Donington Park Track Day - 21st August 2024 - Adv. Group Session 7 - Triumph ST 765 RS

Описание: Donington Park Track Day 21st August 2024. This is the Advanced Group and 7th Session of the day.

This was my first ever visit to Donington Park. A complete contrast to Cadwell, where I had been the day before. The bigger bikes can reach 30-40mph more and for longer along the straights here, so I had to watch some of them disappear, especially with Sylvain Guintoli onboard!

The guy on the white R1, was a great Italian dude who I spoke to during those 3 track days. I really appreciated the dark lines he painted in front of me (when I was close enough to see!), and watching him back-it-in properly at the chicane. He had a fresh SCO on the rear, so I could see his investment painted all over the track!

The bike and I were feeling it today, the 3rd track day in a row and the evening sessions to come.

I lost a screw from the throttle housing, which cut the throttle completely mid-corner with someone behind me, sorry! I bet that woke them up. I limped back to the pits with an occasional throttle.

The engine was now making a worrying noise, I tightened the header bolts as it sounded like it was blowing, but it made no difference.

The brakes by now started coming back to the bar and I then I realised those pads that were looking fine a few days ago were now down to the metal, so I missed a session fitting some new ones. Braking fully restored!

During the second session with the traction control still on at that point, I completely ruined a new rear tyre with cold-tear on the right side by having slightly too much pressure in the rear. (I use tyre warmers and check my pressures between each session, particularly in the morning). This was the Michelin Power Cup 2 I have been using at Brands and Cadwell where they coped okay. Here at Donington you can spend so much time leant over and on the throttle that the tyres are getting really hot. I spent lunchtime fitting a spare used Metzeler TD slick I had on the rear. What a contrast at this track, it coped better at this heat range. It was about 20 degrees celsius, but overcast and very windy. So I still had a Power Cup 2 on the front and Metzeler TD slick on the rear, it worked fine.

I had resorted to using my old Hero 6, as my 11 would not work.

The bike: Triumph Street Triple 765 RS Cosmic Yellow 23/24MY. It is mostly standard, including number plate and lights.

Most of the additions on the bike are just for protection - by EvoTech and GB Racing (recommended), except for the front brake pads which are EBC GPFAX. These pads work well to avoid any fading, but I never even tried the standard pads out on track to find out how well they work.

The engine is standard, the exhaust is standard unfortunately, the gearing is standard (because Triumph restrict you from altering it, l've tried) and it has no ECU mapping modification at all (until someone hopefully eventually offers this for these newer MY23/24 model bikes).