Testing Times. Franco's First Fireblade Feelings at Monteblanco BSB Superbike Spanish track test

The Marvel HCL motorsport team and star rider Franco Bourne are at Monteblanco in Southern Spain for the first days of testing on the new Fireblade.
Will our young racer cope with the power?
Is Lee Johnston really that small?
Will the team work out how the electronics work?
Will we walk into the wrong restaurant?
Keep tuned to find out the answers
If you'd like to be involved in Franco's fireblade journey with us, to bring on racing's next star rider, please email team boss Matt at
[e-mail]
Or check out the Obsession Engineering pages
obsessionengineering.co.uk/

[@Oilyhands749]

Absolutely fantastic Lee’s a good lad , these 2 could be a dream team!

[@flamintasty]

That was good, love the yoga session 😂 Wavey, you need to sort some merch so we can support the team. I’m not the only one that wants a t-shirt and some stickers, maybe even a hoodie for when it’s cold. Though being in England I can’t see us needing warm clothes 🙄😂

[@obsession_engineering]

There's some merch on the way!!

[@Dave326121]

Amazing to watch all the work Dave. Well done to you and the team and not forgetting Franco. My favourite bit, are you nervous ? "No........ well yeah"

[@DeathsStalkerRVT]

Really enjoyed that test program. So much to mess with in Modern Superbikes. I raced 250's back in the late 1980's to mid 90's and we didn't even have data loggers or even tire warmers until I was almost done. Of course I did have the transition from bias ply slicks (made of stone) to nice radial slick,s once the finally decided to finalize the sizing of the rims. Oh and nice to see Lee in your video but maybe get more of Neil that will get you more viewer ;-P

[@obsession_engineering]

Keep the housewives happy 🤣

[@stevesanelli90]

Bloody brilliant Dave! What an incredible insight to BSB racing that I’ve never seen! Bike, Team & rider merging in to one! Well done to you! Best video in reality ⭐️👌

[@obsession_engineering]

Much appreciated!

[@tonyontrack1967]

This channel is my new obsession! Happy testing at DP on the weekend 💪🏼😎

[@Anderstorp1199]

Perfect to see how a 4 day test is run through, for a pro racer. Great content looking forward to the next track.

[@nickrider5220]

Thanks for taking the time to do this vlog Dave - it was mega !

[@iancharlton5530]

Really enjoyed that with everything coming together 👌

[@clivecussens2573]

Great stuff Dave, cant wait for the next one

[@stuartrobertson8851]

Awesome insight into setup and testing of a new bike Dave. Good luck for the season. I’ll be following closely.👍🏆

[@pasha12343]

Really interesting to see the behind the scenes set up 👍🙂 well done

[@colinwatson4123]

Dave deserves far more subscribers, best channel on KZbin

[@obsession_engineering]

Why thanks, I try my best!

[@flyingdutchy01]

these kids are bloody machines. they learn soo fast

[@stephenbeamis1151]

Just can't get enough of this really like the details on setting the bike up hearing the riders feedback and of course the wee man Lee is a legend sharing his experience that stuff is priceless can't wait for the next update 😊

[@chrisbentley8567]

Great video lots of hard work and dedication well done, Lee Johnston is a great person and good to have around. Franco has had a great career ahead of him. Fantastic I look forward to watching the next blog.

[@stevenlackenby5991]

Another brilliant vid Dave. Excited to see how Franco does. Do the North east proud lad👍

[@graeme4130]

Great vid again Dave. Franco was mega in Jstk600 last year, so best of luck to him this year on the Honda

[@dhjorgenson]

Great video, thanks. Very interesting to see the process. Looking forward to the next one!

[@martynflynn8368]

I was racking my brains trying to think where I had seen you before and then I remembered, I watched your videos at the TT last year which I found very enjoyable. Good to see you are still in the game.

[@paulhenry1387]

Fantastic test, great rider in brilliant professional team. Also great to see how the teams and riders, like Lee Johnston, are so helpful. Can't wait to see the next installment. We will see the test at Donington in the flesh. Can't wait. Brilliant job guys.

