Track Attack: How to go fast around Donington Park

A spiritual guide to improving your lap times at one of the UK’s finest tracks

[@shaunhill7264]

That’s absolutely sound advice , literally bought my first sports bike , a GSXR 750 k7 and I’m about to embark on track days at the ripe old age of 52……… so this type of talk is invaluable for me . Thank you 🙏

[@neevesybikes]

Pleasure 😊👍

[@tinkertime7165]

Brill bud, I started track days about 4 years ago, now at 55 I just started racing. First race last weekend at Castle Combe. Entered Mini-twins on an SV650. Never too old.😉

[@davidwillsie]

I’m 64 and I bought a vfr750 last summer - I’m definitely going to be doing track days next summer.

[@TheInfantry98]

Lmfaooooo DAMN YOUR OLD AF! My first track day was at 22 yrs old 🤣🤣🤣🤣. You’re gonna be extremely slow gramps compared to younger riders FYI. Don’t fall down since you might not be able to get back up.

[@rodintoulouse3054]

Thank you once more for your generosity. I wish your numbers go up soon so your effort can be paid back in some way, Your knowledge, attitude and the time you give to all of us are truly priceless.

[@roadsportsmedia]

I have r750 07 now and I was very big fan of Neeves from my twenties. He was huge journalist and test rider during I was journalist last 15 yrs. Now I am fourties age and still huge fan of him and this holiday morning I woke up with this amazing track tips video. I surprised what I enjoying your INSIGHT OF MOTORCYCLING with another side of planet at the same time. Its amazing world to emphasizes with top class rider. Thank you for everything. Specially of Neeves. ❤(p.s) And Sorry about my poor English skills. I am Korean.

[@samanthagregoryurich4167]

Thanks! I'm a new rider who has quickly become a bit of a fanatic with 6 track days already done this season. I've watched Motovudu so many times that I've pretty much memorized it and your explanations of how to ride Donington really makes the application of the techniques clear! I'll probably never ride Donington, but I think I know where to apply the concepts (like using the throttle to get to the edge of the track) on my local track in Sweden.

[@LambChopRides]

Superb Michael will be putting those tips into practice 👍

[@neevesybikes]

Cheers Chopsie, I hope you’re well? 👍

[@Ultimatereloader]

Just got this EXACT bike - same color, mint condition with 10,300 miles on it - totally agree about the bike- AMAZING

[@BatFastard01]

I always used to enjoy the sighting laps of a trackay. Start of a good day out on track. Take in the circut, feel how the bike performing and let the tyres come to me. (Never did tyre warmers as I was only mid pack fast group at best. ) Never chased laptimes, just out on my bike for the craic. Main thing is having FUN!

[@sweet-triple-UK]

Fantastic video Neevesey, I like the spiritual approach as it gets the mind set right. Off for my second go round on the 17th. Fingers crossed we get some good weather!

[@barryroberts2474]

Lots of convertable tips for younger riders on the road, learn first before speed. What I taught my apprentices as a carpenter. Thanks for the Donnington tips as I've just watched some racing there and it helps understand. I'm way too old for racing but enjoy your videos mate. Still learning the finer points of riding at 75!

[@garyroach8624]

Great advise Neevesy, I will be doing a track day at Phillip Island when the weather warms, Honda corner is always stressful after coming out of the fast Stoner corner, i will remember your great advise. Cheers.

[@davidash1008]

Really enjoyed that Neevesy, thanks. Man I love Donington...favourite UK track I think, nothing better than feeling like you're screaming it through Starkys and Schwantz! ❤

[@krishnack79]

I was not expecting to see this video today, I had a long hard day , just slumped into the chair to watch something and lo and behold it's the master himself talking about how to go around donnington 😊, amazing , each line you say is a nugget of information for a beginner like me . Fantastic, I had recently been at donnington as part of the csbk school day , actually went through many of the points you mention. Planning to come back next year on my own Tuono v4 ( I had hired the zx10r for the school day) , again many thanks for sharing this info , hope to meet you one day and shake your hand 😊

[@neevesybikes]

Thanks for the kind words…and have fun on your Aprilia next year 😊👍

[@adamniswonger8015]

Great stuff!! At the California Superbike School, we start the level 2 students with slightly different sighting laps. One on the RH side all the way around, one on the LH and a final in the center. All at 50% or below pace that allows you actually look at each of the shapes of the corners from the different perspectives. It’s a huge benefit!

