It is time to step up and get our race license. When we arrived the weather was as always mixed. Due to the delay in the briefing we got late at the first session and did 1,5 lap. The second briefing was also delayed and it started to rain and we needed to switch to our rain tires which took to time. Getting there late again… The organisation kept telling us to prepare and take your time but the schedule and their delays prevented us from getting ready properly. Then one of the riders spilled oil on the track and we had to do a shorter version of the track and due to the number of riders we where limited to 60km/h. Can you imagine doing 60km/h on a race track doing training your breaking?? When we even thought of breaking you where at a still long before the corner. Not ideal. The 4th session seemed to be a dry one but some heavy clouds warned for new rain. @Dennis and I stayed on the rain tires (wrong choice) and @Peter switched to slicks (right choice). But even we where on the rain tires on a fully dry track we did some good laps. Got a 10th time of 49 racers and @Peter was in the first spot (i’m jealous). The 5th session was about starting and especially getting of the starting line. I tried some methods to which one matched my feelings and getting of the line good. After7 launches I knew which one was good for me and I could get a good drive. The 6th was one of my favourites, small sprints with pairs of 3 riders. They launched riders every 20 seconds and the goal was to get away fast and cross the imaginary finish line first. Every sprint I did I ended in the first place. Started 2 times on P1 and 3 times on P3 but I ways always the first one to enter the corner (Haarspedlbocht) and maintaining the position.I always had a very good feeling for getting away from the line, the front weel hoovering the tarmac quick shifting to 4th gear and then break hard for the corner. Loved the feeling! At the end we got our certificate and now we can (if we want) compete in the races ☺ No camera’s where allowed so no video footage this time.

Last day at SPA and our race group is complete again. When we arrived it was chaos. The normal (ster) entrance was not available and we had to take the other entrance to enter the paddock. (suggestion for the organisation: high vehicles use blanchimont, other can use ster).When arrived we found a nice spot, one all was our of the car a person from the organisation came by to tell us we cannot stay here and we have to move. Going to the sound test a standard bike had 103dB of sound with a 100dB of a limit. This is impossible and at track that have a 95dB limit I never had any warnings. But the person doing the measure was standing practically next to my engine instead of behind the exhaust and then of course there is more noise. Also a crash course would be good for them! Started on slics because the track was not that wet and looked dry. But when we entered the track it was like riding in ice. Had a big moment on La Rouche that was enough to enter the pits. Because I did not have a spare set of rims with rain tires I had to change the tires on the rims I have and that took a lot of time. The 3rd session was a good one. 6th time of all fast riders was nice. The 4th session the track was drying again and I went out on the rain tires, changing tires takes to much time and effort. Having done 2 laps the rain tires they got overheated and left me no choice to go back in again. The last session looks like it will stay dry and took the chance to switch back so slics. 10 minutes before the session starts it stared to rain a lot. The end of the 2016 year and see you guys back in 2017!

At the lat ART training @Peter was the fastest person with a 1:48. The last chance of 2016 to improve the time. Due to a event “Petrol Head” there where only 3 sessions in the afternoon but they where great 3 sessions! In the morning it was poring with rain but we saw on the weather forecast that it should stop at 12:00 and our first session would be on 14:00. When we started the track dried completely and we where driving in the sun. In the first corner I got a warning from the tires that where not yet at temperature and because of this @Peter was already gone. But had a nice fight with some other riders. Session 2 was very promising, after I got back in the pits I saw a 1:47.99 on my laptimer \o/ Very pleased by beating the time of @Peter and it was indeed a very good session but very hot. The last session was a nice session of overtaking. Our speed improved a lot and we start to notice that even in the fasted session we are riding from group to group. Passing riders is getting more and more easy. You can also notice the lap times are getting more consistent. All below 1:50 for 11 laps! The intention for this year was to get below the 1:45 but it seems to unreachable. Next year we will try to break the 1:45 at @Circuit_Zolder.

A second attempt for a training. Our last training fell into ☔ It was not possible for safe instructions and we did some nice laps of our own. The day started very well. The circuit was dry and we where in the fasted training frou with Nickey the Wit as instructor. The first session was to discover the track and build up the speed so that the instructor could see the level of speed that we could follow. Each of the riders could follow the instructor for 2 laps and see the lines he was doing. After the session we got instructions about how to attack the corners and the acceleration. The second session we started with individual chase of the instructor for 3 laps and receive comments about the riding style. Of course a day at @Circuit_Zolder cannot stay without rain and we aborted the session early. Some changed to rain tires and wend out for session 3 but we stayed in. I did not have a spare set of rims with rain tires and the rain was only briefly. Just made the lunch a little longer ;) The 4th session Nickey was follwing me to check out my riding style, they were fun laps but we could not use the curbs. They where still to slippery because of the previous rain and that prevented my for doing some fast laps. The final commend that @Peter an I got where the same. Put the bike up faster so that we can open the throttle even faster and break later. Our styles where good to start building up the speed in a responsible way. The last session was a free session in the sun and we all went on the track. Because we went on as last we could start our overtaking. @Peter always starts from the first corner very fast that caused to get caught up in some traffic. Tried to put the suggestion into practice and had a fun session. It was a nice day even with the rain.