[@obsession_engineering]

I'd be really happy if Doni was so dry 😁

[@paulharrysadventures4050]

Really good insight, im looking forward to part 2 now.

[@Shinysideup]

Excellent stuff Dave, Franco did good, looking forward to the next update

[@bobvincent5921]

Thanks Dave. Seems like everything is Tickaty Boo on the track for Frank-O with the new Blade, best wishes.

[@pauladdison3189]

Excellent show Dave. 🏍👍

[@timselbie3419]

An excellent insight into the team mindset at the beginning of the season in the attempt to make everything gel.

[@jamesal0]

Loving the track content - to be honest I wasn't taking the channel to seriously during the bike build - but very impressed now with your race team and 4 testing days

[@jeffo_511]

Cool video man. Franco seems to be coming along good with the Fireblade. By the way, I got ahold of 2022 hrc data supplement but thank u for offering to send it to me.

[@gerrievl]

Your living a dream.... everything bikes all day! 😊

[@bigal5895]

Fascinating! found this vlog really interesting and a great insight.👍

[@93Martin]

Just subscribe. What a great look at the process of starting with an OEM all the way through tested, tuned, and race ready.

[@obsession_engineering]

Thanks for watching

[@jhstony]

Brilliant video Dave

[@colinsmith7385]

Excellent start to a Sunday, thanks Dave

[@troywee4774]

fantastic upload dave, thanks for sharing and good luck to all involved! cheers.

[@kenkennedy5516]

Check out the front damper extension speed setting, it looks way to fast, which will result in rear wheel inconsistencies….👍🚀

[@Caughtondrone]

Fair play Dave great serries and look forward to following the team through the season on here great insight.

[@lukesavage1801]

Awesome video! Great insight to what actually goes in to racing

[@Velodictorian]

Great episode!

[@andrewlucas6214]

Fantastic with all star cast! Interesting watching lee’s vlog… shots of him sliding and his bike was bucking on exit..similar issues? Nice Franco running Pete’s number.

[@miguelgoverno]

Minted…… miss being over there with the talent cup lads testing…… very slightly jealous 😂😂😂 Great video, like actually being there, well done. Cant get better than a chance to follow Hector around for a lap 🏆🏆🏆

[@hilbilchillbil]

Just epic looking forward to Andalusia 👍

[@mattmid7012]

Brilliant vlog Dave, absolutely loved that, really looking forward to the next one and following the season ahead. Looked like a really promising start to testing. Must save a lot of head scratching time during the season if you can find out what fixes what at this stage. Maybe this track is the ideal test place for Thruxton judging by what it does to the tyres!

[@oteimoto85]

"We've been through which buttons do what, but I don't expect him to be playing with them!" You just can't expect a young lad to find the button in his very first session.

[@obsession_engineering]

🤣

[@scottsmith491]

Greetings from the USA 🙋. I absolutely love your videos!! To actually see all the detail work required to take a stock bike to race spec is a little bit scary. Just the installation of the HRC kit wiring harness and ECU looked very time consuming and not really "easy".

[@obsession_engineering]

You're right there. It's definitely more super than stock now!

[@kennethszpindor1723]

Looks you have got it sorted marvel hcl motor sport looks like a lot of work for every one good luck lads

[@nicksidell4797]

Happy days 👍

[@kjbull1]

Well done Dave. Loved this episode. Glad I’ve not got the tyre bill. Long time since I’ve ride a bike on a track but understand what Franco must of felt on his first ride. Keep up the good work. I’ll be with you all the way.

[@obsession_engineering]

The speed didn't bother him for long!

