart". Hitting the apex was suddenly so hard on two wheels. I was so vulnerable. It was like playing with fire. I was on my limit. I've never imagined myself leaning into corners like I did.

The first couple of laps I was just trying to understand what was happening. After that, I got the hang of it and was catching the Aerox. Except for one high-speed 90-degree curve with few bumps. I was clearly losing time there. Then I did something stupid, got over my skills, and kept the throttle pinned for a fraction longer- got thrown out on a bump and ran wide on grass but thankfully the Yamaha didn't unsettle and saved me. It was heart in a mouth moment. There was another incident when I made the mistake of touching the rear brakes and instantly got punished. Also, once I turned in a little early and ended up on the grass at the apex - it's fine to cut the corner on four wheels, but on the bike - not so a pleasant experience.

Despite these setbacks, I was having the time of my life. Over the next few laps, I experimented more. I tried shifting my body weight off the seat while cornering instead of being steady on the seat, tried to complete a lap without changing gears, tried to delay my braking point after the straight, and Focused on a smoother transition from left to right into the chicane. It was much harder than I thought.

After some more laps, I started to notice my concentration began to wane, thankfully at the same time they showed the red flag ending the session. I still don't remember it was 15 mins session or 30 mins but it was enough to leave me exhilarated. As I came into the pit, I didn't want to let go of my bike so sat on it till things cooled down. I suddenly realized that I was the only rider on track- most of the people were watching me. Also, I got a couple of feedback about my riding (and mistakes). Then officials told me to get hydrated and change the gears.

Finally, I got changed and after an energy drink, I received the framed photograph and goodies from Yamaha.

There was a t-shirt with some small goodies along with the bag (which I was planning to buy for small rides). Also, they let me keep the inners.

Little About the Bike

I won't go into extensive praise for my bike in this post, as I'm in the process of preparing a full ownership review. I don't consider myself someone with enough experience or credibility to provide a detailed evaluation of my bike. However, the Yamaha R15 doesn't need much of an introduction in this department. So, I'll leave you with the words of Shumi, "Yamaha (R15) is a benevolent God. It's predictable, accurate, trustworthy, and forgiving. You can make mistakes and carry on."

The last statement holds especially true.

That wraps up my first experience on the track with two wheels. And, did I mention it only cost me 1500 rupees?

Learnings

• Be open to opportunities; you never know what fate has in store for you.
• Riding bikes on a track is a lot more dangerous than go-karts.
• I need to learn everything about riding on a track to improve my skills.
• Shifting my body weight into the corner is a crucial technique that significantly enhances lean angles and allows for higher speeds through corners. Avoid staying in a single position.
• Never, under any circumstances, touch the rear brakes on the track.
• Avoid cutting corners and the apex or run wide on a motorcycle.
• Don't attempt anything beyond your current skill level.
• The Aerox is an impressively quick scooter.
• Let me say this once, R15 is a LEGEND

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Royal Enfield Track School will also be held in Bangalore, Kolhapur and Ahmedabad.

Royal Enfield has announced a new initiative called 'Track School', that aims to train budding racers and riding enthusiasts and help improve their track-riding abilities. The first training session will be held at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore on September 9 and 10, 2023.

The Royal Enfield Track School is divided into three sections – GT Experience, which is a 1-day course that will teach the fundamentals of track riding; GT Track is an advanced 2-day course aimed at developing skilled riders; GT Race offers a more inclusive package and goes into technical details of the racing, including setup, race simulation, fitness, etc. Prices range from Rs 9,999 for the GT Experience to Rs 59,999 for GT Race.

Participants will be trained on a modified Continental GT 650 motorcycle, under the guidance of Anish Shetty and Pradeep Reddy, who have won the Continental GT Cup.

The Royal Enfield Track School will also be held in Bangalore, Kolhapur and Ahmedabad on October 15, November 5 and November 26, respectively.

Drift Day will be held at the Raymond Race track in Thane.

Bad Boi Drifts will be conducting a 'Drift Day' - a special track day for drifting enthusiasts in Mumbai this weekend. The event will be held at the Raymond Race track in Thane on June 11.

Drift Day offers a chance to experience the thrill of drifting first-hand. You can bring your car and hone your drift skills or rent a drift car. The event also offers 'ride along' sessions for Rs 2,500.

The 'Arrive & Drift' program is a 6 hour session with 15 slots. 2 slots have been reserved for the 'Drift Car Rental'. It will include a 30 min drive in a drift-built car with an instructor.

