2008 Yamaha YZF-R6
MILES RIDDEN: n/a ... all track.
MODIFICATIONS: Sharkskinz race bodywork, custom paint
Continuing the race-prep on the R6, I focused on the bodywork. The street stuff is very expensive and when pushing a bike to its limits on the track, a chance encounter with the pavement is quite possible. Even for doing track days on your own ride, it's a good idea to pick up a set of race 'glass as it crashes well and, more importantly, repairs easily. So I bubble-wrapped and stowed away the factory plastics and hit up Sharkskinz. It's the same company that provides Mat Mladin's bike with bodywork, so I figured it'd be good enough for me.
After a pre-fit, I sent the bodywork out to C4 Revolutions in Orlando for paint. It came back absolutely stunning in a custom mixed color using actual 14k gold pearl, in what company owner Dave Cutler calls "Gold Rush."
Once the bodywork was back on the bike, we loaded up the trailer and headed off to Daytona for a Championship Cup Series (CCS) race, but it was to be a weekend of Taco Bell and water after getting hit with all the expenses. As anyone who's ever done any racing knows, it's not cheap. From entry fees to the hotel, fuel and tire bills, it gets pretty expensive.
Once at the track, we located our assigned garage and started unpacking the trailer and setting up the pits. This was an important process as we needed to be organized and properly equipped for when we needed to make adjustments, repairs and tire swaps (and whatever else that may come our way).
After all that was out of the way, we headed down to registration/tech, had our bike/leathers/safety equipment inspected and suited up for practice. On the initial session I just wanted to feel the bike out. Daytona can be quite unforgiving, so there's no sense in wadding up this beautiful bike on the first go round.
The bike ran flawlessly around the high-speed banks, although the suspension needed some adjustments to handle the combination of banking and the slower, much tighter infield. We made changes throughout the day, and I continued to work on my lines and dropped lap times.
Overall, things went well on her maiden voyage. No podiums just yet, but I know it will happen given a little more time to work on setup. Oh well, at least the R6 is still in one piece ... for now.
C4 REVOLUTIONS PAINT JOB
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