[@jpmotorsport4728]

Yet another priceless vlog mate 🙏🏽👍🏽, that’s a lot of awesome info that most people would only get on a 1-1 or instruction as you know . Thank you very much , I’m sure a lot will gain a lot from this one 👍🏽🙏🏽🏍😎🏁 Take it easy mate , 👍🏽😎

[@distancejunkiemonkey4491]

Lots of good advise not only for Donington, but for the road as well. The part about getting through the hairpin is spot on ! One of my favorite roads has a 10 mph suggested speed limit hairpin turn. Here in the U.S. you'll be on the inside of the curve and turning right, and going downhill with a significant elevation drop. I paste a google map link. And this I'll almost always have the wife on the back. I've attacked this in the past with mixed results. A few weeks ago I decided to just focus on being technically with the line and manipulation of the bike. And it was my quickest, as in fast in, slow through the apex, and fast out. No mid corner corrections and the bike was pointed in the correct direction sooner. Even the wife mentioned it on our debrief of the ride. Long way of saying, riding the corners focusing on technically correctness equals more speed than "attacking" , especially when it's multiple corners connected together.

[@distancejunkiemonkey4491]

maps.app.goo.gl/GQTgwL3h7UPvmaKN9?g_st=ic

[@peterreynolds777]

I think this is the most I have concentrated on one of your videos. I mean this in a nice way. Listening to you talk about the track I found myself totally consumed by your information. Incredible knowledge. Thanks 💪🏻😎✊🏻

[@61greybeard]

Great video Michael having done a track day at Donnington on my Super Duke GT all your advice is spot on as I got most of the track wrong 😁. I did improve through the day and you have just explained why and how I got better love the style of your videos keep enjoying your 750 😁👍👍

[@neevesybikes]

@@61greybeard thanks mate!

[@MrDeepseadweller]

I’m one of your Aussie viewers, so I’ve never ridden Donington and probably never will, but as you were speaking I was thinking of comparable parts of my track (SMSP) and the concepts you outlined were definitely applicable Thank you.

[@rob1k8]

Another great video thanks Neevesy 👍 I Couldn’t agree more about the sighting laps I do a lot of track days in the UK and Europe and more often than not I’ll be following someone warming their tyres, warming their brakes trying to get their knee down or pulling wheelies then they get released at for the first flying lap and they don’t know which way T1 goes!

[@danogden1623]

If it's on a GSX-R 750 the answer to how to go fast around any track has to be 'On the back wheel!' :) Thanks for the great content as usual. As a 50 year old Gixxer owner and track day novice I'm loving the latest stuff alongside 'thanks for asking'. Legend.

[@neevesybikes]

@@danogden1623 cheers bud 👍

[@MrLeeson660]

loved this video absolutely amazing thank you. can't wait to try these tips out in a few weeks

[@jefflambert8603]

Kevin Shwantz at Donnington Park what a Treat to have been there to see him Ride & if he won he was up on the Pegs giving a real Texan Celebration

[@jaykay1168]

Great content. Different from the usual “track day tips” invaluable advice even for a seasoned TD rider. What I do find though is if I take it easy the whole of the 1st session I struggle to get up to speed the rest of the day. My brain almost takes it as a “cruising” day!!

[@garyhutson6361]

Thanks for this. I'm at Donnington with bennetts in September. I'll be watching this the day before and on the day 👍🏼

[@nsweeney3970]

That was a great way to impart your knowledge of Donington to us noobs, much better than the usual second gear here and third in this corner etc. I did a session at the Ron Haslam school a while back. I ended up low siding the CBR600 into the gravel trap after losing it at McLeans lol. I absolutely hate that corner with a passion and still to this day don’t understand which line to take through it to reduce the risk but to not lose too much time in the process….?

[@apexhunter4482]

Loved this and such great pointers on what is one for me the best track in the UK. It' likes a scaled down version of one of my all time favourite circuits Mugello. And seeing one of the best journo's giving out fantastic pointers is great. I also have to blame you for wanting a smaller capacity bike :)

[@neevesybikes]

Sorry! 😄

[@andywilson5626]

Booked an evening track day at Donnington this afternoon, and you put this out tonight. Perfect, keep the content coming, love it.

[@dstev55]

Which one you on? I've just booked on to 15th evening session, my 2nd track day and 1st at Donny, can't wait!

