Track boss tries R6

Circuit boss Jonathan Palmer tried a Yamaha R6 race bike at Snetterton on Saturday, and won himself £100 in the process.

Palmer is the chief executive of Motorsport Vision, who run Brands Hatch, Outlon park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park. The ex-Formula 1 driver was challenged by British Superbike boss Stuart Higgs to ride a race bike around the 1.9 mile Norfolk circuit, with £100 on the outcome.

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But Higgs had to pay out as Palmer reached 145mph along Revett Straight in a four-lap session on a 2006 Yamaha R6 supplied by Yamaha boss Rob McElnea.

“It was brilliant fun!” said Palmer. “Rob showed me what was what on the bike, where the gears were and all that, and off I went. I was incredibly suprised by how high up and exposed I felt. I’ve been used to racing cars all my life and being tucked down low in a cockpit.”

“The bike was amazing. In truth, I was going terribly carefully because it was a very cold day and I didn’t want to drop it. Even so, I got up to 145mph and 17,000rpm, so it was really screaming along. It’s a fantastic sport and riding a race bike has been a real eye-opener for me. I’ve now got even more respect and admiration for the guys that race these bikes.”