I have had alot of people give me advice on how to lap eastern creek.
But how many of these people can do a lap on a litre bike in the mid
1.31's and have the track record on a 600??? Only one....
How to Lap Eastern Creek SYDNEY AUSTRALIA
Josh Brookes
boys from the Honda team (Brooksey second from left) with Kali7 and wheelieBIN
TURN ONE:
When screaming down the front straight in top gear (sixth), keep to the
far right of the track. Flash past the braking marker (which one
depends on the bike you are riding), shift down one gear (fifth) and
peel in (careful not to square the corner, your knee is hitting the
deck mid straight). Open the throttle slightly as soon as you can -
this keeps the weight off the front wheel and the bike stable. Pull the
bike into the apex (it's bumpy because of the water run-off there) and
hold it on the apex for a long time - more than most other corners.
When you can see your exit, accelerate hard to the outside of the track
to be ready for...
TURN TWO:
It's a double apex corner, so brake hard, shift down three gears
(second) and take the first apex early, right on the ripple strip
(dipping by the third blue strip). Let the bike run wide mid-corner
(but still ripple side of the crack in the tarmac), then pull it back
to clip the second apex on the exit. Hold it tight (on the paint) to
avoid the off camber section. The wrong set up here can cost you a
second. As you exit, driving hard, short shift to third and the same
time as you change direction and body weight (watch the wheelie! fine
line here between perfect set up and the high side) to enter...
]Kali7 just tipping into second apex on exit of turn 2
Johhny Ace exiting turn 2
Kali7/Frozen Yogurt on entry turn 3
TURN THREE:
It's a late apex here, after the ripple strip, so watch you don't catch
your knee in the grass. Drive the bike to the outside of the
track again, then upshift to fourth. Pull the front wheel up over the
bump on the crest heading to Turn Four to keep the bike stable. As soon
as the front wheel chirps back to earth, nail the brakes and downshift
one (third) for entry into....
TURN FOUR:
Tip in, then crack the throttle open before you get to the exit. Again
this keeps the weight off the front wheel, which can cause the front
end to fold. Hold it tight (keeping it on the ripple strip), then drive
hard to the outside of the track, then turn hard to the apex of...
TURN FIVE:
It's crucial to keep the speed up here as the exit is uphill. Maintain
as much corner speed as possible. I use all the track to drive up and
over the hill, being careful not to induce to much wheelspin. Snick
fourth gear and shift to the right side of the bike, on the way to....
TURN SIX/SEVEN:
If its dry, brake hard using the concrete strip on the right. If it's
wet, don't go near it - it's too slippery! Downshift one gear (second),
then shift your weight to the left-hand side as you crank the bike on
to your knee. Apex the ripple strip late. Again, keep your momentum
high for the uphill exit. For me, it's often wheelspinning and
wheelying as I snatch another gear, ready for....
TURN EIGHT:
The crest on Turn Eight's entry is bumpy and the track drops away
fiercely, so the bike can be shaking all over the shop. Wait until the
bike settles down, only for an instant, then lay it on it's ear. I like
to apex early so I can drive out hard to the far side of the
track (watch the bump on the exit!) and set up for....
Kali7 tipping into turn 9 from mid track
Wayne Gardner and Johhny Ace mid turn 9
TURN NINE:
Pull the bike back to the middle of the track, instead of far left, to
enter Turn Nine - I think it's faster than using all the track. Shift
down a cog (second). Hold it tight all the way around the ripple strip,
then drive out to the concrete ripple strip on the exit. If I'm really
trying, I often hit the dirt. Try to avoid that.
TURNS 10/11:
I shift up twice on the run to Turn 10 (fourth), then tip in late
downshifting once (third), before I do so. Once I'm cranked over on the
ripple strip, I downshift again (second - I hardly brake here, as I'm
right on my side, but do this wrong, and you low side), then flick it
over the ripple strip of Turn 11. Try to make one turn out of Turn 11
and...
TURN 12:
Let it drift out to the edge of the track from Turn 11, driving hard,
then pull it back in for as late an apex as you can. Every kilometer an
hour you can make here means a few extra down the end of the straight,
so it's a crucial corner. The bumps on the exit can set up a weave,
depending on your bike. Tuck in everything for the run down the
straight - toes in, elbows in, head down - on your way to top gear, and
Turn One, to do it all again!
first published by AMCN March 12 04, with edits included from
personal conversations and Circuit Breakers Race schools....