At the second session, I had got well versed to the track, the Supra was being toyed around the corners and those 382 ponies were made to work.

BHPian Amey Kulkarni recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey Peeps,

Last Sunday was exhilarating, fun filled with adrenaline and triumph. Special thanks to Aditya9567 for sharing the invite so that I could participate.

I relived my BIC moments from 2021 riding on two wheels to this one taking the Supra MK5 to the track.

Well, this was an event hosted by Pirelli and limited guests were invited and had to be an RSVP to confirm the participation. Aditya and I could register ourselves in time to clinch a spot. I was excited. Had been watching the track videos on YouTube to get a feel of the track and corners. Supra's running in was finished and couldn't have been better to hit a track day to push her legs.

The Day: Aditya and I were laughing over the morning coffee on how we causally got up and reached the track in just 15mins from our houses comparing to the circus I had to do for BIC back home travelling from Pune to Delhi, shipping bikes etc. It was a complete itinerary.

Registration: As soon as we entered the paddock, along-side registration there was a wide spread of breakfast offered as well. Although the track day was free of cost, it was very well organized, no expenses spared and safety to the maximum which was good to see. There was also a helmet counter on offer if one didn't carry or didn't have one. I initially though they'd charge for it but that was on the house as well. The helmets were properly sanitized and disposable balaclavas were provided to ensure hygiene.

Safety Briefing: Post the registration, we were made to attend the safety briefing of the track, dos and don't on the track, certain markers, significance of green / yellow / red flags etc. It was very useful indeed. A Keynote was to respect the Outlap and have a Cool Down lap before entering the pits. Generally, after hot laps the brakes are on fire and the cool down lap helps them relatively normalize before you come back in.

I had a fear of the track being overcrowded to cause safety issues and accidents, but I must reiterate by stating that the event was very well organized. The track was not crowded at all. The fellow drivers were responsible and didn't see anyone playing up their egos.

I'm guessing there were 50 odd cars ready to headout to the Dubai Autodrome "Club Circuit" is what we drove on; basically a 2.1 Km lap which is not a full lap however still technical and tests the cars to the limits at corners. We were divided into two groups and got three sessions 30mins each.

Green Flag: The sun was already scorching over the track with a slight cool breeze. The morning ambient temperature was around 28-30 degrees and off we went. I was in the first group and had to head out immediately after the safety briefing. This was my first time to drive a car around a track. The tyre pressures were adjusted from 33psi which was the normal setting to 30 psi for the Supra. Sports Mode ON which is the full attack mode wherein the steering, suspensions stiffen up and bull starts roaring with the exhaust flaps open. The first session was targeted to learn the track, observe the racing lines, braking markers in order to maximize the output and cut down on lap timings. It was nervy for sure and didn't turn off Traction Control just to keep myself in check. Back of the head you have a brand new sports car below you and no clue how she's going to handle the aggression. The session went well, didn't push to the limits as I had planned but was already waiting for the second session to commence.

The second session was right after group 2's first session which meant I had 30mins break in between. The brakes had already started showing a slight fade wherein you realize when the pedal starts going in than anticipated.

At the second session, I had got well versed to the track, the Supra was being toyed around the corners and those 382 ponies were made to work. I really wanted to see how every element of the car felt. The chassis is stiff but supremely agile, you point and she'll hit that marker. Body roll felt minimal and the acceleration with the Twin-scroll Turbo never felt lame nor sluggish, the power was available on the tap at any given point. There's torque everywhere in those 7K RPMs. There was a point where I could see myself closing up on the Cayman ahead of me at the pit straight. The braking was bang on. They're not grabby and infact progressive to the point that you start realizing how much peddle needs to be pressed for what amount of bite.

I completed 3 hot laps and was doing 2 cool down laps every session as I knew she was being pushed for the first time. But she never gave up on me.

At the third session, the sun was right up, it was closer to noon and the track was hot and throwing up marbles. I only did two laps and came in. It was plenty for us and the cars I guess , the brakes started fading and in the last session we decided to call it a day.

Summary: All in all, I must say that the Supra performed above expectations. At stock settings, she handled really well, the tyres were sticky enough, front 4 piston Brembos brakes had a great bite braking from 200+ speeds to 70 ish Kmph in a jiffy to a tough turn 1, change of directions also felt natural, the ZF 8 speed gearbox felt crisp as well. To point out the downside on the car, the suspension could be stiffer, and the steering feel could've been better as well. But that's why you have mods on the car to make it just right for the driver.

