Track Day in Asia (Sepang Int'l Circuit) - A Quick Guide

[phantom]

If you are ever in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, etc) on business or for any other reason, look into doing a track day at Sepang Int'l Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It's very convenient and relatively inexpensive.

US$35 for 3 hours of open track on a 3.3 mile, world-class FIM- / FIA-certified circuit just can't be beat.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/track_main.gif
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/Sepang.jpg


Accomodations at US$35 per night

Rental Car at US$30 per day

Bike hire including Mechanic, Spares, Fuel, Oil, Tires at US$100- US$250 per day.

It's so convenient that I've done several events there, even joining the local club racing series (Malaysia Super Series) from my work location in the Philippines.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/MSS%202007/QP-1481Cropped1.jpg


The track is adjacent to the international airport, with convenient lodging (The Concorde Inn) nearby:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/AreaMap.jpg


The Concorde Inn, KLIA
Beg Berkunci No. 8
Kuala Lumpur Int'l Airport
43900 Sepang Selangor
Malaysia
Tel. +60 (3) 8783-3118
http://www.concorde.net/sepang/ (http://www.concorde.net/sepang/)


Several shops offer bike hire and full trackside support:

Sunvay Cycle
Contact Name: Ah Hoi
No.19, Jalan PJS 7/17,
Bandar Sunway,
46150 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia.
Tel : +60 (3) 5638-8502
Email : scracing@streamyx.com (scracing@streamyx.com)

Chia Motorcycles
Contact Name: Keith
No.11, Jalan 21/17,
Sea Park,
46300 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia.
Tel : +60 (3) 7876-5497

Rental cars are available right at the airport terminal arrival hall:

Hawk Rental Car, KLIA
Contact Name: Hazlan
Tel. +60 (3) 8787-1455
Cell: +60 (19) 371-1938

Pacific Rent-A-Car, KLIA
Tel. +60 (3) 8787-3922



With the proper arrangements it’s an all-included arrive-and-ride setup. Just bring your riding gear.

[phantom]

The track is phenomenal.

The front and back straights are each over 1/2 mile (900meters) long. Awesome mix of low, medium, and high speed turns, exciting elevation changes, and technical portions sure to keep you challenged.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/MSS%202007/Race1-1767Turn9.jpg

Fresh, consistent, and grippy pavement, plenty of runoff in all areas,

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/mini-DSCF0791.jpg

First-class facilities all-around.

Free use of the garages, too!

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/DSC03210.jpg

[phantom]

Check the local sportbike forum for more info:

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=18 (http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=18)

I'm heading there this weekend for a Sat / Sun event. I'll put up a full trackday report following.

phantom

[357Magnum]

good stuff kelly thanks for sharing. this the track your brakes failed on?

[Rodskii]

Ok I am officially jealous....

[phantom]

Yep, this is where the brakes failed. For obvious reasons I did NOT mention the shop that provided that bike (Raceline). They had taken on more customers than they could support. At the same time they had lost their guy who was the maintenance liaison and supervisor. So, the three professional racers' bikes got the lion's share of maintenance attention, while the club / hobby racers' bikes (mine included) only got attention on an as-needed basis. No preventive maintenance / shoddy maintenance led to several on-track mechanical failures and injuries within a two-month period spanning the date of my unfortunate mishap.

Shortly thereafter all of the club / hobby customers migrated to other trusted shops (two of which I list above). It's important to ask around and shop with confidence when looking for trackside support. Word-of-mouth from fellow bikers is very helpful. And for more info, feel free to ask me, too :D


Rodskii, don't be jealous; get your ass over there!!

[357Magnum]

DR trip to sepang anyone? lol

[Rodskii]

DR trip to sepang anyone? lol

How much money we have in the DR account?

[357Magnum]

$3. we're almost there.

[phantom]

Ok, NOW you can really hate me. I think I hate myself, even.

MotoGP and World Superbike are testing at Sepang Tuesday thru Thursday. Also, Rossi had a minor crash today. I should catch some of the action on Thursday. I'll take plenty of pictures.

