Bottled it and transferred to novices after the training run last time out at Bedford and my shockingly slow attempt at Brands. Did inadvertently end up in inters for half a session as I joined the wrong group thinking it was novices lining up but it turns out it was inters going out again after a stoppage. Was ok, didn't get in the way, didn't fall miles behind, felt fast. Anyway, this is the novice group I should have joined and did straight after ten minutes in the inters... That'll do for another year. Need to get fit for next year although I always say that.
Been to Bedford four times now and always travelled in the inter group - even first time I went there when only experience I had was a Ducati track taster at Silverstone (in torrential rain!!). First time at Bedford no space in beginners so just went with a mate in the inter group (they will shuffle you round if necessary). Shit scared as I'm a bit of a James May but the 2007 fireblade did me proud so fast on the straights (although for the first two sessions going out of the corner on to the long straight I kept spinning the rear wheel and popping myself out of the seat, bit unnerving!!). Just kept myself out of the way, learnt the track bit by bit and didn't race anyone - just kept my line and let them overtake inside, outside, upside!! Felt good in that group as watching some in the beginners - Wow, how they didn't crash or wipe others out more. Bit I like about inters is level of consistency, beginners there were some good, lots of bad and some real ugly!! That said third time I went to Bedford tgere were too many race hero's in inters and too many crashes (day got completely messed up and weather was perfect!). One guy lost it on the warm up lap and needed airlifting to hospital, and few coming togethers in a big way - really!!!. Upshot is go for the inters if your confident enough, you won't regret it
It's a lottery who you get in your group. I've been in novices a dozen or so time at Bedford and sometimes it's a quick group like it felt on Monday and sometimes it's all over the place. The great thing about bedford is that there's a ton of room and there's always somewhere to overtake. I think I'll just book inters next time. I did ten minutes by mistake in inters. I got overtaken once and never saw anyone else for the whole session which must mean I'm not a million miles off the pace. I'm a massive worrier essentially, a massive needy fucking worrier...
Don't worry be happy as Bobby Mcferrin once said. Need to get another track day in sometime, is a pain getting the bikes below the noise limits at times though. Bedford is a nice track though, as you say lots of space and escape roads - used that once!
Mine came with some aftermarket exhaust that with the baffle in has record 92db at bedford. Been grateful for the escape roads a few times
