"Racing the Yamaha TZ250 GP Motorcycle!"   44464 posts in 9426 threads. "Racing the Yamaha TZ250 GP Motorcycle!" Newest: 1992 tz250 / 4dp for sale by 6th gear tapped! 15 Users are viewing the Message Boards.

The First Day on a TZ250
By Mike Lachance and Dale Whelan
Photography by Dale Whelan

After owning my TZ250 for almost a year, I was more than ready to actually take the bike out on the track. Countless times over the last month I had been hounded by fellow riders and racers as to what my excuse was for not actually riding the TZ. To me it was simple. I hadn't found the right leathers, and given my limited budget, I was being resourceful. After buying the TZ in May of 2001, I had repainted it, changed wheels, and done some basic checking over to see that the mechanicals were sound. The bike had been a veteran racing TZ from AMA races in Florida from 1994 through early 2000. It was more than ready for my wimpy ass.

After searching for months I finally found a good set of leathers on eBay. $300 for an almost new set of Z-Custom Leathers. In a color that actually matched my bike. Good enough for me! I had accompanied Dale Whelan on several races over the months prior to my track day, going to a few races at Firebird, in Arizona, and a race weekend at Las Vegas. By May of 2002 I was as familiar with racing a TZ250 as anyone could possibly be, short of actually taking one out on a track.

This is the story of my first track day on the TZ. It was a major thing for me, even though, in retrospect, it was rather simplistic.

May 26, 2002

I had loaded the bike and as much equipment as I felt I would need into the back of my truck the night before, feeling I wouldn't want to be rushed in the morning. Doubt I would have been anyway, seeing as I only live 3 miles from the track. Dale would be there for support, which I really needed. I figured that would make things a bit more comfortable for me. I knew it was fun going to pit for him at his race days, but did feel, maybe, he wouldnt have quite the same thrill watching a newbie first timer putting around the track on a track day... in the slowest group nonetheless. Ah well... It didn't matter really. The fact he was going to be there was a major relief, mentally.

I awoke way too early for my own good, as is my habit. The last thing I wanted was to be late. Off I went at 6am. Gates were to open at 6:30am, or sometime around there. Actually, I wasn't sure about this time, but I didn't want to take chances. By 6:20am I was at the gate.... Hmmm.... no one here.... damn... I decide to go to McDonalds, get some food and come back. At least im not sitting at home waiting. By 7am I am back, just in time to be joined by the early birds who are now gathering at the gate in their trucks and trailers.

The gate keeper arrives and in we go!

I find a spot and begin unloading the bike. To my amazement there is another TZ250!!! I am beside myself. The last thing I would have expected! In short order Dale Whelan arrives. Its about 7:30am and its already around 75-80 degrees out. A consolation is the scattered light clouds here and there. I think that might at least lessen the intensity of the sun, later on.

I register with the track day people and pay my fees. The bike passes inspection in about 1 second. Not much to really check on a TZ, compared to a rigged up R6 or CBR. Things seem to be dragging as we stand around during the rider's meeting. Listening to the instructors go on and on about the rules of the track and what each flag means, in far too great detail, there's nothing I can do but listen. It does seems to take about twice as long as it should have, as they didn't seem all too organized in their presentation.

The first group out will be my group on a 4-Lap "sighting lap". I inform my friend Wayne Nielson, who will be the tail end instructor, that I will be going slower than slow on my TZ. I had only ridden it up and down my street, never on a track. I was very uneasy about how the bike would respond, and how rusty my skills were, after almost 2 years off a motorcycle.

This morning we have some clouds giving us at least an early reprieve from the heat that we're going to experience today.

I'll now attempt to sneak a picture of Mike at his first rider's meeting where he's actually a rider.

NEW RIDER SIGHTING SESSION (4-LAPS)
Mike sets out on his first lap, he's being careful... thats a good thing. Well, I can hear Mike getting on the power a little bit. Hopefully that was a little Yee-Haa factor for him.

My first 2 laps were about the slowest ive ever ridden, slower than when I took the TZ up and down my street. The rest of the pack were a good half lap ahead of me by the time I finished my first sighting lap. Wayne stuck with me though, which I really appreciated. No real need to go this slow... during my second lap I began to loosen up a bit and apply a bit more throttle. Yes... this IS a motorcycle after all... come on Mike... here we go.

Mike's sounding a little bit more comfortable on his motorcycle. I can hear him revving it a little bit, he's getting used to it. They're all the way up to funeral procession speed on the straight-away, it's just a sighting lap for people who haven't ridden with this outfit before.