Overall, a satisfactory day and already looking forward to the next one.

Here are some captures from the Pirelli Event at Dubai Autodrome :

Supra and Aditya's Cayman GTS (L to R):

First view of the paddock and pits (Left side):

First view of the paddock and pits (Right side):

Arrival to the glorious day:

The gateway to the registration:

The heavens with Mclarens & GT3RSs:

New talk of the town Supra MK5:

 Center of attraction - Cayman GT4RS in Shark Blue:

Bird's eye view of the dream parking lot:

Safety briefing of the circuit:

Epitome of sports racing:

The limits on the Supra:

Cheers,

Amey.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

We get to the Handling Circuit, I take the first lap slowly, it feels well balanced and takes corners flatter for sure and the steering is more eager on the AMG GT especially after the C63S.

BHPian ajmat recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

What you will like:

• Well laid out and organised.
• Good Booking interface.
• You get pretty good exposure to the AMG within specified time.
• Manic launch control experience.

What you wont like:

• It’s a handling circuit, not a racing circuit.
• A little expensive.

With COVID, Inflation, UK summer etc. Track experiences are very limited. I was hoping to do Thruxton but alas there were no events since the BTCC was being run over a couple of weekends , so I decided to explore Mercedes Benz World.

My schedule was packed so at the last minute, Monday opened up. They have choices ranging from:

One hour experiences:

• AMG 43
• AMG 63
• AMG GT (30 min in a AMG 63 and 30 min in the GT)
• AMG GT 63 - similar to above
• EQC Experience
• There is also the G63 Off Road Experience.

Half day experiences:

• AMG63
• AMG GT (2 hours with a C63S + 1 hour with the AMG GT).

The available slots were limited, I decided on the 1 hour with the AMG GT and a 3.00PM slot was available. Due to some credit card glitch, I could not make the booking on Sunday night, so I tried on Monday morning but no slots were available. I called the centre on Monday and they confirmed that the 3 PM slot is available but online booking could not be taken for the same day. They needed to check with the Experience Team. I was promised a call back in two hours. They called back in an hour and confirmed the slot but I needed to pay on arrival.

Fair enough.

I whipped out my Mercedes T Shirt, and reached well in time in Munich's finest!!!

Mercedes Benz World is located in Brookland as part of the old circuit. It is a basically a huge dealership with an experience centre tagged on. As a brand cetnre, it works, as a dealership, it is a tad impersonal.

Once enters the reception and you see a couple of cars parked in reception:

i

Image source.

You see the Experience desk on the left and I completed my registration and signed a waiver. I was liable for 1500 pound excess but if I paid 20 pounds, I could get that waived. When asked about my chances of crashing,

"All cars have dual control, so very little chance!"

20 quid saved then!

I am then ushered to the Driver's lounge straight ahead. This steps out to a driveway where various AMG's are parked:

After each session, they come in and are parked. I am then introduced to my allocated instructor for the day - Dylan

The Experience centre has 5 track areas:

• The South Circuit - used for familiarizing with car and track
• Handling Circuit
• Wet Skid Circle
• Dynamic Straight
• Wet Dynamic Straight

Folks, can only talk about the experience as the public are not allowed in the area due to safety reasons

The Experience:

Dylan plugged in a USB for my session which is recorded. We jump into an AMG C63S. We check position and whether I can brake and accelerate. We set off slowly

"Do you have track experience?"

"I have but that does not mean I know everything!"

Plan was:

• C63S - Handling Circuit + Wet Skid Circle (AMG GT not permitted there)
• AMG GT - Handling Circuit - Dynamic Straight - Wet Dynamic Straight

We set off to the South Circuit - the last one at the bottom of the picture. This is a short circuit used for one you get familiar. After a couple of laps:

"I can see you get it, lets move to the handling circuit, next door

This circuit is narrow compared to a race track with tight curves including a hairpin bend and a quarter km straight. I spent around 10 min there, the AMG63 is pretty accurate but rolls slightly. Steering feedback compared to the M4 is muted but the harder you push it, it goes in. Turn in is more neutral but you are going fast but don’t realize it. On the straights the acceleration is blistering and I brake hard and the car slows down easily to tackle the next corner. Quite a few times, I tried to late brake but Dylan cut in and spoilt the fun.

