On a flying lap of the Grand Prix circuit at Donington Park, you come on to the Wheatcroft Straight and accelerate hard over the start-finish line and gradually move over to the left-hand side of the track. After touching fifth gear, the braking marker for Redgate Corner is the end of the pit lane. It's a very late entry corner, taken in second gear, where many riders get caught out and turn in too quickly. This is one of my favourite corners and will be one of the areas where I shall be looking to overtake.

Then, it's hard on the gas up through the gears towards Hollywood. Hook fifth to settle the bike near the top before throwing it on to your knee at about 120mph. Keep over to the right-hand side before changing direction for the steep drop towards the left-hander at Craner Curves, which is taken at about 140mph. The trick is to be as smooth as possible, but as the track flattens out it can load the front tyre, so be careful when hard on the brakes and dropping down to second gear for the Old Hairpin. 

This is fast, but slightly off-camber on the approach and apex. It is important to carry speed through here as you short-shift up into third and fourth gear for the climb up to Starkey's Bridge. Once under the bridge, move over to the right to give a run up through Schwantz Curve and then shift back to second for McLeans. This is tight, but it is possible to overtake here. You have to be very confident of the front end though, because there are some tricky bumps. 

Be careful not to highside on the exit. I tend to go up to third gear and hold it all the way to Coppice. This is a blind entry and a great place to spectate! Brake late up the slope, ease off as the bike goes light, turn in and accelerate on to Starkeys Straight. The rear starts to slide under power, so go through the gears and slot sixth as you start to wheelie under the Dunlop Bridge.

Your speed is about 160mph at this point as you move to the right-hand side of the track and down to second gear for Foggy's Esses - another great spot for overtakes, providing that you have made it on to the straight without any mishaps. All the hard work that you've done up to this point on the circuit can quite easily be lost on the next two corners.

Braking for the first gear Melbourne Hairpin and maintaining good corner and exit speed will be the difference between pole position and the second row. Equally the final corner, Goddards, is just as important. Whatever happens in a race, I always try to be in a position where I cannot be challenged at Goddards, as it is such a lottery as to who will make it through first, back on to the Wheatcroft Straight. I always try to exit Goddards as fast as possible in order to line-up a passing opportunity at Redgate.

I shall of course be trying hard to repeat my winning performance in the second race last year. 

2001 Donington Preview

Subscribers received the full article directly to their inbox