RideFast Magazine March 2020

At one stage I thought “why is Dean playing Tetris?”
I then discovered he was actually diving into the BMW
race ECU and playing around with setup. Carzy!
was stupid fast, an overall
masterpiece I think I called it
when I returned to the pits and
this was only after 1 session
and 7 laps.
On arrival back into the pits,
Dean then informed me that for
the second session he would
be putting it in full power mode.
Excuse me boet? Full power...
what was it on? Intermediate,
he replied. I replied something
along the lines of him going
and playing with himself, just a
lot more vulgar than that. You
mean there’s more power? Yes,
lots more, but also loads more
ways to help control it and use
it to its full potential, said Dean.
Ok then, let’s give it a bash.
So, with full power mode
activated, I headed out on track
for my 2nd session. Just before
leaving Lance told me that
the bike would sound and feel
as if it were about to break at
low rpm, and that I shouldn’t
worry, that’s just how it runs.
So what basically happens is
proper World SBK stuff, and
Shez called it when I asked him
how the racing was going at the
National and he replied “Lance
is f@$kin fast, and that thing
sounds like a proper World SBK
bike firing on 2 cylinders coming
out of the turns”. And that’s
exactly what happened. At first I
did think it was falling to pieces,
but I soon got used to it and
started appreciating it more
and more. After 2 laps I found
myself literally getting into a
corner and going from 30%
throttle to full throttle straight
away. No old school feeding it
on, just zero to hero and let the
bikes electronics and the way
Dean had set it up do the rest.
It truly is an amazing feeling
and so confidence inspiring. I
felt like a true racer once again
and in the zone, as if I could
do anything with the bike and
get away with it. And this was
all done on worn Bridgestone
R11 tyres, which made it all the
more impressive.
Handling is superb in every
way - into corners, mid turn
and out, it’s just on rails and
loves being thrashed around.
Gone are the standard M Sport
carbon wheels and replaced by
BST carbon wheels, and just like
the stock M Sport and World of
Carbon bike before this overall
steering and flex is brilliant. No
stubbornness what so ever!!!
The rest of the session I
spent just enjoying what is
truly an amazing piece of kit.
Dean has done and incredible
job at working with what he
has at his disposal. There is
still plenty to play with on the
settings of the BMW race ECU
and Dean has barely touched
the surface but has already
got it so right, so all I can say
to the opposition is beware,
Lance, Dean and the Supabets
S1000RR M Sport are coming.
44 RIDEFAST MAGAZINE MARCH 2020