[@Tyrekickingwetdreamer]

Nice

[@paulwilkinson6608]

Great video. Well done for investing in a young lad, that's not an arrogant nob

[@obsession_engineering]

He's a good guy, and definitely worth the help

[@irisgardener4141]

Good vibes from start to end here. Isn't Lee fab for making time for Franco. 🤙🏼

[@obsession_engineering]

Yes, loads of the big boys were helping out too. Helps that Franco is a good lad

[@Sc50001]

Quality 😎

[@VR46YAMAHA]

Cracking video, brilliant insight to a test day, an especially great hearing a lad transition from a 6 to a thou. Subscribed more future vids! Question, what do you find works with the front forks? Like in regards to setting up preload and sag's? I'm tempted to run softer than usual in the forks and thus more static sag potentially as I've around 30mm left of fork travel which I'm not used to seeing when I've setup my forks in the past, not sure if its because of the amount of travel these forks have on them vs my previous ohlins forks I've used. How are you guys getting on?

[@obsession_engineering]

The blade forks look long but the cartridge stroke is the normal 125mm. On the logger we're using all the stroke, it just doesn't look like it on the outer leg. The road bike is similar, so I'd still suggest a normal sag setting

[@bananabrooks3836]

Sometimes it seems odd to make changes for change sake, but appreciate you have to experiment with testing both how the suspension technician thinks the bike will react to dynamic theory, to test how intuitive and successfully the rider translates any changes in their communication. As you said not easy to assess changes when the tyre only grips consistently for a few laps. Odd about the heat soak effect on the discs.

[@obsession_engineering]

Franco gives very honest and really good feedback, and some changes definitely don't give the response I expected, so it's all useful info

[@Final_Boss_Racing]

Hopefully Lee can five Franc some pointers and things like that.

[@davetalton6939]

Mega series as always Dave, quick question, why do you test on slicks when you have to run Pirelli Supercorsa when you’re racing?

[@obsession_engineering]

We're on slicks from this year

[@davetalton6939]

@@obsession_engineering damn, that means my supply of slightly mullered trackday tyres will be drying up!

[@Anderstorp1199]

I heard that the fireblade is a bit stressing to ride fast in comparison to other 1000 cc bikes.

[@gerrycollins2335]

Hopefully you did a yoga session before taking part in the Lee Johnston vlog, just to be sure you had the hippy aura.

[@obsession_engineering]

I'm aura personified 😂

[@odoublegfpv701]

Is this the intermediate group???

[@leecorkill4797]

Did you smuggle a fillipino or too back into the country? Can I have a fillipinos ring at donny on Saturday?? 😂

[@obsession_engineering]

Unfortunately we ate them all, 😁

[@leecorkill4797]

​@Obsession Engineering damn was counting on that for a cheap lunch!! Hope to see you there anyway Dave

[@proto7688]

Need chin cam video, cant tell anything without ride along

[@liamprice7460]

What is the height of bottoming out on them forks please

[@obsession_engineering]

I'll have to check my notes, but they are an unusual length

[@Final_Boss_Racing]

Are you guys testing K-Tech this year or no?

[@obsession_engineering]

No current plans, but never say never

[@Final_Boss_Racing]

@@obsession_engineering absolutely, hopefully that won’t be necessary.

[@archiewilson4943]

0W-30?

[@obsession_engineering]

Yes, but honda kit specific 0w30

[@philbeele8504]

😂flip u can be an old woman Dave , would do my head in

[@missydee6085]

Never mind all that endless-set-up-nonsense, Dave. The important question to be answered is: How's Franco's leg-dangle coming along?!

[@obsession_engineering]

Only an occasional dangle, so we've not really talked about it much

[@CESONER]

Respectfully, wind or not? Would have much preferred to hear the machine working than this music.

[@jamesowen4360]

Tyres, Full exhaust, fairings , suspension set up or completely changed job done. Love it though👍

[@obsession_engineering]

It's a proper build, with hrc ecu, as well as all the usual race bits

[@jamesowen4360]

@@obsession_engineering Yeh, not going to lie I was watching a video about Taylor McKenzie and a bike they had bought for track. Commented on that and it had flipped over to this.. my apologies 😂.

[@mayhemmayo]

THANK YOU KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ! 🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