My buddy, Armand Ali, is a former Malaysia national champion motorcycle racer.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/ClutchLever2.jpg
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/40530J1079.jpg

He has a family-owned Shell service station in Malaysia. A couple of years ago he took up motorsports photography as a hobby, often photographing at Sepang track days. Note his bright yellow hat :)

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/mini-DSCF0807.jpg

When I had my accident at Sepang he was gracious enough to take me in for the entire four months of my post-surgery recovery. Needless to say, I am forever indebted to him, and I have grown to love his family as my own.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/DSC03040.jpg
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/emailDSC03027.jpg
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/kids082email.jpg

Anyway, he gave up riding a while back following a nasty run-in with an inattentive car driver while riding home on his scooter. However, his motorsports photography hobby has grown into a full-blown profession, with full media accreditation.

We had a chat earlier today about my arrival for the track day weekend:

The Alis said:
you're coming thursday right? Final day for MotoGP testing. They start tomorrow.
Kelly said:
ah, ok
Kelly said:
yep, I land about 7:30 am Thursday morning
The Alis sends:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/22-01-08-708.jpg

Kelly says:
Niiiiiiiiice!!!
Kelly says:
Stoner?
Kelly says:
no. Melandri
The Alis says:
Melandri

Kelly says:
which turn?
The Alis says:
out of 4
Kelly says:
sweeet!!
Kelly says:
that's one of your better compositions!!
The Alis says:
was experimenting
Kelly says:
cool!
The Alis sends:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/22-01-08-730.jpg

Kelly says:
are they actually waving at you?
Kelly says:
or simply looking over their shoulder for some reason?
The Alis says:
must be my bright yellow hat
The Alis says:
they must think it's a yellow flag
The Alis says:
LOL
The Alis sends:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/22-01-08-739.jpg

The Alis says:
world champ
Kelly says:
ok

The Alis sends:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/22-01-08-1218.jpg

Kelly says:
Is Toseland shaking his fist at you?
The Alis says:
uh huh
The Alis says:
lol
Kelly says:
oh, man!!! That's Hilarious!!
The Alis says:
on thursday, i'll bring you to T9
The Alis says:
you'll be 5 metres away from them as they apex T9
Kelly says:
sweeeet!!
Kelly says:
Hey, may I post some of your photos in my local forums?
The Alis says:
btw, Rossi crashed today
Kelly says:
injury?
The Alis says:
fooking rookie mistake
The Alis says:
no injury
Kelly says:
what happened?
The Alis says:
fresh tyres out of the pit and crashed at T2. I have a shot just as he approached T2 with damn shiny tyres
The Alis says:
shukor got awesome sequence of him doing "karate kid" impersonation
The Alis says:
LOL
The Alis says:
he was so high up in the air and still vertical
The Alis says:
did a "running man" on the way down
Kelly says:
haha!!!
The Alis says:
landed on his left foot flat on
The Alis says:
then tumbled
Kelly says:
ok
The Alis says:
bring ear plugs for Thursday
The Alis says:
Suzi's are wickedly loud this year
Kelly says:
ok
The Alis says:
http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=122323#122323
Kelly says:
Hey, may I post some of your photos in my local forums?
The Alis says:
which ones?
Kelly says:
motorcycle forums. gimme a minute
The Alis says:
which photos i ment
Kelly says:
the ones you sent to me just now
The Alis says:
yeah sure
Kelly says:
http://www.azsportbikes.org/forums/showthread.php?p=62959#post62959
Kelly says:
http://www.devil-riders.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5080
The Alis says:
az forum requires log in
The Alis says:
too lazy
The Alis says:
lol
The Alis sends:


http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/22-01-08-372.jpg

The Alis says:
speed difference apparent

Kelly says:
yeah
The Alis says:
'08 CBR 1000 RR in the background out of T10
Kelly says:
huh? press launch?
The Alis says:
no. WSB team
Kelly says:
oh, ok
The Alis says:
ZX10 was there too
Kelly says:
cool
The Alis says:
ridden by Hayden
Kelly says:
Roger Lee?
The Alis says:
yup
Kelly says:
cool
Kelly says:
you thought I didn't know him, didnt you??
The Alis says:
i didn't know him till today
The Alis says:
LOL
Kelly says:
haha!!
The Alis says:
dani officiated the new run off at T1
The Alis says:
that thing is a great invention
Kelly says:
what is it?
The Alis says:
a teenie bit of astro turk
The Alis says:
turf
Kelly says:
ok.
The Alis sends:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/22-01-08-514.jpg

