First 1st
by Stretch Henrick
It has taken 10 race meetings on the short circuit to get to where we are now. Killian started motard racing in 2010 on the demo Aprilia SXV 550. Initially we ran the bike as is (stock tyres and all) with just the road gear removed and the mandatory changes done (wiring up of brakes, sump plugs etc). As the year progressed (and as Killian progressed as well) changes were made. Motard specific tyres and gearing came first followed by a performance pipe and air filter. The suspension was altered (several times) to accommodate Killian’s improving lap times.
Weak areas were identified and addressed. We tried drag racing (to improve starts) and took part in a Gymkana. The deal was that if he got good results, we would look at a 450 for 2011. A 3rd in the All Tar Modified class and another 3rd for the year in the Dirt class saw us uncrating an Aprilia SXV 450 for 2011.
Now, on paper, the 2 bikes (450 vs 550) should be identical except for bore, stroke, and smaller throttle bodies on the 450 but it turned out that the bikes have very different engine characteristics. Where one could rely on the 550’s torque to get one off the line fast (rev to 7 000 rpm, dump the clutch and you are in front) the 450 is a revver that requires a lot more finesse.
The 450 is also more critical when it comes to gearing. If you found yourself in too high a gear on the 550, just open the throttle and the torque would pull you through. Not so on the 450. During practice for the All Bike Race Day (16th December 2010) we ran the same gearing as we ran on the 550 but it was geared too tall. The only other sprocket option we had (at short notice) was only 1 tooth bigger which should only have made a 200 rpm difference but the 450 ended up running 800 rpm more. That extra tooth was just enough to get the bike into the strong part of the rev band.
We were pleased with the results achieved at the ABRD. A 2nd and a 1st in the Motard class gave us a 2nd overall. In the BOTT’s class we finished in 7th (put of 17) which, considering the 450 was by far the smallest bike in the race, was a very good result indeed.
For our first race of 2011 (12th Feb 2011) we transferred everything from the 550 onto the 450: wheels, suspension, bodywork, the lot. We fitted Michelin Soft compound both front and rear (we wanted a medium for the rear but for some reason or other we got sent a soft). The rear tyre was absolutely shredded by half way through the race meeting so we swopped it for our old 2010 standby rear tyre and finished the day with a 3rd in the All Tar class and another 3rd in the Supermoto class.
Shredded rear tyreSaturday 5th March saw us at the track bright and early for the 2nd race of 2011. Killian qualified 5th in the All Tar class. In the Supermoto qualifier he clipped a tyre on lap 3 which meant he had to come in for repairs (bent brake lever) but still managed to qualify 3rd. Racing in both classes has definite advantages – double the practice and qualifying sessions.
The first All Tar heat went well. Killian finished 3rd overall and 1st in the Stock class. The tyres gripped well and the bike was going well in spite of a slightly leaky header pipe (courtesy of a slide out on Monday’s practice).
The first Supermoto heat did not go so well. Killian had just started lap 2 and went into the dirt section turnoff a bit hot. He braked as hard as he could but still ended up clipping someone’s rear wheel and down he went. The damage was minor (bent r/h handguard and handlebar mount) but it meant a DNF for that heat.
Dropped it at the dirt section turnin
The first All Tar heat went well. Killian finished 3rd overall and 1st in the Stock class. The tyres gripped well and the bike was going well in spite of a slightly leaky header pipe (courtesy of a slide out on Monday’s practice).
The first Supermoto heat did not go so well. Killian had just started lap 2 and went into the dirt section turnoff a bit hot. He braked as hard as he could but still ended up clipping someone’s rear wheel and down he went. The damage was minor (bent r/h handguard and handlebar mount) but it meant a DNF for that heat.
Dropped it at the dirt section turninThe second All Tar heat also went well. Killian finished 2nd overall (courtesy of Carl Liebenberg going down) and another 1st in the Stock Class. He also did a personal best lap time of 49.1 seconds which was the second best lap time of the day.
The 2nd Supermoto heat was a disaster. Killian had to start from the back of the grid but a good start saw him exiting the dirt section in 5th place. By lap 3 he managed to pass Junior Joubert and was right on Dean Hart’s (who was riding like a demon) rear wheel when he overcooked it in the dirt section on lap 5.
This time it was the left side handlebar guard which was bent and so was his little finger. It was sticking up at a right angle, probably dislocated. A quick pull on the finger straightened it out (Killian did this, not me) and it popped back into place.
I straightened things out the best I could (I was running out of handlebar mounts) and got the bike re-scrutineered (again!) while Killian was inspected by the medics (downplaying his finger) and showing him his fresh roastie (right over Monday’s bruise) instead. Another DNF in the Supermoto class.
Roastie on top of bruise
The 2nd Supermoto heat was a disaster. Killian had to start from the back of the grid but a good start saw him exiting the dirt section in 5th place. By lap 3 he managed to pass Junior Joubert and was right on Dean Hart’s (who was riding like a demon) rear wheel when he overcooked it in the dirt section on lap 5.
