Supermoto fun with World Champ Max Biaggi!

Last week I was asked by my friend, the legendary Max Biaggi if I wanted to go to Adam’s Supermoto track and play around on motorbikes.

No matter what I was doing it could wait, I said yes I will be there, and because MotoGeo has been very busy lately with the latest RideApart series, I thought it would be good time to give my awesome cameraman and editing genius Nik a break from the norm and have a day out of the office.

Unfortunately for Nik, he was riding the rather large Rocket III cruiser from Triumph, not cut out for the track, in fact any corners at all so he’d have to ride my bike if he wanted to play. And you guessed it, my machine is the rather menacing looking CBR600RR Dionysus, this was going to be fun, oh I couldn’t wait.

So that Nik was as safe as he could be while on track we popped over to Alpinestars HQ and picked up the latest and very trick looking Alpinestars Atem full leather one piece suit and matching S-MX5 boot, he more than looked the part – funniest bit was then seeing Nik ride the cruiser home dressed for 200mph 🙂

Next day we were out at Adam’s and in and amongst a whole load of well used Supermoto’s was Max’s immaculate prepared CRF450 Supermoto machine, complete with the latest engine tune up from Pro Circuit.

While I took off the mirrors and unplugged the lights from my daily ride, Max changed in his friends motorhome and got ready for a day on track.

As soon as he stepped out, the paddock was buzzing, everyone there was amazed to see the 2012 World Superbike champion in front of them, it was great to see Max relaxed, away from the pressures of the racetrack and ready to have some fun on motorcycles.

In no time we were out on track with the rest of them, it was moto madness right away and Max was straight at home, carving through traffic and chasing the stopwatch, while I somehow tried to learn the track and get my modified CBR around the very tight and twisty Adams Kart and Supermoto track.

It was so much fun ripping around with the others, finally letting the Honda CBR600RR rev past the redline and find out was this crazy contraption of mine can do. I always wanted a very dual-sporty 600 so now I’d really find out if the changes we’d made were the right ones and what we could do to make it better.

Nothing on track could touch Max, he was running 43’s in traffic and 42’s if he had a clear track, which he hardly ever did.

The rest of us normal humans were doing the best we could, thinking we were fast until Max blasted past you at warp speed, totally sideways, totally committed and just missing knocking you into next week with an inch to spare – really showing you what fast and skill is all about.

Max was on track with the guys at SoCal Supermoto, they do an excellent trackday school and some of the guys were on track for the very first time….imagine that and then add Max….total madness!

At the end of the day and after Max had packed up and gone home, they opened the track for dual sport supermoto, the MX section with double jumps, berms and a table top…..interesting.

I was half tempted to have a go but then thought better of it, however after a few guys started asking me if I was doing it and looking rather disappointed when I said no, I decided to give it a go, what’s the worst that could happen?

The CBR Dionysus was better than expected off road, soon I was getting airborne and having fun in the dirt. The Dunlop D616’s were loving the dual sport conditions and due to all of the lost weight and upright bars, the CBR was flying….quite literally, the RaceTech Suspension soaking up all the abuse I could throw at it.

And I wasn’t the only one, when I was off the CBR, Nik was on it, getting air, sideways and pushing limits, 2 tanks of gas and loads of laps later and it was high 5’s and big smiles from a fantastic day.

Fun was had, it had been non stop action, someone crashing every session and because the track is slow and the corners tight, everyone just dusted themselves down and got right back up and going again, awesome to see and be apart of, big thanks to all who were there on the day, it was a friendly and fun environment with two-wheeled-friends.

If you want a good time, learn to ride a motorbike better, push yourself and scare yourself all at the same time, I wholeheartedly recommend having a go at Supermoto. The guys at Socal Supermoto rent bikes, teach people to ride and have trackdays at Adams and Grange, its lots of fun I can assure you!

Photos by: Brian Murray – Socal Supermoto