We then exit and go to the Wet Skid circle and try and drift the car. Sounds easy but it was not. The circuit is wet and coated with silicon compound. Am instructed to drive clock wise at 15 mph, 2nd gear and floor it at 4000RPM (max torque). Tail slides out and I need to catch it. The co-ordination of mashing the throttle, and catching the skid which is a little exaggerated is an art. I barely make it. Am then told to go anticlockwise, and sure enough , I crack it, my co-ordination was a lot better.

Here are some short videos taken from the cafe:

Video 1, Video 2

By then 30 min was up. Time to return to base and swap into the AMG-GT:

In this car, you sit really low and the car is snug. That long bonnet psychologically makes you feel well endowed 'nuff said! Controls are similar except that the seat controls are deep down although accessible. Hate to lose a phone down there:

We get to the Handling Circuit, I take the first lap slowly, it feels well balanced and takes corners flatter for sure and the steering is more eager especially after the C63S. I then push it, hoo boy it is fun, the car hugs the road and if you get the lines right rewards you immensely. Going down the straight, mash the pedal and the car surges, late braking wiped out the speed in no time although the instructor did brake before I did.

"Ok, lets do the Dynamic Straight" so we cross the access road to the other section.

There are three lanes, there was an A45S taking off as we approached, a C63 was next and then us. The rule was to ensure the car has completed its run and on its return before you launch. This straight is half a mile long. Its simple, You do a CARWOW and mash the pedal and accelerate hard. When you seem to be 6 feet from the wall, the instructor tells you to brake hard and you stop, no drama, no nothing. All the velocity has disappeared into the brake discs! First time you just felt relieved. We then repeat this, I was getting better.

"Lets do this again, this time , use Race Start and Launch Control".

We position ourselves:

• Keep steering straight ahead.
• Put foot firmly on brake pedal.
• Switch drive mode to RS (Race Start).
• Flip the + paddle to confirm.
• Mash the accelerator and take your foot of the brake.

The AMG GT took off like nothing else. It was as if Thor's hammer was powering up your rear end. This was a defining moment of an automotive climax. I hit the brake and if I had not been belted in, my grin would have been plastered on the windscreen. Note - the Race Start will not happen until all systems have reached operating temperature.

That done, we tried the dynamic wet straight. I kept making a hash of it so Dylan suggested we use the last few minutes to do a couple of more laps. The AMG GT gripped despite wet tyres and then it was over.

I did have the option of buying the video content for 30 pounds but I felt it was not worth it unless the car exterior had been captured in action. Returned to the drivers lounge, parked and thanked Dylan. Time for a cup of coffee. I sat on the terrace and watched the handling circuit from afar and realized how fast I had been going and how comparatively fast the AMG GT was.

Should I have taken the 3 hour session - I don’t think so. If it was a race track yes, but not the handling circuit. Its too small for so much time.

My recommendation - spend time on the handling circuit and the dynamic straight.

Caffeine infused, it was time to walk around the Mercedes Benz Centre.

Continue reading on BHPian ajmat's experience at Mercedes-Benz World UK for BHPian comments, insights and information.

The new livery looks stellar, while the new Gabro Racing map has really woken up the bike.

BHPian vignesh.cv recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The track-day happened at MMRT as planned. Thankfully, the travel restrictions were cleared and we could make it. After a lot of deliberation, I finally went with the Alitalia WSBK paint scheme for the race fairings. The good folks at IndiMotard were working in the background with AJ Customs to make this dream of mine come through. They had planned to unveil the bike with the new livery at the track. I withheld my curiosity and just went along with the plan.

Little did I know what the finished product looked like. The folks at AJ Customs have done a stellar job at making the livery come to life. It takes some skill to figure out the proportions and layout by just looking at pictures from the internet. The paint finish was as good as it came from the factory. I was impressed and very happy with the way the bike looked. Huge thanks to Anand, everyone at IndiMotard as well as the folks at AJ Customs.

The track-day itself went pretty well. I wasn't in the best mental or physical state to improve myself from the last time around - I had not been doing my routine in that regard. The new map from GabroRacing has really woken up the bike. The off-on throttle transitions are crisp and the motor pulls really well out of corners now. The top end has improved significantly as I managed to see some new terminal speed numbers in the short straights. It is a bit fearsome and angry. The part about Gabro's map is the revised TC calibration - he basically takes the OE TC calibration and takes the first four levels and fine-tunes them into 8 levels. With Pirelli slicks, I never saw the TC kick in with the tyres being new. There was so much mechanical grip on offer. Of course, my skill level isn't there to push it so much to make the TC intervene, but it was amazing nevertheless.

