| That's very kind of you to say so Mr Beancounter, but I'm just your average bloke (with a bit of a competitive streak) that's had the benefit of riding with the BHC posse for a few years.
There are some superb riders in this group KeefyB, WJB, Fil2, Wheelspin to name but a few of 'em. Every one of the 'usual suspects' in the BHC crew are quick (some of them VERY quick) and I've learned a whole lot from them. I've also had the benefit of CSS schooling up to level 3 so far, but anyone can do what I do.
As an example, Glyn is another BHC regular with an ST2 who started riding with us about 18 months ago. After a steady start he's come on in leaps and bounds and is now quicker than I am.
I know the ST2 is a comparatively slow bike but it handles very, very well for a less sporty bike and you can carry very good corner speed on it. Up to about 90 mph it can stick with a 748 (it has about the same low down grunt but less top end). Because it's got less power you don't have to worry so much about it spinning up and spitting you off the highside, you can use all of the available power most of the time. So on every circuit I've been on, the ST2 can hold it's own with more powerful bikes purely because when it's well set up it can handle very well indeed. Admittedly, I don't do trackdays on 'power' circuits like Snetterton or Silverstone because I really would struggle on long straights, but anywhere with a few twists levels the playing field a lot.
So my point is that the Desmodue boys (gad I wish I was out there...damn this gammy leg) won't have a big power advantage over each other whatever engine they're running. If I was doing it I would naturally want to make sure the engine was robust, but beyond that I would be spending all my pennies on brakes and suspension set up, because, given that anybody is going to be doing well to get near 75bhp, I reckon that's more important to lap times.  |