The Alis says:
note the brand new tyre
The Alis says:
shot a second before he crashed

The Alis says:
I will leave my house about 9am on thursday
The Alis says:
go and do a pit walkabout till i get there
The Alis says:
LOL
Kelly says:
really?
Kelly says:
I'm scheduled to land at 7:30 am
The Alis says:
I'm scheduled to wake up at 8am
The Alis says:
LOL
The Alis says:
Or I can pick up at airport, if you don;t mind waiting there
Kelly says:
what time will you get there?
The Alis says:
i guess I'll leave early, say by 8am
The Alis says:
you're buying breakfast
The Alis says:
LOL
The Alis says:
should be there before 9am
The Alis says:
i have to go to work now
The Alis says:
catch ya later
Kelly says:
ok

[Rodskii]

ok now I am even more jealous.... take an oversize luggage and I will bring some containers of oxygen... we can get me there kelly... we can get me there...

[Blue Devil]

yea no shit... wanna put me in a box and ship me there? ill pay the freight charges... :roll

As for the track 1/2 mile straight aways are fun but damn id have to put my bike at like -1/+1 or 0/+1 to get the speed out of it. What is the typical gearing there running on the 600's? I can only imagine how much fun it would be with a liter bike out there.

Also how much you pay to rent the bikes? Basically what kinda budget does it take to do something like that? Not that I can do it now but maybe when I graduate from ASU and im making some money.

[SAK]

Ok I am officially jealous....
+1

DR trip to sepang anyone? lol
spring break
$3. we're almost there.
intrest yo we at 3.15


Also how much you pay to rent the bikes? Basically what kinda budget does it take to do something like that? Not that I can do it now but maybe when I graduate from ASU and im making some money.
+1

[357Magnum]

$100-250 a day, per his post

[SAK]

damn. phantom let me just rent your bike for like 50 a day

[C-Bass]

im their

[Blue Devil]

im talking average rate for a hotel per night (nothing fancy), plane ticket cost, price to ship/rent a bike, average meal costs... ect

[357Magnum]

im talking average rate for a hotel per night (nothing fancy), plane ticket cost, price to ship/rent a bike, average meal costs... ect

hotel - $35 a night(in his post)
trackrental - $35(in his post)
bike rental - $100-250 per day(in his post)
average meal - $25 per day(me guessing)
flight - $1400(expedia.com) ok thats pretty steep lol. Kelly, does fedex fly commuters? haha

[SAK]

oh man that would be a cool trip screw laguna lets al lgo there

[phantom]

The biggest obstacle is the air fare to get there. The second largest expense is sourcing the bike.

Once you arrive in country expect the expenses (food, lodging, car rental, bike hire, entertainment) to total about $1000 for the weekend.

I know that sounds like a lot of money, but consider the effort and expense of traveling to a non-local track day (fuel, towing, packing, unpacking, setup, lodging, driving), and it's very comparable.

$1000 for the weekend means that everything is provided for you. All you need to do is bring your leathers, boots, helmet, gloves to the track.

The bike will be there, fully fueled and prepped, with YOUR mechanic waiting to attend to any needs. Go out, lap at your heart's content, return, mechanic will fuel the bike, adjust suspension, tire pressures, foot pegs, whatever, while you rest and chat with buds.

Some ways to make it seem more do-able:

Save up those frequent-flyer miles.

Air fare specials are often available, greatly reducing the costs.

ON that note, with the recent drop in financial markets, air travel will probably fall off in the coming months. I bet the airlines will be offering GREAT deals soon to stimulate business.

Save up to make it a special vacation - The city (Kuala Lumpur) offers a LOT to do for the entire family: Inexpensive shopping, nightlife, sightseeing, amusement parks, great food, nice malls, spas (I usually spring for a $30 sports massage after track events).

Also, once a year, usually in December or January, a group travels down from Sweden to rent the track for a 5-day clinic. They get together, air freight their bikes in at a bulk rate, divide up all the costs, and spend 5 days with the track. Of course, they also invite others to join in. 5 days of open track!!!

So a group event may be the way to go to cut down on the costs.

I would love to help put together and organize a trip.

[phantom]

The other things that make it worthwhile are the superior TRACK facilities:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC02883email.jpg
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC02876email.jpg
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC02879email.jpg


Believe me, once you suit up . . .