Lap three and I am now caught up to the rest of the pack. Ok, these guys are REALLY going slow, thats ok, we're supposed to be learning the track. I follow the leader like everyone else for the remainder of the 4th and final lap. Ok, so I didn't get to learn much about the track, or proper lines at all, but I learned that my TZ is infact a motorcycle not a UFO.

A guy on a Ducati that missed the riders meeting is being an idiot and didn't get off the track when everyone else did. Probably thinks he's too sexy for his bike or something. Next time Mike goes out, he actually gets to go at speed if he likes.

I guess the pinhead on the Ducati was infact, a corner worker.

FIRST SESSION
So it's 10:20am and Mike's about to go out on his first real track session. I wish they would have started this a few hours earlier.

First lap was kind of slow... 2 minute range. Mike is in a procession of about 9,000 motorcycles. About a 2:01.35 and he held a guy off on the brakes going into turn one, that was kind of nice. Pulled you hard coming out of the chicane. Bigger bikes have more power, what do you expect?

Looks like you're waiting to get waived by, by the instructor, I'm not sure though. Looks like an RS125, an instructor, then you, so it looks like you're waiting your turn to do something. 1:55.50. And it looks like you've been given permission to pass the instructor. Your line through the esses looks a little funny to me, get a little closer to the curb coming in on the left. We'll see. It's your first lap by yourself.

One of the "rules" of this track day holds that in the "beginner" group (my group) riders may choose to wear an orange vest. This vest is to tell the other riders that you do not wish to be passed in corners. Although I didn't choose to wear one of these vests, several other riders did. In my infinite wisdom, I couldn't remember if we were allowed to pass these riders at all. Thus for the first few laps of this first session, I found myself being more generous than necessary when I came upon a vested rider. Finally, after a few other bikes blew by me and then the vested riders on the straightaways, I realized my misunderstanding.

Looks like the gearing is a little bad coming onto the front straight. It doesn't pull right away. Would you believe you're braking early for turn one? 1:47.30. The gal on the FZR400 is coming up behind you. She's pulling up entering 3, then settles in behind you. Actually it looks like your corner speed is a little bit better. Lets see, on the exit she looks like she uses just a touch more track, but you really pulled hard away coming out of three and you slowed down way early as you can tell, she went by you pretty hard. Looks like you're being careful here.

As the laps passed I found myself getting a bit more comfortable. No doubt the TZ was still asleep as I idled it around the track. I knew what the bike had in it and finally decided it was time to kick things up a bit. I figured I owed it to both the TZ and myself. As I proceeded to wake up a bit I still found myself concerned with traffic. I knew I was a newbie on the track and didn't want to cause trouble for others. This I realized later in the day, was not the way to ride at a track day.

Go wider on your way to the Lake Turn. Get closer to the dirt and your apex, and your first one late, second one REALLY wide, and the right turn let it pull you out wide a bit, then come back in.

You're braking way early, no surprise. 1:42.95. So they're dropping. Thats good.

Entrance into 4 looks like you have a pretty good line there. Looks like you're maintaining the speed you have in 4 all the way through 5.

Looks like you're looking behind you, that may not be a good thing to do. See you in turn 10 right now and it looks like it doesn't want to pull out of there much at all, so I'm sure you're way low on the revs.

You seem to be shutting down pretty early, 1:38.40. Looks like you came out of the chicane pretty good. A big bike is behind you but he didn't really make a whole lot of distance on you. Right as you turned into three you pulled back away alittle bit. Apex speed looks pretty damn close for both bikes. You used a little more track on the exit but I think he's coming underneith you on the straightaway... ya he pulled away pretty hard there.

Use a bit more track coming on the straightaway toward the lake. Your entrance is pretty jacked up there, you went way wide entering. Bike behind you got alot better drive on the way to 10. You got killed coming off turn 10, obviously your bike's not in the rev range yet. A little abrupt going into 1, I saw your body lurch forward, I don't know if that was a gear change or poking at the brakes or what.

You look like you're looking behind you again. You can't ride their bike and you could look at the wrong side and miss them anyway, so I'd say stop looking back.

Looks like you're looking back again. You're gonna get yourself in trouble doing that. They'll figure out a way by and you'll look and change your mind on what you're gonna do and then they'll hit you.

You used alot of track coming out of 5 but everything looked ok. Not using as much track heading up toward the lakeside. You're downshifting kind of early going in there. What happens is, the higher the engine revs the faster you think you're going. Save your downshifts for a little bit later, wait until you NEED to downshift.

