Nürburgring

So headed over to the Nurburgring for about 3pm and when I got there the weather was excellent. As was the experience of riding the Nurburging. When you look at their - the Nurburgring's website - it seems to suggest that riding the tourist trail is much harder than it seems - for example, it suggests that you need to provide proof of bike insurance. In reality, I just bought a 2 lap ticket from the central ticket office (60 euros) which they put onto a card and then you're off. When you arrive at the track there is a barrier. Present your ticket, barrier opens, and you're onto the track. I believe it's technically an autobahn so the rules are that you stay on the right and side unless you're overtaking. And there were a lot of very fast cars overtaking me. My first lap I decided to take relatively easy and just get used to the track. It's a good few miles long (20 km?) so there is not a chance of memorising it quickly like you can at pretty much any British track. But it was so fast. flowing and a great ride, with a couple of hairpins where you can either stay high or go low. I stayed high because it meant to I could take it a little easier and also cos a car was overtaking me on the inside and didn't especially want to crash into it. Lots and lots of super sports cars.

After lap 1 had a bit of a break and after being harangued very politely by one of the marshals - who had one of those throat microphones - for parking in the wrong place met up with a couple of other british bikers - recognisable by the registration plates. Quite a few Brits were there all on GS type adventure bikes. Didn't see many, if any, sports bikes.

I made the observation that the Nurburgring had ruined all UK tracks for me. Amazing.

On British tracks you are discouraged from having mirrors or using them if you do have them, because you are supposed to take your line and anyone behind you is supposed to get round you safely without inconveniencing or affecting you. But I wouldn’t have wanted to do this track without mirrors. Not sharing it with cars and because you are supposed to let faster vehicles pass you on the left. Second lap started to open up a bit. Would be great to do on the Fireblade.Read more