Escuela Honda by ZK, have fun and learn on the circuits (Part I)

2023 Author: Nicholas Abramson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 02:44

For a long time I had the bug of getting into the motorcycle with the circuit. I have traveled tens of thousands of kilometers on many different types of motorcycles. But he had the spine nailed to ride on a motorcycle circuit. Several times he had been tremendously close to doing it, but something always happened that prevented him from going to the circuit that weekend. The amount of times that I have been watching the races on the track, from the stands or the pits, had fueled that illusion that was always postponed afterwards.

It is also not entirely true that it has not ridden on a circuit: years ago I entered Montmeló with several cars and for a few seasons I was racing in a karting with a 125 cc beast with gears (agree that they are smaller circuits, but circuits in the end. after). And after several attempts to get on a motorcycle, a few months ago I had the opportunity to participate in one of the Honda by ZK School courses in Montmeló. The experience was great. So addictive that I am convinced that I will repeat this year.

I believe that the motto of the Honda by ZK School, Learn on the circuit what the road cannot teach you, makes the approach of these courses very clear. They are not a competition but an opportunity to improve and polish motorcycle riding in a safe environment and with the advice of people who are very used to riding. The fact that the bikes carry transponders and you can see the times you do should not be confusing: the times are a way of showing your progress every time you go out on the track.

It seems like a cliché that every time you go out on the track you improve, but the truth is that you notice the improvement throughout the day. Each time you roll more comfortable, the curves follow one another more fluidly, you lean more naturally: in short, you feel like each time you roll. faster and safer at once. The combination of success.

Montmeló is not a school circuit either. Impress. The straight is very long and the corners are very fast. The track is very wide, which makes the line of the line very long in each curve and you are inclined for a long time (or so it seemed to me…). It is a fast and huge track for those who enter a circuit for the first time. The fences look far away and there are loopholes and gravel and dirt tubs are everywhere. Come on, you almost want to jump into "the pool." Well, not that either.

The day starts early and when you arrive you realize that we are going to live together different audiences on the track. There are those who arrive with motorcycles in tow, some without registration, already exclusive for the circuit. Many others arrive rolling down the road on their own motorcycle. In the queue to get accredited, there are people wanting to eat the world and go down immediately to roll, and there are also the most fearful looks from those of us who do not know the liturgy. Fortunately, there are three different groups based on the experience of each one. The idea is that we can all enjoy ourselves, and with great differences on the track, neither the fastest nor the slowest enjoy. In fact, throughout each session, people will be reclassified according to their level.

In addition to going down to the track (at the end you realize there is plenty of time: each participant goes out to roll six times) there is a interesting theory session where the fundamentals of motorcycle driving are explained, and specifically, circuit driving. Position on the bike, acceleration, braking, lines (there are cones at the edges of the track to help in the ideal line), the dynamics of the runs, etc … Some videos are shown showing how some things should be done and as others should not be done. The errors better to see them in the video.

The theoretical session lasts half an hour that flies by. And then, the moment of truth arrives, on the track. Anyway, a constant throughout the day is going to be go back to the classroom several times to be able to see and comment on the videos that the monitors record on the track and give you clues that you can directly put into practice in the next batch. The video was one of the great discoveries of the day: the big difference between how you feel on the bike and then when you see yourself recorded. But I don't want to anticipate anything: I'll explain later.

The truth is that they pass nerves forming the grid in the pits to hit the track for the first time that day. The lines are coming out and when you head down the long straight out of the Montmeló pits you see everything immense. This first outing is a free 20-minute warm-up session for everyone to locate the track. The warm-up. It seemed like the hardest session of the whole day to me. Montmeló is very wide and it is difficult to try to take advantage of the entire track.

So many times I have seen Montmeló from outside and so easy it seems. End-of-straight braking on laced that give way to the curvone (damn, was this really deep?). Straight, braking and entering Repsol to the right. Descent. The Angle Seat, the Masia and up again. Curva Campsa, the back straight and braking to get to La Caixa and enter the stadium. Banc Sabadell, New Holland and down again, straight into the entrance curve straight (but how is it possible that Rossi overtakes Loenzo in this entrance straight!). Straight looooong and back to start. Each turn is a world. How different is theory from practice.

The warm-up session ends and I head towards the pits. Tired. The day is going to be long. This first session has helped me realize how much I still have to learn. Luckily there is a whole day to learn.

But I will explain the experience of the course tomorrow …