[@MrBrimsy]

Awesome vid and great timing with a few races coming up there - sheds a whole new light and perspective on the track . Keep it up mate love the channel

[@chrisedge4540]

We were on track with you on Monday night and you’re so right about evening events being more relaxed. I’m going to try and take your advice on board about the old hairpin to McLeans section. Cheers 🎉

[@jeffestrada6857]

Fantastic information and tips which to me being in Australia 🇦🇺 still can put to use on other tracks here. But….. the real music to my ears is that sweet sweet Gixxer 750!!!! Ohhhh sooo good! Thanks again for your wealth of information 👍👍👍👍

[@CRFSMedia]

Great video. We seen you at Donington last Monday wishing we said hello and got some tips from you but now we have a video awesome 👌

[@neevesybikes]

Pleasure 😊👍

[@dankorolyk5917]

Brilliant advice mate

[@williamoakes664]

Thanks for that insight, really interesting

[@zakr3001]

Great video, definitely do some similar ones for other track's please!

[@creedm3040]

Awesome video! You are right. The rest of the world is jealous of Britain and the tracks you have available. I sure am here in the States. Can't wait for Brands Hatch, the opening to the forest I think. Brilliant. Best!

[@paulking8055]

I followed Matt Llewellyn for half a dozen laps years ago around Donny, each lap a little bit faster. Brill it was.

[@scottgilmour2135]

I struggle to make time up on track days unless I’ve been doing the same track for a while. Just cant seem to get the hang of going faster. I’m in between Novice and Inters I would say and not really the type to push to inters unless I’m worthy and close to one of the fastest in Novice, so That’s a really interesting review of Donnington. Look forward to many more if that’s the idea. Thanks Neevesy 👍🏻

[@RikkyTang]

Going back to Donny at the end of the month on my S1000XR and along with along with Sylvain's pt.1 & 2 videos this is great advice, . I'll be so Zen I'll be riding cross-legged 😁

[@neevesybikes]

😂👍

[@tristandrew5903]

Made my evening, loads of quality advice which I'll use there next week thank you! Quick Q, at Goddards which is the best line on a 1000? Some recommend the late apex for exit speed but noticed Toprak and some other racers hug the curb.

[@neevesybikes]

V lines are always best on a 1000, just get in, stop and fire out…but don’t rush it. The exit is the most important bit 👍

[@stephenchapman8344]

Great explanation. Nice on board footage. 👍

[@kloppskalli]

I was half asleep while this video was playing on my laptop next to my bed ... I dreamt that I was there at Donington Park ...

[@popdatclutch3010]

I love the 750 chronicles. I had several bikes but the 750 is was something else. I almost wish they would refresh it

[@verdeboyo]

Hey, I've never done evenings but yeah I can imagine how different the atmosphere is.

[@kawker]

Great vid, new series neevesy? Track attack around all the UK circuits? would be cool :D

[@shaunwhitfield112]

Quality these tips mate as ever 😎😎😎😎🙌👍

[@dstev55]

This video came in very good time for me. I did my first track day with British Motorbike School at Blyton Park last week and loved every minute. I've been toying with the idea of squeezing an evening session in at Donny before the season ends and your video pushed me to book it. One thing I found challenging at Blyton Park was how physically demanding it was which I think was compounded by the fact I have a S1000XR and Blyton is a fairly small and tight track. I was struggling to get my body in to position quick enough at times. I also kept scraping the pegs so I need to get the bike more upright by using my body more anyway. Do you have any tips for riding a big upright bike on track Neevesy? (Donny or general)

[@laz1go286]

Great instructions, loving the track insight.. What's flashing on the dash?

[@neevesybikes]

Fuel light 😄

[@vexsar.]

The hump on the back straight can be very dangerous. There was a horrific crash there at a trackday in 2021, where one rider apparently was very slow right after the hump(possibly a mechanical problem) and a second rider slammed into the first rider at full speed(either due to a wheelie or something else). Unfortunately, both were fatalities. Happened right in front of a mate of mine and I rode through the aftermath about a minute later.

[@GhostRider020]

Interesting trying to relat this to my local race track ;) (Sudbury to Field to Temiskaming Shores to Elk Lake to "the water shed" and back to Sudbury -All in Ontario Canada); my straights are longer and the corners not as tight.

[@mattjones351]

Great stuff Neevesy! Have you considered doing some lap analysis for us mere mortals? I'm running mid inters and would be interested if you had any pointers for me to improve if I sent you my best lap from Donington across? Keep up the great work!