This is the first time I'm using a tyre warmer and the amount of grip on offer right from the word go was just incredible. Gave me so much confidence to not worry about grip right from the out lap. I'm very happy with the way the bike has turned out and as always, I need to continue investing in myself to do justice to the bike.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Once you drive the Senna GTR on track, the road-legal car will feel inadequate.

BHPian meta recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Here is a summary of my thoughts on the Senna GTR after tracking it.

There is a rather wide spectrum of track-worthy cars, with Formula 1 cars being at the absolute top end of the spectrum and street-legal sports cars being at the lower end.

No matter how high-performing or "track-oriented" a fully-homologated road-legal car is, it is still compromised on the track if compared to a roughly similar or even slightly lesser dedicated track-only car. The things that a car either needs (for practicality) or requires (because of legislation) for road use are usually in direct contradiction to what's optimal on the track.

Sometimes, a manufacturer takes an already extreme road-legal supercar and creates an even more extreme track-only version of it. For example (this is not an exhaustive list, but I can talk about these based on first-hand experience):

1. 599 GTB: 599XX
2. Enzo Ferrari: FXX
3. LaFerrari: FXX-K
4. P1: P1 GTR
5. Senna: Senna GTR
6. Aventador: Essenza SCV12

Of the road-legal cars listed above, the Senna is easily the most track-oriented. It is by far the lightest and has plenty of power, significant mechanical grip, and non-trivial aero. And yet, even though it outperforms almost all current road-legal cars on the track, it still has some compromises that will hold it back.

You get rid of the aforementioned compromises and you end up with a purer, more unfettered Senna: the Senna GTR.

The recipe is quite straightforward:

• More power: An additional 25PS for a total of 825PS
• Less weight: Just a bit over 2,600 lbs dry
• No road-going frills: No airbags, infotainment, secondary catalysts, fancy variable ride control suspension, or glass (all polycarbonate windows)
• Racecar tweaks: GT3-derived steering, integrated roll cage and harness mount points, wider front and rear tracks, lower ride height, race-derived suspension with 4-way adjustable dampers and solid bushes, slick tires
• More aero! (It's hard to miss—just look at it)

The road-going Senna is already a very fast, light, nimble, and raw car. It is pretty much devoid of cabin insulation, so it vibrates like a race car at all engine speeds, including at idle. On Trofeo R tires, it has an impressive lateral grip.

In some ways, the GTR feels quite like the road car: it vibrates the same way, the cabin is almost the same, and most of the controls are familiar. As you start driving it, it feels like a slightly stiffened up Senna that's somewhat less pitch sensitive.

However, as you start going faster, the differences become starker. You realize that the GTR is quite a bit more stable: the lateral grip is insane! (Once you experience slick tires, there's no going back.) There is more downforce available at lower speeds. You can get back on power quicker in the corners. At full throttle, the noise is even more intense because of the track exhaust setup, and the road car's upshift/downshift "bangs" are still present.

The road-legal Senna's base price sans options was approximately $965K before taxes in the United States. Options could add a lot more—in some cases, several hundred thousand more. In comparison, the Senna GTR started at $1.7M, which is kind of double! The respective production numbers were 500 units and 75 units, so there's exclusivity.

(There also were some few-off special edition units made of the Senna and 5 "LM" units made of the GTR, all at higher costs than their "regular" brethren. Exclusivity can be complicated!)

But the price is an irrelevant metric: once you drive the Senna GTR on the track, the road-legal car will feel inadequate. That's just how it is.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My first time riding a motorcycle with an open exhaust was an eye-opener for me. The engine braking was really aggressive and the throttle was like an on/off switch.

BHPian deepfreak15 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My experience at the RE GTCUP Selection round was an eye-opener. It revealed how off the pace I was. While I harbor no false hopes of competitive riding I decided to get serious about training to ride faster. The event was outsourced to JKTyres who in turn had roped in CRA Motorsports to marshal the event.

Over the next few days, I noticed most of the national riders on the grid were alumni of CRA or still associated with them so I decided to reach out. Their website didn't have any details with regards to their training schedule however they were pretty active on Instagram. I was directed to a WhatsApp message where I had a good conversation with Prateek. Since I had already completed my certification elsewhere I was told the next batch was on the 5th and 6th of November and I could sign up for their open sessions at Meco Kartopia Bangalore. This place is literally located in my backyard.

