The basin

[Ozboy]

Ok, the one turn where most riders meet the clutches of the sand, but rarely does a spectator see it or even have knowledge of how difficult a turn it is.

Its time the people that have witnessed the odd camber of the entry, then the parabolica at the apex and again the odd camber at the exit of the corner to speak their minds. What do you guys love/hate about this corner?
Those that have met the sand would have a story to tell, as I could imagine those last seconds before entering the corner and knowing it was all wrong, need to be heard.

Share your thoughts peeps, I'm sure there are others here that would love to hear your experience and also share theirs.

[Moorby]

Speaking to Andrea about it one time before I'd actually done a day at Barb's

Somethin like this (with an italian accent) "its great, the camber lets u just chuck it in. I went round there once and I was like whats that scraping noise, then when I came in to the pits I saw that it must have been my elbow"

I was shocked and thought he was a freak. But I actually really enjoy the corner, every time I go in I'm like shit I should've gone faster. Its fantastic!!

[wazcat]

I had my biggest scare coming out of the basin. i was going well but trackday instructors suggeted I could go in deeper to get a better faster line. Kept pushing it until I ran just a little wider on exit than usual there seems to be a very slight hump which unloaded the rear suspension while still near the edge of the tire. Big slide but luckily didn't panic kept the power on and avoided a high side. I think this has happened to a few.

[Ozboy]

I followed A grader Chris Galbraith into the basin and there was no f*cking way I was goin in there that fast.
His line was different to what I had been told, but afterwards he gave me the rundown and it all made sense.

[Sean'o]

What an awesome corner! On the trumpy i used to run into it mid track, tip it in, hit the bump at the drain in the middle of the corner, touch the belly pan and rear brake lever, then gas it, if you dont have your arse off the seat enough and have to much lean angle it will spin up the rear and end in grief, lap 7 and 8 of a race i had that drama, started to get tired!
The CBR is a different animal, have to learn to hold it wider, later, then drop it in to the corner. great place to pass either going into, or out of it, havent worked up the guts to try going round the outside of someone there yet though.
A camera is needed there on race days!

[guswa]

when i first put rear sets on my old bike i remember being able too get some serious lean angle coming out of the basin, untill the day i got a little bit too throttle happy and the back end started too step out on me, i have done the panick thing and shut the throttle off and too my surprise the rear end has continued too slide.........at that stage i was prepareing for take off but too my surprise was able too catch the slide in time too avoid some serious pain..

[g0zer]

What do you guys love/hate about this corner?

hate:

there is something about that corner that i find disorientating, you know those optical illusions that make rooms seem bigger?

i often go to pass someone around the outside thinking ive got heaps of track and lean angle up my sleeve.. but soon as i move to the wide line its like WHOA heading for the sand

[Ozboy]

^^ Yes disorientating is a word I'd use too Gozer.
You can feel the G force when you get to the apex and get spat out the other side.

[T_B R1]

that corner still gets me. I'm really inconsistent throught there. during a race I'm a bit faster trying to hang on to the guys infront but it's kinda daunting. I've got a nice graze on my exhaust from scraping it through there. Despite finding it tricky I still love it. It's like dating a girl that you know will fuck you over and take your money, yet you still let her take you to bed every night...

[Ozboy]

^^ HA! Love it.

[Sean'o]

that corner still gets me. I'm really inconsistent throught there. during a race I'm a bit faster trying to hang on to the guys infront but it's kinda daunting. I've got a nice graze on my exhaust from scraping it through there. Despite finding it tricky I still love it. It's like dating a girl that you know will fuck you over and take your money, yet you still let her take you to bed every night...

Coz ya know how bad she can hurt ya but she is still fuckin awesome yeah?

[wellsy]

It's like dating a girl that you know will fuck you over and take your money, yet you still let her take you to bed every night...

well,.. i caught something nasty off her,.. i went diving in one race craft session long before i was licenced. looking for more entry speed. sucked in by warren and hondahoons "just hoot in there,.. she'll stick" or words to tht effect,.. and the reassuring camber,.. anyway,.. my slider touched down waay before it usually did and i had just enough time to think "shit, that's early" before i was looking at the moo cow clouds in the sky.

loosing the front was that quick

then i bought a 1 peice

HH told me i left a nice divot in the tarmac about 20m short of the apex, and a huge cloud of dust / gixxer fairing

[druu]

Definitely the G's and the feeling of nearly blacking out though that was on a 38 degree day, wearing two pairs of jeans, lol.

[smeghead]

My first Racecraft we 'walked' the track & ended up camped out at the basin while the Stronach boys cut fast laps on 600's. We were standing there thinking 'too fast, too fast' every single lap, damn!

I have a bad habit of over thinking the corner, but try to take the mid track line for the slingshot effect when getting the apex right. Wide line work well too just a little too 'generous' when in company but a good alternative for overtaking as you get your turn in done with and the bike upright a bit earlier (cover a bit more ground tho).

Found the sand there once when experimenting with some lines and clipped the inside kerb with the fairing forcing me to run straight off; parked it buried up to it's axles in sand & dismounted & waited for the ute. I can distinctly remember repeating to myself over & over, don't touch the front brake ...

[Ozboy]

^^ Thats where I'm going wrong, thinking too much about getting the apex spot on. Gotta learn to just get it there and worst case scenerio you run wide on the exit, just means its harder to get on the gas hard.

I found I was leaning over the kerb on the exit, its always a nice feeling to be tight on the corner so you've got room to adjust if something goes haywire.

Anyone take the outside line fast and survive?

[ApatheticEnd]

I love the basin. There are at least 3 distinct entry lines. The camber helps you out if you are ont he right side of it. Get outside on exit and the outside curb comes up VERY quick. Have had a couple big slides on the exit but as Sean'o said, pick the bike up early and you can enjoy the advantage of being able to get on the gas early.

Entry and exit are great spots to pass. Watch the inside curb around the drain, can get your knee and it hurts like a bastard.

Best advise i got was from Andy Skinner. "By the 3rd rumble strip, you want to be at WOT". That forces you to use your body to pick the bike up and get on the gas.

[jules_1972]

I ate sand going into the BAsin!!

Low side.......

Beats High Side I guess....

[Ozboy]

^^ Whats WOT Josh ?

[Sprint]

Wide Open Throttle.

S.

[Hostilemonk]

I find it a perplexing corner in a race. As has been said, three+ entry lines, and different exit lines. Being cautious sort of guy I tend to the 'slow in a bit faster out' style. Thus, on a good day, I try to be WOT by the first ripple strip after the drain (opening the throttle by the drain) and half track high by the second R strip, but not going over the camber change in the middle of the road.

The corner starts for me as I come out of skyline and depends on who and how many are in front of me - its then i decide on what break point and line i take into the corner. e.g. three bikes across the track - go wide entry and try and get a run on them coming out of the basin. Just one in front - then mid track and stay close - the R6 usually has enough herbs to pass or pull alongside down the straight.

Last lap and I'll close the door into it if someone is pushing me forcing them to go around me if they can - I can usually get them on the drag out of the corner.