PRO'S PERSPECTIVE
Periodically, the Putnam Park Page will feature a different
pro's view of the road course and their fast way around the track.
The first entry comes from Team Suzuki Endurance Team's Tray Batey.
Tray's perspective was chosen in part because Tray Batey holds
the motorcycle lap record of 1:12.90, set July 9, 1995. Putnam
Park hosts 7 motorcycle races each year.
Tray Batey on Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSXR, Putnam Park-1995
(photo courtesy Team Hammer, Inc.)
FAST LAP AT PUTNAM PARK ROAD COURSE
by Tray Batey
Accelerating toward turn one, the brake markers come into view
and I ease the bike to the left of the track as I approach them.
I brake at the chosen marker and aim the bike toward the right
hand turn one after releasing the brakes. I put the bike approximately
12-18 inches from the inside edging of the turn at its tightest
point and let it run wide toward the left at the exit in order
to connect my cornering arc with the enterance to turn two. Before
turn two tightens up, the bike should be outside toward the left
against the dirt edging. At this point the bike is about 50% of
full lean angle and I go to full lean at this point still approaching
the right hand turn from the left. The bike clips the inside of
turn two at the exit and carves a graceful arc toward the outside
of the track approaching the right hand turn three kink.
The bike slips as I apply more throttle and bites in hard as the
rear wheel hits the edge of the concrete lining the outside of
the kink. I let the rear tire follow the grove of the concrete
apron and pull the bike back down to point me toward turn four.
Briefly I apply full throttle through the dip going ino turn four
to keep the suspension stiff and prevent bottoming. I let the
bike enter left hand turn four about mid-track as the extreme
inside is slightly off-camber and traction is poor. I tighten
my line around four until the bike is approximately 8 feet from
the inside curbing toward 3/4 turn. Here I apply more throttle
and slowly pick up the bike as it squirms toward the right hand
edge of the track, accelerating hard now toward turn five, a right
hand turn.
Turns five and six are extremely flat and it is very easy to become
lost here and lose your positioning. Good reference points here
are critical for a very fast lap. I let the bike ease back over
to the left as I approach turn five and prepare to brake slightly
and backshift. I turn the bike in toward the right and graze the
concrete curbing on my right with my right knee. The bike is going
very fast now and the turn has not opened up enough yet for me
to see where I'm going. The point at which I dropped the bike
will determine if I will stay on the track or not. No room for
changes at this speed. As the outside of turn six comes into view,
a concrete curbing becomes visible lining the outside of the track.
The bike rushes at the concrete at an angle and touches the edge
with both wheels. The bike slightly berms off the concrete and
changes my arc enough to point me toward turn seven, the tight
right hand bus-stop. I'm using full throttle again now and ease
the bike to the left approaching the turn. Maximum braking and
start to backshift, as the turn draws near, I pitch the bike down
on my right knee while I'm still on the straight area preceding
the turn and let the front tire start to scrub the remaining speed
as the bike slowly starts to arc to the right. As the speed slows,
and the front tire starts to bite in good, the bike tightens up
its arc and I aim for the inside curbing from my outside approach.
I graze the curb with my right knee and start to apply throttle.
The bike squirms badly, finally finding traction and with the
last hard twitch it lofts the front wheel.
The next upshift is made with front still airborne and the bike
rushes down the hill toward Dead Bear turn. The front slowly returns
to earth as I approach the left hand turn and I leave the throttle
on as long as possible and move the bike to my right. The track
runs downhill slightly in the braking area and I use the brakes
firmly but not suddenly, giving the front a chance to grip in.
I release the brakes and drop quickly onto my left knee, letting
the front tire scrub off the remaining speed. I stay mid-turn
through the entrance and tighten my line to the inside halfway
through. The asphalt starts to climb uphill at this point and
I keep the bike o my left in order to give myself plenty of room
once I start to accelerate hard. As the bike starts to climb the
hill I use more and more throttle, letting the force of the machine
hitting the slight incline provide the rear tire with more traction.
The bike squirms badly and heads for the outside of the track
approaching the exit.
Full throttle now and I'm setting myself up for the long right
hand carousel turn. I move left on the approach, brake hard against
the slight incline, backshift, and drop the bike onto my right
knee. I'm going too fast to make the turn but as I reach full
lean, the front tire starts to scrub off the unnecessary speed.
As the speed slows, the bike gradually starts to turn right against
the incline. I let the bike have its way until mid-turn, there
I bring it in tight to my right against the concrete as I crest
the hill and start to descend. I let the bike run out about mid-track
and gradually apply more throttle as I make my run toward the
right hand kink. I lift the throttle slightly as I lean in, scrubbing
speed gently with the front tire. I re-set the throttle just before
reaching maximum lean and the bike runs out against the concrete
curbing. The curbing causes the bike to slightly tighten its arc
as I approach the right hand turn emptying onto the front straight.
The bike is pointed toward the right hand curbing and I just graze
it with my knee as the turn starts to open up toward the exit.
I let the bike run wide now, still at full lean and gently apply
more throttle. The bike squirms toward the barrier lining the
outside of the pit area. The bike just grazes the edge of the
pavement on the left and I pull upright hard, tucking in and upshifting
down the hill toward turn one again.