Six months after undergoing a three-level spinal fusion, I finally returned to Zwartkops Raceway as part of our Project Let’s Go Race journey.
The project began last year with a fairly ambitious goal: prepare myself and the motorcycle to compete in my first race. Unfortunately, my back injury and subsequent operation in March brought everything to an abrupt stop.
After months of recovery and rehabilitation, I finally felt ready to take the first proper step back towards the racetrack.
This was not about chasing lap times or proving anything. The goal was simply to rebuild my confidence, assess my fitness and find out how my back would respond to riding on a circuit again.
The Suzuki still needs attention
Our 2007 Suzuki GSX-R750 would ordinarily be the motorcycle used for Project Let’s Go Race, but it was not ready for this track day.
During our previous outing in January, the Suzuki developed a radiator problem. With my back deteriorating and surgery approaching, I was not physically able to work on the motorcycle afterwards.
That repair will begin soon, but I still wanted to get back onto the circuit. Fortunately, I had another motorcycle available: the BMW R1300GS.
I often describe the R1300GS as my ultimate all-rounder. Taking a large adventure motorcycle onto Zwartkops might not be the obvious choice, but it gave me a familiar platform on which to rebuild my confidence.
Scrutineering and the rider briefing
Before any motorcycle is allowed onto the circuit at a Honda Brunch Cruise, it must pass scrutineering.
The organisers check for loose components, leaks and anything else that could place a rider at risk. That is followed by the compulsory briefing covering the flags, pit-lane behaviour and general do’s and do not’s for the day.
Session one: finding my feet again
I had no intention of pushing hard during the opening session.
The first objective was to become comfortable on the motorcycle, find my rhythm and pay close attention to how my back and hips reacted.
I was also running a fresh set of Metzeler Tourance Next 2 tyres. They had covered only around 120 km before the first session, so I wanted to give them time to settle before asking too much from them.
The opening laps were deliberately cautious, but my lines and braking became smoother as the session progressed.
The R1300GS was genuinely impressive. Despite its size and adventure-bike riding position, it felt remarkably capable around Zwartkops. During the session I reached a maximum lean angle of 41 degrees to the right and 37 degrees to the left, with a top speed of 167 km/h.
The tyres occasionally left me wanting more confidence, particularly from the rear, but the most important result was that my back did not feel worse when I returned to the pits.
There was a slight pinch around my left hip, but overall it was an extremely encouraging start.
Session two: tyre pressures make the difference
After the opening session, the rear tyre measured approximately 3.5 bar hot. That was considerably higher than I wanted and helped explain why the rear occasionally felt vague.
We reduced the pressures before the second session, and the difference was immediately noticeable.
The GS felt more planted through the corners and provided considerably better feedback. With more confidence in the tyres, I could concentrate on my lines, braking points and body position instead of constantly wondering whether the motorcycle was going to move beneath me.
The increased confidence was reflected in my lean-angle figures. I reached 43 degrees to the right and 39 degrees to the left.
The motorcycle felt controlled and predictable, allowing me to carry more momentum without forcing it.
My back still felt stable, although the slight pinch in my left hip remained. Considering where I had been only a few months earlier, that felt like a significant victory.
Unfortunately, the data logger did not record the session correctly, but the improvement in feel was obvious without needing the numbers.
Session three: smoothness over lean angle
By the third session, I was starting to feel comfortable on the R1300GS again.
After experimenting with the tyre pressures, we settled on approximately 2.5 bar at the front and 2.8 bar at the rear when measured hot. This combination suited the motorcycle far better and gave me more confidence through the quicker corners.
The Metzeler tyres were working well, while the suspension, brakes and boxer engine kept the GS composed and entertaining.
My maximum lean angles remained at 43 degrees right and 39 degrees left, but by then the objective was no longer to lean the motorcycle further.
I concentrated on improving my lines, being smoother with the controls and carrying momentum through each corner. That approach was particularly important because I was still recovering from major spinal surgery.
Three sessions into the day, I was riding more naturally and beginning to feel like my old self again.
Knowing when to stop pushing
By the fourth session, the physical effort of spending a full day at the circuit was beginning to show.
My hips were stiffening and my concentration was not as sharp as it had been earlier. The BMW was still performing brilliantly, but I had already achieved what I came to do.
There was no reason to push my luck.
The final session became about staying smooth, enjoying the motorcycle and completing the day safely. After everything that had happened over the previous six months, simply circulating Zwartkops again felt like a victory.
The road back to racing
My pace began dropping during the final session, confirming that my fitness still needs considerable work. However, my back handled the day better than expected, and I even managed a personal best on the R1300GS without needing to publish or focus on specific lap times.
The next stage is repairing the GSX-R750 and continuing to rebuild my strength, mobility and endurance.
Project Let’s Go Race was delayed, but it was never abandoned.
The BMW proved once again that it is an extraordinary all-rounder, but now it is the Suzuki’s turn to reclaim its place on the circuit.
This was only the first step back. The real work starts now.
