When he’s not working as the purveyor of a range of motorcycle helmet sponges and products, Paul Berryman is a motorcycle racer and instructor at the Ron Haslam Race School.
So while I might have been a little shocked in the past to be heading around the Melbourne Hairpin at what I thought was a good pace, only to have Haslam come past me carrying a pillion passenger, you’d expect Paul wouldn’t find the experience of a few laps on the back of the legendary former Grand Prix racer. Turns out we’re all wrong.
Getting to the end of the 170mph Hangar Straight on Lap 1 proved to be the beginning of the lesson in braking I had been promised. I’m not exaggerating when I say we flew past my usual last-ditch braking marker with the throttle still pinned, and still pinned, and BBBRRRAAAAKKKKEEEE!!! Hmmm, I’d have to say I didn’t expect that, or what happened next.
Honda FireBlade. Just add a Haslam and stand back
Now, don’t get the idea I’m rubbish on the brakes. I’m happy calling myself a late-braker, and history proves I’m not easily passed at club racing level in a braking zone. But there is a limit set in my head here which I hadn’t realised was so far away from what true speed requires.
Now considering Berryman is a pretty experienced and quick chap himself, it’s fascinating to see the difference between fast club racer and multiple GP podiums fast.
I really expected smooth, I really didn’t get that. Just an utterly un-natural way to ride. If I’d been left alone with a Fireblade and an empty racetrack for infinity, I can’t think I’d ever have put a lap together like he does.
Great read and thanks for the link to the Visorvision site !!
Me being a young at heart granddad of the roadracing world can only imagine.. I used to go watch a upcoming Rocket Ron tearing around Darley Moor in the fog and later of course at Mallory. It would be great to actually meet up with Ron sometime in the future what with us being the same age. Also I never did get the chance to see Leon in action live as I left the U.K. back in the mid-eighties. Ah well..maybe on my next visit back home to Burton-on- Trent in a year or two..!!
I can only agree with this whole-heartedly. I was lucky enough to be given a pillion ride with Ron at one of the Day of Champions events and it is honestly the most thrilling thing I have ever done in my life.
I spent the lap hyperventilating and the remaining two laps holding my breath. It amazed me that on a road bike on road tyres with a fat pillion he could ride twice as fast as I could on my own and it had even started to drizzle on the last lap.
As said above it was the braking that really shakes you up. Even with hands pressing on the tank I still found myself sliding up over Mr Haslam to the point where I could see the clocks over the top of his lid.
There was some serious buttock clenching moments there but I would definitely not have missed it.
Great read and thanks for the link to the Visorvision site !!
Me being a young at heart granddad of the roadracing world can only imagine.. I used to go watch a upcoming Rocket Ron tearing around Darley Moor in the fog and later of course at Mallory. It would be great to actually meet up with Ron sometime in the future what with us being the same age. Also I never did get the chance to see Leon in action live as I left the U.K. back in the mid-eighties. Ah well..maybe on my next visit back home to Burton-on- Trent in a year or two..!!
I can only agree with this whole-heartedly. I was lucky enough to be given a pillion ride with Ron at one of the Day of Champions events and it is honestly the most thrilling thing I have ever done in my life.
I spent the lap hyperventilating and the remaining two laps holding my breath. It amazed me that on a road bike on road tyres with a fat pillion he could ride twice as fast as I could on my own and it had even started to drizzle on the last lap.
As said above it was the braking that really shakes you up. Even with hands pressing on the tank I still found myself sliding up over Mr Haslam to the point where I could see the clocks over the top of his lid.
There was some serious buttock clenching moments there but I would definitely not have missed it.