Well what to do today? Dropped the wife off at the airport this morning as she is popping home for a week so I was at a bit of a loose end. Well a certain bike rider informed me that BMW were launching the 2012 1000 R at the autodrome, so I thought why not pop round and see if I could blag a few laps.

Now the front end view is a bit like marmite, some love it, others don't. I think the bike and the red, white and blue colour scheme looks just about right though.

Enough gawping time to try and scrounge some riding kit. Well would you Adam and Eve it, Kevin Hughes (General Manager AGMC (dealer to you and me)) had a spare set of leathers and the aforementioned bike rider kindly "lent" me his boots, back protector, gloves and helmet. Now it has been some time since I last rode a motorbike so it going to softly, softly, well until the start / finish stright.

I had the pleasure of being escorted onto the track by Kevin (as he was paying for the track rental so he could go out on track between sessions) where we would get 3 laps in. The electronics set in rain mode, what did they know that I didn't? Now I cannot comment on the power delivery. handling etc as I don't have a reference point and I rode it more upright that the Burj Khalifa.


When asked how was it, I think the smile on my face said it all. If I just had about 10 laps I think I would have felt more at home on the bike and have been a bit more playful with the throttle and the brakes oh and I may have lent if over more than 10 degrees.

To conclude, thanks to Kevin and BMW for organising the morning and for letting me out on the track, even if it was only for 3 laps.