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC02857email.jpg

Roll out of the garage . . .

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC02859email.jpg

and make your way onto the grid . . .


http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/P1000195email.jpg

the adrenaline, excitement, and butterflies will make it all WORTH it.

and you'll have top-notch, professional trackside photography of you in action at very reasonable rates.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Brake%20Failure/DSC03202.jpg

I usually buy a CD-full of Armand's photos. Priceless memories.

[Rodskii]

Well damn.. Once I hit my 6th month mark for DHL (in May) I get a 90% airfare reduction on all flights Delta Airlines offers. round trip example from Phx, AZ to Kuala Lumpur International runs

$1,106.65 round trip + $57.68 Taxes/Fees (http://www.delta.com/booking/retrieveFlights.do?dispatchMethod=retrieveFlights&hiddenFieldsId=0OqECirB0shZgp6&checksum=1348856186&tSession=0OqECirB0shZgp6&UIStatus=P&ts=1201048390817#) = $1,164.33

for 4 days. So that would run me roughly $116.43 for round trip..... maybe sometime later in the year cause that IS FUCKING AWESOME!!!

[Aaron3XH]

Hell yeah boy! My company has a project/office in Kuala Lumpur, I'm bout to start looking to see if they have any positions open, I can go for a one-year Int'l assignment right about now!

[phantom]

Armand met me at the airport around 8:30 am and we headed to the track. We enter the pit row parking area and park just behind the garages, the same place where the team motorhomes and supply containers are parked. Armand delivers some complimentary photos to riders and mechanics. I make myself busy by heading upstairs to the viewing platforms above the garages. From there one can see the entire first half of the circuit, (Turns 1 thru 7), and the front straight

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC03789email.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC03787email.jpg

Turn 5:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC03791email.jpg

[357Magnum]

god duuuuuuuuuuuuuuude! that track looks sooooooooooooooooooo nice. i know what I am saving up for now..as soon as i pay ASU and outta debt lol

[phantom]

It's unbelievably nice, Richie, seriously. I'll post a photo of the fresh pavement later this weekend.

Chris Vermeulen walks by me as I'm waiting for Armand to return. The paddock is buzzing, and everyone is busy, so I don't interrupt with photo or autograph requests. The attitude seems to be all business, everyone moving with purpose.

There are MotoGP bikes on stands in the garages, within viewing distance. I don't venture into the garages, though. I simply want to respect the people hard at work and I don't want to intrude.

By the way, I walk right by a cargo container FULL of Michelin tires. I think hard about asking the teams for their takeoffs (!) to ship home and place on the rack in my garage. Hell, even though they are 16.5 inchers and wouldn't fit our bikes, I bet folks would take them as souvenirs!

Armand and I head to Turn 1 and 2. I start snapping photos of the braking zone for Turn 1. Here the bikes brake from 190+mph down to 2nd gear and 60 mph, trail-braking all the way to the apex.

It's impressive, watching as the rear tire barely stays on or just above the pavement with the maximum braking effort at the front wheel:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC03803email.jpg

[phantom]

I'll have to post more later. Time to head out to Armand's Shell service station. It's Friday morning, 8:45am. This time zone is 15 hours ahead of Phoenix.

This video was taken at Turn 9, panning into Turn 10

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/th_MOV03979.jpg

[Libretto]

yea so I officially hate you and i don't even really know you!!!!!

j/k

Man that looks like such a sick track and setup! I hope that one day I will get a chance to ride that track. Keep us updated with more photos and videos

[SAK]

k i know where the devil riders are spendin our summer vacation

[RICH22]

haha i like it how he is like the only one on the track wouldnt that be awesome.. to ride the track all by yourself for as long as you want

[357Magnum]

k i know where the devil riders are spendin our summer vacation

fuck that I know where we are moving to! lol

[SAK]

are you asking me to move in with you???

