Aprilia Track Day 2019 at The Ridge

"slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
03/24/2020 at 12:00 • Filed to: 2wheelsgood

I’ve been meaning to post some pics since last year. This was my first motorcycle trackday ever and the first time I rode a bike in 2019. It was also one of the only times I rode in 2019. :(

The whole deal was I got to pick two brand new Aprilia bikes to sample during 20 minute track sessions. No limits, no supervision.

Including the two Aprilia sessions, I got five 20 minute sessions on my personal bike.

They brought along a Shiver, a Dorsoduro, a few Tuonos, and a mix of RSV4s and RSV4 Factory models.

I brought along my 2005 Suzuki SV650s which isn’t really set up for this kind of thing. It had older tires and a lowering link from the previous owner. I don’t mind that on the street but it is very detrimental on track.

A few photos above from my first 2 sessions. I took it pretty easy to learn the course and my bike. Even on a 650 I was still one of the faster riders in the beginner group.

Third session out I decided to ride the Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory with its glorious 217 hp V4. This bike was by far the most track competent machine I’ve ever ridden. You basically sit on it which took a lot of getting used to. All the settings were right in the middle of the options but you could change them to your liking. I left them alone. I still managed to run off course with just giving it a blip of throttle in the middle of a complex corner. Stood me straight up and into the runoff field. Even with the wheelie control set to 5 out of 10, it was more than happy to pick up the front wheel exiting a corner. Top speed on the front straight was 149 indicated, the SV was about 126 in a full tuck, and the Dorsoduro I rode later was 112 mph. After talking with other riders everyone loved the RSV4 on track, but nobody would want one for street duty.

Dainese and AGV were on hand lending out any gear you could want. The AGV lid was absolutely fantastic. The Dainese guys really saved the day and let me take a pair of boots for all 7 sessions because mine weren’t allowed on track.

Back on the SV for a session. This was unfortunately as far as I could lean without scraping the pegs because of the lowering links. Couldn’t even get close to putting a knee down. By the end of the day this was really hampering my speed.

After lunch I hopped on the Dorsoduro which just happened to be the unexpected highlight of the day.

I was an absolute hooligan on this thing. It felt way more natural than the RSV4 for me and gave a massive confidence boost. I was passing superbikes on the outside of corners only to lose all progress on the straights over and over again. It was a blast and an experience of a lifetime.

I was rubbing the pegs on this one too which I didn’t really think was possible considering the height of this thing.

Right after I got back to the pits I went online and starting researching them. It was that good.

I really need to try out a proper lightweight supermoto. It will be much slower but handle even better.

Back on the SV for session 6 and the money shot.

I probably should have called it a day after session six and just packed up and went home. Half the other riders were smart enough to do so. My tires were shot. My brakes were faded. My brain was frazzled. I went off track two times in the first 10 minutes of the last session of the day. Luckily I didn’t put it down but did get rather sandy. Someone totaled their bike in the previous session, another sign I should have called it a day. Luckily out of 3 or 4 crashes that day, there were no serious injuries.

I didn’t crash here but my paddock neighbor low-sided right across this pavement.

This was a KTM RC8 with lots of custom work, coolest bike on site.

One of the instructors brought this as their tow rig. Super clean.

I already signed up for the 2020 event and will be taking the R6 track bike I recently acquired. I highly recommend this event to anybody. Well worth the experience not just on the Aprilias but on your own bike.

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DISCUSSION (9)

KSUENGINEER > slipperysallylikespenguins
03/24/2020 at 12:32

The Aprilia track days are a really good deal. I am worried that if I attended one I will be buying a new Tuono. I have been wanting to go to the COTA event they have every year after the MotoGP race. The only issue is I don’t have an enclosed trailer to keep the bike safe for a couple of days.

The red, white, & black bike isn’t an RC8, but rather a Kramer HKR EVO2. It is a super sweet track only bike. The frame is custom built for the KTM LC4 690 engine used in the Duke, WP suspension, Dymag wheels, Brembo brakes, all weighing in at less than 300 lbs with fuel. Not bad for 80 hp. They are working on the GP2 which uses the 790/890 Duke parallel twin engine. Slightly heavier with around 130 horsepower.

slipperysallylikespenguins > KSUENGINEER
03/24/2020 at 13:31

I looked up used Dorsoduros for at least two months after I rode that one. COTA would be a really cool track to do this on, especially with those high hp bikes.

I just remember someone mentioning it was an RC8. Still very cool, I’ll have to look into the Kramer bikes.

feather-throttle-not-hair > slipperysallylikespenguins
03/24/2020 at 13:33

Awesome. I don’t ride, but i’ve run four or five endurance races at the R idge in my Lemons car.

I was passing superbikes on the outside of corners only to lose all progress on the straights over and over again. It was a blast and an experience of a lifetime.

This is almost exactly what its like to drive my race car . Car, bike, whatever you’re in, there is almost no more satisfying feeling than the one you’re describing here. I definitely had a big grin plastered across my face reading this story, thanks for sharing!

slipperysallylikespenguins > feather-throttle-not-hair
03/24/2020 at 13:55

Thanks. This was my first time at the Ridge. I was very impressed with the design. It really is a gem of a track out in the middle of nowhere. The mini corkscrew was fantastic but turns 2-4 going uphill was probably my favorite.

It must be really fun in a car too. I’ve been wanting to do Lemons since the series started but have usually been lacking room and time. I imagine there is quite a bit of overtaking with so many different cars and skill levels on track.

slipperysallylikespenguins > feather-throttle-not-hair
03/24/2020 at 13:55

feather-throttle-not-hair > slipperysallylikespenguins
03/24/2020 at 15:08

Yeah, the Ridge is a lot of fun, though really i’ve only ever driven on two race tracks (Sonoma raceway being the other. )

I love how much runoff room there is in most of the corners at the Ridge , I realize it would probably be sketchier on a bike with much higher speeds, but for us guys in slow ass lemons cars, it feels like you can drive right at or above the limits without too much worry. Seems like having space was a top priority for them, along with the obvious elevation changes.

Turns 2-4 are awesome, it’s so fun feeling a car (or whatever) grip up as you hit the hill, only to be launched partially blind onto the other side. My favorite is probably turn 6 though, the big long left- hander before you go down the hill. It gets a little off-camber if you go to high, but in lemons with all the traffic, you still end up passing people out there and feeling like a boss every time it happens.

B.J. "Jazzy Joe" > slipperysallylikespenguins
03/24/2020 at 16:57

Oh man I love the Dorsoduro’s (750/900/1200)! Bet you had a blast on it.

But I also hate refueling... Because of that and a cheaper price, I went with a used ‘15 Shiver 750 last year. Still love mine :) Sport mode makes it alive, with the pops and crackle on the overrun.

Kinja'd!!!

slipperysallylikespenguins > B.J. "Jazzy Joe"
03/24/2020 at 20:24

They had quite a few shivers there that were personal bikes. They did pretty well. Aprilia knows how to make a really good sounding bike.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > slipperysallylikespenguins
03/26/2020 at 09:17

Looks like a blast! I need to get back to the track this year.