After 3 years we where back at @Circuit_Park_Zandvoort. The weather forecast was not very good. During 11:00 and 14:00 there would be rain and therefore I had to skip 2 sessions. Session 1 was with mixed feelings. The track was a little wet and could not get the temperature in the front tire. The tirewarmer could not get the tire higher then 70 degrees and I noticed it right away. Because I could not get up to speed the tire got cooler and the grip decreased by every lap. I upped the temperature of my MotoGP tirewarmers to 100 degrees and got them up to 80 degrees because of the strong wind. Instead of starting with ease I started full throttle and it had the right effect. Got the tires up to speed and wend from a 2:12 to a 2:08 with a steady rhythm. Still getting used to the track (not my favorite) and each lap went better and better. The weather turned and had to skip 2 sessions. With only one session left (the race) all drivers where divided into 2 groups. Because the lack of fast laps I dropped back into the second group but on the 2nd start place. @Peter was 3rd. We had a rolling start and @Dennis told me that it is key to keep an eye on the rider in front of you. With that knowledge the first rider was not getting on the gas when we where cleared to start the race and that gave me a very good position and I could gain more speed before passing the finish line. Immediately we passed the finish line I passed him and lead the race from that moment on. With 17 seconds of difference I won the race. I didn’t notice that the race was ended because of the adrenaline rush. My first time to end up at the first place, very pleased with the result!

3rd track day at @Circuit_Zolder and as always curious about the weather. The gods where with us today and we had a beautiful start and only the first session was a little slippery. My personal goals was to break trough the 1:50 limit and I did it! 1:49.680 was on my laptimer the last session. The feeling was good with the fasted riders and could compete with others as well. The differences where small and I could do my best to keep up with them and even gain speed on them.

Arrived at @TT-Circuit_Assen we all very nervous and we all found a sleeping place Zzzz… In the morning we woke up with a blue sky and the sun shining. We could not which for better weather. From the first session the feeling was good, the last time I was here I did a 2:05 and my goal was to improve that time. I certainly did that with a 1:57.610! The 3rd session seemed to be the best session, @Dennis and @Peter could not get below this time but they were very competitive. The 4th and 5th sessions we had some really nice fights because the speeds where very equal. For my feeling it went very good. The confidence grew by the lap and it took a little time to get used to the fasted group. Sometimes they pass me like I was standing still. But in the “less” fast group this did not happen for a long time :P Had a super day with all my friends @Nicole, @Jelle, @Geert, @Dennis and @Peter. See you next time at @Circuit_Park_Zandvoort Een super dag gehad allen en zeer tevreden naar huis. Op naar Zandvoort!

To improve our qualities we decided to take a course Advanced Rider Training (ART) at @Motorsportschool. The weather was as always very wild with rain in the afternoon. With the best intentions on slicks we started our first sunny session. Following the instructor went very well at the speed he started. After we came back from the first session it started to rain. It not wet enough for rain tires but to wet for slicks. So we waited… After lunch we changed to rain tires and it went well. A second instructor went out with us and was surprised we could keep up with him and could even stick at his tail. The 4th and last session was not a good one for @Peter, he was trying to pass me on the inside but hit the white line and his front slipped away and crashed :/ We called it a day and wend home with a good feeling despite the rain and the crash.

The 2016 season started and it is the first trackday of the year. It was cold, moist and did not look attractive at all. But we started our day with good intentions. We met a know friend that we met on this site @Alain_-_PINTJE but he was in a different group as us so we did not had a lot time to share some time. Due to the low temperature the track was slippery and far from ideal. But as the day progressed the track became dryer and the grip increased each hour passed. After lunch the 3rd session we had a good feeling and we could put down some nice times and fun laps. @Peter and I noticed we where to fast for the “less” fast group. Its time to step up and go ride with the fast riders :-) Once in the fast group we could ride better times. @Peter and I where exactly at the same speed. with a difference of only 0:00.300 for several laps we were very competitive and we had a lot of fun. The last session @Peter passed me instantly when we entered the track, he didn’t wanted to keep behind me the whole session and it was a smart decision. He immediately pulled away and I could enter the attack mode to hunt him down. Did a 1:51.407 but in the last lap I wanted to make a pass on him but misjudged the fast corner en had to put the bike up. Trough the gravel ended up on the track again to finish the day. Despite the temperature it was a fantastic start of the season.

Last day of the year again. The confidence is growing and the times where way to fast for the “less” fast group. After 2 sessions being the fasted rider jumped to the fast group. I noticed that it was easy to keep up with the fast riders. Many laps behind @Peter I felt very good and confident again. A nice way to close the 2015 season after a big crash.

For the second time this yeas at @Circuit_Spa-Francorchamps and expecting thunderstorms. But non of that happened. We had 31 degrees with a lot of sun! I had some trouble with by bike weeling to easy when pulling up the straights we soften the suspension a little bit. That did the trick and gave the bike a much better felling with the same amount and even more power to put on the tarmac. Did had some trouble making the high speed left corner (250+ km/h) and had to lower the speed a little bit to keep in control of the bike. I noticed that other riders could stay on the throttle and it is a point of improvement on the bike.

With the whole team back at @TT-Circuit_Assen for the second time for me. The MotoGP can be jealous at the weather we had. Lots of sun and a perfect track surface. Make big improvements and very happy with my new quick shifter. It is really easy now to shift up gears and you notice directly a big improvement in your riding style. Especially in some fast corners you can shift up where normally you couldn’t. Did had some trouble in the slow corners that my front weel lifted very fast when I opened the throttle. Is it just the power or suspension?

First time at @Circuit_Spa-Francorchamps this year and it started in a queue to change to rain tires. First time with my @CBR1000RR on rain tires and it was a good experience. Could keep up nicely but when the rain stopped at the end of the day the track got dryer and with the rain tires on my bike I had to call it a day.

My hand is recovering slowly and on the @TT-Circuit_Assen I had the chance to feel the bike again. Slowly improving and a much better tire choice shows a better feeling. Got more confidence to build the speed up again.

First time back on the track after my crash at @Circuit_Zolder and 2 months of recovery. The cast just gone off for one week and my hand was still not at full strength. Did 2 sessions to gain confidence again. But the pain was getting bigger and did not want to interfear the healing proces and had to stop the day.