<3

[phantom]

:bike:It's unbelievably nice, Richie, seriously. I'll post a photo of the fresh pavement later this weekend.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/DSC04032PavementPost.jpg


I spent Saturday and Sunday polishing my knee pads on the track asphalt :D


Overall, I had an outstanding time!! Plenty of track time! I rode all 30 minutes of the six 30-minute sessions in two days. And the last session of Sunday was extended by 10 minutes. It was a bit crowded at first, but suddenly I found myself lapping on an open track because most other riders had retired to the pits with exhaustion :bike:

[phantom]

The Bike - 2007 R6. I rented it from my buddy, Nils, a Norwegian living and working in Singapore. He was the 2007 Malaysian Super Series SuperSport champion riding this bike. Shown here awaiting fresh rubber:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/DSC03997TireChangeEmail.jpg
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/DSC03996TireChange2Email.jpg

Ready to Rock:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/DSC04026ReadytoRollemail.jpg

[phantom]

Early birds:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/DSC04024EarlyBirdsemail.jpg


My buddy, Ismael, rides a Ducati 1098 TriColore. He's a German expat, a manager in Kuala Lumpur for YTL Construction Company:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/IMG_9188.jpg
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/P1040478.jpg

He has put the bike to proper use:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/Ismael.jpg
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/Ismael3.jpg
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/Ismael2.jpg

[phantom]

But he recently bought a Gixxer Thousand for dedicated track duty. I say it looks like something out of a Batman movie with the flat black paint scheme:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/DSC04035BatBikeinDrivewayemail.jpg

Shown here in the garages eagerly awaiting its first track duty . . .

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/DSC04025BatBikeemail.jpg

[phantom]

The weekend was scheduled like this:

Saturday, 2 - 5 pm, 2 Groups x 30 - minute sessions, <400cc and >400cc

Sunday, 9-12 pm, 2 Groups x 30-minute sessions, <400cc and >400cc

This was the last weekend before Chinese New Year, and it had record turnout on Sunday.

----------------------

2 weeks ago I enhanced my training regimen in the gym to prepare for this weekend, targeting a heartrate of 180bpm for thirty minutes on the stairclimber and exercycle.

I go thru considerable effort to attend these track events, so when I do a trackday, by golly I do a track day. I want to get the maximum track time without suffering from fatigue.

I think this photo shows how fooking eager I was . . .

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/26-01-08-008FirstOneUpemail.jpg

[phantom]

By Sunday at 10 am, there was a LOT of eager bikers:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Trackday%2020080125/ac17237xd61.jpg

[phantom]

This situation was UNPRECEDENTED, and the track management was not prepared to handle it.

The simple format of <400cc bikes and >400cc bikes did not suit the conditions, leading to an overcrowded track with widely varying skill levels and pacing.

less than 20 small bikes in one group but over 120 big bikes in the other.


Following on from this weekend, I have assumed responsibility for organizing next weekend's track event (Feb 10th).

As you can imagine, I am heavily tasked, and that explains why it will take me a while to complete a full report.

In the meantime, follow these links to read more about it . . .

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=61

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12067

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12065

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12061

[phantom]

The organization of the track day was a success!! Here is a link to the local motorcycling forum.

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=18

I am “phantom” on the forum. By the way, in order to view the attached photos you should do a quick registration. It’s quick and easy J


BACKGROUND

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/FrontStraight.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/FullTrack.jpg




The trackdays at Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia were previously run as an open track affair. Simply arrive with your motorcycle, pay US$30, and have use of the track for 3 hours. No registration, no safety inspection, no check of rider qualifications, and no segregation based on bike type or rider skill level. For a long time this was sufficient because not many riders would turn out for the events, the track is long and wide, and it never got crowded enough to become hazardous.

There would be small motorcycles with engine sizes starting at 80cc and 70mph top speed, all the way up to superbikes with engine sizes greater than 1000cc and 160+ mph top speed. Again, the track was usually wide open with plenty of space for the bikes of large speed differential to avoid each other.

In the past three years the trackdays have become more popular, and the size of the crowd has grown steadily. There have been some pushes to add organization and supervision to the events, but with no real lasting success.

[phantom]

The circuit is owned by the government and administered by the airport authority. It’s located adjacent to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The authorities provide the public track days on available dates much as a local municipal park is open to the public. The staffing includes the safety workers, ambulance, medical doctor and staff, but no on-track supervision, registration, or instruction.

As a result, the public trackdays are operated at a financial loss, as a public service to the community. This is in great contrast to the professional companies and teams who pay upwards of US$10,000 - $15,000 per DAY to rent the track for tire testing, vehicle development, and race preparation. Because the weather is warm all year round (similar to South Florida, only always hot and humid with no cool winter period), professional organizations have been hiring the circuit more and more often to escape the European winters. As a result, the public trackdays have been given less and less scheduling priority to the point where there are no longer dedicated track dates set in advance, only “fill-in” dates when a professional outfit cancels their reservation, often at the last minute.

