Sector Two: Surtees to Westfield
Your front end will be light coming over the hill so get over the front of the bike to avoid tankslappers before getting tucked in and changing up through the gears down the fastest part of the track, Hawthorn. While it may look for all the world like the gantry over the track’s low enough to take your head off, trust me, there’s no need to duck.
You’ll be doing at least 140mph here but don’t look at the speedo or you’ll clear the trees and end up in Maidstone. The next corner is very deceptive. After you start braking the track heads uphill, so you can get in deeper than you think. Although this is a really fast third gear corner, it does open out so it isn’t the end of the world if you get in too hot.
There are no fancy lines through this one, just a nice wide entry followed by hitting the apex and heading uphill to the painted kerb on the exit, making it easy and very satisfying.
Shift up to fourth then back down to third – this is a good spot for a clean pass if you get a good exit from Hawthorn – for Westfield, a rippled off-camber right that demands a little braking to set the bike up. Try not to be tight to the apex as it’s easy to clip engine cases or bodywork here, which will send you flying into the toolies. I stay around six inches from the apex then allow myself to drift out to the left-hand side of the track as you start to drop downhill again.
Continue for Sector Three