[@neevesybikes]

Hi mate, it maybe possible to shave off a bit of time here and there by watching an on-board, but the big gains come from things like body position, off-throttle corner and the like, which are best talked about at the track. You’ll have to come for some instruction one day 😊👍

[@ogofog9120]

Used to live in a lovely little village called Shardlow & walk to the circuit. Sad when MotoGP went back to Silverstone

[@andyw30sey6]

Hello 🙋‍♂️ Great video, I been riding on track for about 3 years now, UK & Euros, been on the road for years before that, ZXR750 was my first fast bike, it was a prize from MCN (i bought off the guy who won it) it had blue printed engine, ohlins and lots of nice bits number plate was J5MCN!! Wish I kept it, I went on to the R1’s, my track bike is a k7 GSXR1000 I absolutely love it! Its got a few trick bits, its fast, tight and responsive with great stopping power (Hel set up) … I recently done Donington for the first time, loved it, my question is the over the hump where the dunlop used to be, I was wheeling, but found it ok to deal with and it didn’t seem to be affect my braking, i was on 1:46’s so a decent time, if next time I go tried your method of crossing the track would this make up time for me? Thanks Woosy! Ps, great videos on the GSXR 750.. I love my thou!!!!

[@neevesybikes]

Sounds like you’ve been having fun on track! The Dunlop hump tips won’t give you a heap of time, but you’ll be slightly faster down the straight and more settled into the Esses 👍

[@andyw30sey6]

@@neevesybikes thanks for the reply, I was thinking of getting a newer bike but have now decided against it, I am going to upgrade the suspension and discs on the GSXR instead. I will definitely take your advice over the hump, although there is probably tons more places that I could do better to make up time 😂 but I enjoy it, I have only had 1 off (Jerez turn 2) low side slow, I am starting to worry as Ive got quicker about crashing at high speed, its starting to get in my head !!

[@afropovic]

@@neevesybikes I remember pulling a wheelie the first time I was there back in the day (still had the bridge) on my 2004 R1. Had an oh 💩 moment before laughing like a loon after I landed and made the chicane. Love my K5 1000, but also loved the 04 R1. Classic.

[@cecilwilson5442]

Great and from a person who is well versed on the subject of riding fast,,only skids I'd be checking be in the leathers not on the track ,,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland 👍👍

[@neevesybikes]

😄😄😄

[@BB-ln4gv]

Thanks for the informative video. I do the odd track day at Sepang circuit on a Panigale R. I am struggling with body position on the bike and consistently record 61 degrees lean angle because I don’t hang off the bike enough. Any tips on how I can force myself to hang off more?

[@neevesybikes]

Get into your body position way before you brake. It’s much easier to hang off when there aren’t big forces on your body. Stay hanging off until well out of the corner…

[@notwostrokenofun]

Thanks for the Gixxer video series and for that new great video. 👍🏻 By the way, is that an original Suzuki carbon fender? Where did you find it? Thx! Regards, Mario

[@neevesybikes]

It’s from here: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394994017717?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=394994017717&targetid=1814673648942&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006791&poi=&campaignid=21197394693&mkgroupid=161704929576&rlsatarget=pla-1814673648942&abcId=9406813&merchantid=752518083&gad_source=1

[@willferreira2208]

Hey! That's me in front of you a few times in this video! The Panigale V2 white 😅 Gutted that you were there and I didn't know! Are you planning to do any more track time till October?

[@neevesybikes]

Ha, I sneaked in and out. I’ve got a couple more trackdays this month, on the KTM and 750. Hope you had fun 👍

[@Rich-nadaBS]

Hi, if you were at Donington on a cold day (sport touring tyres) without tyre warmers, how many laps would you do to warm up? Also, what are you using to film please?

[@hypermotardking]

love doni.. suits my Hyper..

[@douglasgrosch228]

is Moto America Super bikes the best bikes to watch as is W orld SBK- what you like better??/and would you race them now if called into?and is Josh Herrin going to pull off champion win ?? cheers

[@Atilla8huno]

does your exhaust have removable baffle? looks cool but quiet

[@neevesybikes]

Yep, baffle in. Not keen on noisy pipes 👍

[@_authentlc_]

working on riding technique reminds me a lot of the technique of playing the violin...

[@1TotalNoob]

First!