This time it was the left side handlebar guard which was bent and so was his little finger. It was sticking up at a right angle, probably dislocated. A quick pull on the finger straightened it out (Killian did this, not me) and it popped back into place.
I straightened things out the best I could (I was running out of handlebar mounts) and got the bike re-scrutineered (again!) while Killian was inspected by the medics (downplaying his finger) and showing him his fresh roastie (right over Monday’s bruise) instead. Another DNF in the Supermoto class.
Roastie on top of bruiseWe made a tactical decision to withdraw from the last Supermoto race and just do the 3rd All Tar race instead (before the pain really kicked in). We moved the clutch lever perch inwards, moved the grip right to the end of the handlebar and adjusted the long clutch lever with plenty of slack so that it only just disengaged the clutch. With this setup Kilian reckoned that, at best, he had 2 clutch pulls left in him.
We kept his hand in ice for as long as we could. Once he was suited up and gloved, I duct taped his little finger to his ring finger. The tactic was to go out last (to reduce the possibility of having to sit on the start line with the clutch pulled in), toe the bike into neutral when approaching the start line and to only pull in the clutch when the flag man leaves the track (about 5 seconds before the start light goes out) and shift without the clutch for the race.
The tactic worked. Killian was 2nd on the grid (front row) so even with a slow start he was 4th after 1 lap right behind Dean Hart. He lost 2 places in the next 2 laps but gained a few places when riders in front of him went wide at one of the bus stop chicanes so he finished 1st in the Stock class again.
The final Supermoto race turned out to be the best race of the day (rivaled only by the Westman vs Pantony Supermono race) Carl Liebenberg was on pole with Alec Combrink 2nd on the grid. Carl got the holeshot and was 1st into the dirt section. Alec had the edge in the dirt with Carl slightly faster on the tar. Alec managed to pass Carl on the entry into the dirt on lap 2 but the 2 were never more than a few metres apart for the whole race.
Carl (#711) and Alec (#29) turning into the dirt section
We kept his hand in ice for as long as we could. Once he was suited up and gloved, I duct taped his little finger to his ring finger. The tactic was to go out last (to reduce the possibility of having to sit on the start line with the clutch pulled in), toe the bike into neutral when approaching the start line and to only pull in the clutch when the flag man leaves the track (about 5 seconds before the start light goes out) and shift without the clutch for the race.
The tactic worked. Killian was 2nd on the grid (front row) so even with a slow start he was 4th after 1 lap right behind Dean Hart. He lost 2 places in the next 2 laps but gained a few places when riders in front of him went wide at one of the bus stop chicanes so he finished 1st in the Stock class again.
The final Supermoto race turned out to be the best race of the day (rivaled only by the Westman vs Pantony Supermono race) Carl Liebenberg was on pole with Alec Combrink 2nd on the grid. Carl got the holeshot and was 1st into the dirt section. Alec had the edge in the dirt with Carl slightly faster on the tar. Alec managed to pass Carl on the entry into the dirt on lap 2 but the 2 were never more than a few metres apart for the whole race.
Carl (#711) and Alec (#29) turning into the dirt sectionMore often than not they were side by side coming into the dirt section and their battle had the spectators on their feet and cheering for most of the race. When the flag dropped it was Alec first over the like about a metre ahead of Carl. It was a brilliant display of riding skill by both of them. It also gave Killian a rare opportunity to observe and learn from 2 vastly more experienced riders.
Killian’s three 1st places gave him 1st overall in The All Tar Stock class for the day but no points in the Supermoto (dirt and tar) Class. Mixed fortunes indeed.
It is difficult to say if Killian’s improved lap times are due to his riding improving or due to the bike. There is no doubt about it, in the right hands, the Aprilia SXV450 is fast. It does require careful setting up and it must be ridden in the powerband to get the best out of it. Another interesting thing, in spite of being as fast as the 550 (maybe even faster) it uses much less fuel.
Nevertheless a solid 1st with barely a years racing experience is a darn good result indeed. Many thanks to Alpinestar, Shark, Michelin and Aprilia SA for all the help and support. Also many thanks to friends, competitors and marshals who rallied around to help. It is greatly appreciated.
Killian’s hand the next day
Killian’s three 1st places gave him 1st overall in The All Tar Stock class for the day but no points in the Supermoto (dirt and tar) Class. Mixed fortunes indeed.
It is difficult to say if Killian’s improved lap times are due to his riding improving or due to the bike. There is no doubt about it, in the right hands, the Aprilia SXV450 is fast. It does require careful setting up and it must be ridden in the powerband to get the best out of it. Another interesting thing, in spite of being as fast as the 550 (maybe even faster) it uses much less fuel.
Nevertheless a solid 1st with barely a years racing experience is a darn good result indeed. Many thanks to Alpinestar, Shark, Michelin and Aprilia SA for all the help and support. Also many thanks to friends, competitors and marshals who rallied around to help. It is greatly appreciated.
Killian’s hand the next day
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