Almeria 14-16 March 2008 with Track Sense

Got into Almeria four hours ahead of my mates having flown direct from Stansted to Almeria.  A short taxi ride later I dumped my bags in the hotel room and then headed out to explore Almeria.  First stop was the Molly Malone Irish bar to sink an ice cold Guiness and have a snack (see pic taken sitting outside enjoying the sun).  My mates arrive four pints and three bars later and we head out to enjoy great steak at a very traditional Spanish restaurant.

Next day we are up bright and early to get to the track so that we can nab a garage, unload our bikes and get ready before the briefing.  The CBR feels so light and flickable as we circulate on the sighting laps I can’t wait to start seeing what it really can do.  I am not disappointed.  It is running standard road tyres and standard suspension and settings yet is flying around the track.  We exit onto the back straight with so much corner speed that we actually pass some of the litre bikes down that very long straight (longer than the straight at Snetterton) and get up to an indicated 158mph.  This is much faster than the old ‘blade.  Braking for the corner was so tremendous that I end up entering the bend too slowly so lose out on the drag down the start/finish straight.  By the end of day one all my braking points from previous visits to Almeria have been left behind.  What an awesome machine and what a fantastic first day.  We retire to the hotel, freshen up and cross the road to the Italian restaurant opposite the hotel for a pizza chased down with red wine.

Day two is not such an early start given that the bikes are all set up from the day before.  We enjoy a leisurely breakfast and get to the track at 9:30, check tyre pressures and get into our leathers.  Yet another fantastic day and more enjoyable apres track evening activity visiting a different restaurant and a couple of bars.  Before leaving the circuit we were treated to the Tena BSB team doing some publicity video and photo shoots on the grid with three great looking grid girls - lovely!

Day three, we check out of the hotel and head off to the circuit.  Today is the day that I try out slicks for the first time.  Andy soon has them fitted for me and I head out very gingerly to scrub them in.  By the end of the session I am leaning the bike more and more, braking later and longer, carrying more corner speed and accelerating harder.  The Michelin race slicks are simply amazing and have transformed the bike’s performance.  It changes direction much more quickly and positively and tips into turns so much faster - I am totally converted to slicks.

Everything I have read about the 2007 CBR600 has been proved true and more - a truly awesome track tool.