For the sum of Rs 15,000/- I got 5+5 sessions with each session ~15 minutes, a bike and riding gear if I needed it. I only had to bring my helmet.

The School - CRA Motorsports

Founded and run by Tharunkumar S, they are pretty active in the motorsports scene in various capacities including track, offroad and go-karts. Speaking with Tharun revealed how passionate they are about bringing up and nurturing talent. For eg, they have taken a house on rent in Bangalore to provide accommodation for riders coming from far of places and need a cheap place to stay. Also, they are focusing on smaller cities to give everyone an opportunity at some track experience. They even have a tie-up with a track in Malaysia and conduct events there (turns out cheaper than BIC).

The Venue - Meco Kartopia Bangalore

I'll be honest, I did have some reservations about riding on a go-kart track but one look at the place laid them to rest. 1.2kms long with enough corners to get some serious practice.

Reassuring sight but didn't realize I would be using this facility

Some interesting vehicles lying around

The Bikes

Completely stripped down Yamaha R15 V2s with road tyres and open exhausts.

There was also a simulator to help with getting a feel of the right body position.

My Experience

To keep costs down they did not block the entire facility and we had to share it with karting teams getting ready for the Rotax championship and the general public. Since it's open to the public from 11 am the plan was to start at 6:30 am so we could complete before the crowds started gathering. Unfortunately, we were hit by the worst weather possible and these were the conditions (treacherous).

A damp and slippery track

The sun fighting a losing battle with the clouds

My first time riding a motorcycle with an open exhaust was an eye-opener for me. The engine braking was really aggressive and the throttle was like an on/off switch.

Day 1

So all in all the perfect learning conditions. Within the first few laps, I could feel the rear moving around under braking and downshifting and when accelerating out I could feel the rear sliding. I was here to learn so I was paying keen attention to what was going on but for some reason, I could not get the throttle response right. No matter how gentle I was when coming out of a corner if the bike was not bolted upright a light twist was making the bike lurch forward. The fact I was struggling was very evident because on two occasions I had to save a high side and the trainers kept asking me how I managed not to go over the bars.

Courtesy of the bad weather we had to start late and by now it was a full-blown mela with karting teams and the general public vying for track space. In my third session of the day having gotten used to the track, I decided to up the pace when I had a horrible high side for the third time and this time I felt/heard a loud pop in my left arm and a flash of lightning went off in my head. My entire left arm went numb and I knew something was wrong, I still don't know how I managed not to crash, rolled the bike to a stop and walked to the ambulance. There was swelling at the elbow and I almost passed out in pain. Got an ice pack and I knew the day was over for me, called the Mrs and asked her to take me home as I couldn't drive back.

The evening

Day 2

After spending all night icing my elbow the swelling seemed to subside and I did not see any signs of internal bruising so I decided to go ahead with day 2. I made a conscious decision not to take any painkillers so at least I would know the limits of my arm. It was stiff and only hurt when bending and for some reason, I wasn't able to pull my helmet strap down.

The advantage was I had no other choice than to start using my lower body more and I started to feel like I was getting smoother and faster. On my first sighting lap, I used the same bike that I was using the previous day and the throttle response was still horrible so I tried another bike. Wish I had done that earlier as now I felt in complete control, so much so, that I completed 7 sessions on day 2 and was raring for more.

Benefits of better body position and a smoother throttle

In Summary

What I Liked:

• Tharun and his team got more of a family vibe than a track school.
• They are very flexible and accommodating based on your needs (within reason).
• I had signed up for open sessions but Tharun did not begrudge me any training session and even asked me to join in for some drills where he felt I would benefit.
• They were already planning how to cover my remaining sessions on another day since I had almost lost a day but I was not having any of that.
• The track is a good place to hone one's skills.
• Lots of parents had brought their kids to learn and in fact, we had a father/son duo learning together.

I would highly recommend checking them out.

What I didn't like:

• Vying for track time with karting teams and the general public.
• It got too crowded and was finding it a bit difficult to concentrate (I get easily distracted).
• The weather.

What about that elbow

On day 3 I saw signs of internal bruising and knew it was time to go to the hospital. I had torn my tricep clean off the elbow, had to undergo surgery and now I have my arm in a cast. Recovery is going to be slow (up to 6 months) but hey, when life gives you a break - take it. Can't wait to get back on the saddle and chase those lap times.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.