36This is really happening. The garage door’s raised as I pull in the clutch and select first gear. Only I don’t. The bike’s on race shift, which means the pedal works in the opposite direction. I realise as I set off and go to hook second, slotting the standard ratio ’box back into first. It’s not embarrassing… honestly. Or at least it wouldn’t be if 10-times World Endurance Champion Vincent Philippe wasn’t following me out on track riding the standard GSX-R I’ve been using to learn Negaro’s layout. He shakes his head, I hook the selector with my foot and power the bike onto its limiter. It sounds awesome as the pit-lane electronics retard and retain the tuned engine from unleashing its potential. A man with a flag waves us onto the track, we cross the pit-lane exit and steer left towards the circuit entrance. A right hander’s up ahead and I’ve just enough time to remember which of the buttons cancel the limiter. Stupidly, my hand’s still wide on the throttle causing the Suzuki to bolt unceremoniously towards the upcoming corner. In panic I squeeze the Nissin front brakes and nearly throw myself forward out of the seat. The stopping power’s unreal and razor-sharp to the touch. Lesson learned. I lean into the first corner and the bike rolls effortlessly on its Öhlins suspension and Dunlop slicks. There are wet patches everywhere, and I’m desperate not to hit them as we enter a succession of left and right hairpins, destined for the back straight. It’s all been third gear work up until now, but as we get onto the back straight the rest of the ’box gets some abuse. Twisting back the throttle, the power is relentless and radically-sharper than the standard bike. Its response is instant and gear changes are super-slick all the way up to sixth, ahead of the heavy braking zone looming. The Nissins get a good squeeze once more, hauling the bike up way too soon for the double right. This bike is going to take some learning, highlighted once more by the Suzuki’s eagerness to flick overly sharp and lead us directly toward the inside kerb. The bike has to be picked-up and realigned. Vincent’s probably in stitches. VINCENT PHILIPPE PROVES THAT THESE RACES ARE AS MUCH ABOUT SPEED AS ENDURANCE.
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