Circuito de Almería

From Trackpedia

In November 2009 I took a race course, the Zeelenberg Speedweek, organised by Wilco Zeelenberg. This track was new to me so I had to learn it from scratch. Due to the great marshalls (mostly international racers and even GP racers from the past) I managed to get a reasonable lap time of 1:50,800 here. Below you will find a track guide for my bike and my gearing. For other bikes the gears might change, but the general idea will be the same on this technical track with a lot of blind corners. Marc Wingelaar

Almeria track guide for Honda Fireblade 2001 with 16/49 gearing

Turn 1, Final Meta. Enter from the far left side of the track, brake hard in a straight line, shift down to 3rd and turn in late and hard. Let the bike run to the apex off the throttle. At the apex, lift the bike a bit and open the throttle to run to the left side. Accelerate up the hill.

Turn 2, La bajada. Before the top, short shift to 4th and flick the bike in hard and run to the (blind) right side to discover over the top that the track keeps going right down the hill. Accelerate hard and let the bike run to the middle of the track and upright the bike.

Turn 3, El Curvón Shift down quickly to third (with a blip of throttle) and flick the bike in hard. Aim for the first apex and keep the bike leaned over off the gas. Let the bike run to the middle of the track (not wider!) and keep it there controlling the throttle. Chop the throttle in time to pull the bike back to the inside. Once on the left, open the gas wide to go uphill to turn 4.

Turn 4, Almendros 1 Under acceleration, smack the bike over to the right side, pass the apex and keep accelerating up the hill to the left side of the track.

Turn 5, Almendros 2 Just before the top, chop the throttle under lean angle to pull the bike to the right, inside apex over the hill. Accelerate shortly downhill and let the bike run to the left again for the entry of turn 6

Turn 6, Almendros 3 Chop the throttle and keep it closed until the bike reaches the apex under full lean angle. Pick it up a bit and open the throttle hard for a short while and let the bike run to the middle of the track on the way down to turn 7.

Turn 7, Esses 1 Pull the bike back to the right side for a hard entry. Flick the bike in hard and off the gas. At the apex, pick the bike up and open the throttle as hard as you dare. Keep the bike under lean angle a bit longer to cross the track to the left side.

Turn 8, Esses 2 Be on the left side in time for entering this corner. Do or don’t brake shortly and enter this corner hard and off throttle. You will find the front gripping. Pull to the right side, parallel to the kerbs and upright the bike.

Turn 9, Esses 3 At the end of the kerbs, smack the bike to full left lean angle (timing is crucial here) and stay off the gas until the apex. Pick the bike up and open the throttle as early as possible to full for the run over the hill.

Turn 10, Montana de piedra Keep hanging off the left side of the bike going over the hill. The first apex you can pick on the left, leaving 1 or 2 meters of track. The second (blind) apex you can leave. Let the bike run to the right side just enough for a good entry of the chicane.

Chicane Make sure you enter here on the right side of the track where the kerbs start so you can brake in a “straight” line while under lean angle (remember, you are still hanging off the left side). Brake shortly and release it 5m before the kerbs end. Flick the bike in and take the left kerbstone fully.

Open the throttle, kick your right footpeg down and go over the right kerb while flicking the bike over to the right. Put the bike stable on your right knee as soon as you can.

Turn 11, Cerro Open the gas just enough to “sort of” reach the right apex. After the apex, accelerate hard and let the bike run to the left while staying under lean angle.

Turn 12, Entrada recta At the entry point, chop the throttle while keeping the bike leaned over to pull the bike to the apex. At the apex, pick the bike up and open the throttle as early and hard as you can for a fast exit. From here on it’s the engine doing the work as you are going through the gearbox full throttle.

Turn 13, Final recta At the “side road entry” brake hard and shift down 3 or 4 times to second gear. Flick the bike in late and off the gas. At the apex, crack the gas to continue uphill “on the chain”. Start accelerating harder as you upright the bike and let it run to the middle of the track.

Turn 14, Entrada a meta Pull the bike back to the right under acceleration. Shift up to 3rd and flick the bike on the left. The pit entrance blocks the view on the straight. Open the throttle as early and hard as you dare for the blast up the SF straight. Let the bike run to the right kerbs for maximum acceleration.

Cross the SF straight to the left in time (before going down the hill) for a straight and steady braking zone for the first corner again.