So, the past year and this year especially, public trackdays are put on with only 1 or 2 weeks’ notice, with no committed dates available for the rest of 2008.



Something special happened last month. The January 26th and 27th event was the first public track weekend in over 5 months, and the turnout was overwhelming. In this photo alone more than 56 bikes are being released on track at once:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1570/ac17237xd6.jpg

There were more than 150 “big bikes”, or motorcycles over 400cc engine size with top speeds of 120+ mph, and only 25 or so small bikes, <400cc engine size. In the preceding weeks the riders had proposed to the track officials to divide up the 3-hour track day into 6 sessions lasting 30 minutes each, alternating between big bikes and small bikes. The track officials listened and agreed to do so.

However, it was not the appropriate format for the conditions because, as I said, the turnout was overwhelming AND imbalanced. 150 big bikes crowding onto the track at a time is an accident waiting to happen, and it did. A friend of mine, Pian, an advanced rider, was making a safe pass on another rider who was inexperienced. The inexperienced rider abruptly changed his line into a turn (similar to a car dangerously swerving across several lanes at the last moment to make an exit ramp), and a collision resulted. Pian was sent to hospital with SEVEN broken ribs.

[phantom]

MY ROLE

Since my accident in June of 2006 I have been campaigning for track safety at Sepang Circuit.

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=6714

During recovery I took the time to collect and draft a set of Trackday Safety Rules, publish them on the forum, print and handout flyers, and post up posters in the garages for all to read.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Scratch%20Pad/PoorSignalCollision.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Scratch%20Pad/DSC03031SafetyPostersEmail.jpg

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7535 (http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7535)

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=10405 (http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=10405)

I have kept close ties with the community, especially during my medical checkups and visits with Armand.

We suffered alarming losses recently, however. A distinguished motorcyclist and physician (Dr Bend) lost his life in a single-vehicle accident while riding a popular route in the mountains with his friends:

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11864 (http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11864)

Just the week before a rider lost his life at the Pasir Gudang Circuit in Johor Bahru, just north of Singapore, when he collided with a rider who suddenly slowed to perform a stunt after crossing the finish line in an unofficial, unsanctioned, and unsupervised race. Incidentally, there was no ambulance posted at the circuit. The seriously injured rider was taken to hospital by friends who collected him from the track surface into a privately owned vehicle for transport to the local hospital. It is very likely that the untrained attention exascerbated the rider’s injuries, possibly contributing to his untimely death:

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11864 (http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11864)

I was deeply saddened by these events and moved to take action following Pian’s accident. I called for a change in trackday organization, asking for volunteers to help us structure our events:

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12067 (http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12067)

[phantom]

There was much discussion and sharing of ideas. I gathered all of them, put together a proposal, and we made a presentation to SIC (Sepang Int’l Circuit)

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/Briefing.jpg

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12067&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=100 (http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12067&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=100)


We put it to a poll so that the track officials could see that the riders supported the change in format:

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12136 (http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12136)

With this, I set about drafting a list of responsibilities, schedule, and plan of implementation. SIC presented the proposal to the higher-ups for approval. They returned with a limited choice of changes for a start due to the short time frame within which we were working: Pian’s accident happened on January 27th, and the next track day was Feb 10th, giving us only 2 weeks!!

So, within 10 days I had drafted the proposal, presented to SIC, setup a poll, and gathered a list of volunteers.

The morning of Feb 10th we were not sure if it would work. Many people had repeatedly warned me to be prepared for failure. I figured that riders would fail to wake earlier to attend the Rider’s Briefing. I was pleasantly surprised. More than 50 riders turned up early, and the trackday was the safest on record!! EVERYONE was happy!!!

The feedback starts about 2/3rds down this page:

http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12063&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 (http://www.msportbike.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12063&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0)

[RICH22]

you know we hate you in the good way right? hahah

[phantom]

:bike:

[phantom]

More videos from MotoGP testing:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/MotoGP%20Testing/th_MOV04046.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Sepang/MotoGP%20Testing/th_MOV04051.jpg