1:37.80

Ok, this first session has been on green for quite some time now. I think I have the TZ figured out. I think I have MYSELF figured out. It's time to start riding this thing. On the straights i've felt the power band, but never really got "into it"... Time for a change of pace. Damn these brakes are good... Dale warned me about that... better watch it.... Ok, I'm gonna open her up here... Whoa... nice... now I think I am actually riding this thing a little more respectably, although still slower than I would like. I'm beginning to catch up to some other bikes....

There is a tiny RS125 with a very new first time rider.... she's taking the cautious approach, I pass her, she is working with an instructor... Give 'em plenty of room, don't want to get in trouble with the instructors. Here I come up on a red Ninja 500 I believe. Im really reeling him in fast coming up to the horseshoe. Shit, he's close, I can sit here and get myself in trouble next to him or just pass him and hope I don't screw up. I pass him fast as I exit the turn. What the.... Someone's down right in front of me! Good thing I was looking. I have no problem changing lines and pass him as I slow down. That's it. Red Flag.

We have a fallen rider here. I think it's alot less tragic then he seems to think it is, but there are gonna be some financial repercussions as it's a 748 laying on the pavement.

LAP SUMMARY FOR FIRST PRACTICE:
2:02.90, 2:01.35, 1:55.50, 1:47.30, 1:42.95, 1:38.40, 1:37.80. I think that's a good pattern. My goal would be to hit 1:22, but i'm not so sure thats gonna be as easy as I'd imagine.

SECOND SESSION:
Mike is out on his first lap of the second practice. Your line into 4 looked pretty good. Looks like you're getting on the power a little bit better coming out of 5. But you're not in the revs, your not using the revs. You're downshifting too early again. Coming up to the Lakeside turn. You somehow look more decisive in the lakeside turn, I'm not sure why. And you're not double apexing it, which is good.

Ok. This is a new session. I need to wake the bike up and use it where it works. Stop riding it like a golf cart. It doesn't make squat for power under 6 grand so don't keep it there. Turn 10 is the worst turn. The line seems elusive and the revs just die completely coming out of it onto the front straight. When I get home i'll have to change out first gear to the short gear. Work with it. Lets get this thing screaming on the straights.

1:47.90. Looks like you didn't want to pass a bike ahead of you. You're presently tailing what looks to be an f3 or something of that nature, and you go by him quick on the front straight.

1:43.75

You seem to be using the throttle more. 1:35.00

1:34.80, 1:43.20, 1:39.85, 1:30.68, Probably should rev the bike a little harder. Sounds about right on the front straight though.

1:31.40

Just clicked a picture of you passing an RS125.

1:29.30

Ok, Im passing some bikes now, lapping some others. There are still a few bikes that are blowing by me though. No problem. We're not racing. This is starting to get fun. Letting the bike accelerate up through the powerband on the front straight. Seems like by the time I hit 4th gear its shut-down time. Shit... Whoa.. damn these brakes really do work. Back end got real light there. Im not trusting the TZ in the turns. I know better. Don't grab so much brake, just let the bike turn.

You actually had it revving alot better going through turn one that time. 1:29.50
It's starting to sound like you're letting the motor run. Looks like you over cooked it a little going into turn one, but everything came out ok.

Checkered flag out and I hit the button a little late... about a 1:31

Sounds like you're getting a little bit more use out of the motor. The exhaust note sounds quite a bit different. It sounds more like a TZ250 under power than it did before. Sounds like you're getting into about third gear, fourth gear on the front straight. I could hear you actually hitting the power out of the lakeside turn which I havn't heard before, but I wasn't standing over there, so maybe that was me.

I dunno, sounds like towards the end you started to give it a little bit more gas.

LAP TIME SUMMARY FOR SECOND PRACTICE:
1:47.90, 1:43.75, 1:35.00, 1:34.80, 1:43.20, 1:39.85, 1:30.60, 1:31.40, 1:29.30, 1:29.50, 1:31.95. Wow, a 1:29. Ok thats good. But I'm not thinking I'll get it down to 1:22. I was starting to work a bit out there and almost got myself into a situation a few times. I need to work on the bus-stop turn. That thing is killing me. And of course turn 10 is a dog. I'm starting to read the powerband a bit. We'll see how it goes next time out. Dale's giving me good advice. Use it.

THIRD PRACTICE
I've been talking with Wayne a bit. He's going to spot me on this next session. I'll follow him around a bit and then he'll follow me. It should be a good learning experience. He knows this track like the back of his hand.

1:32.30. Turn 10 didn't look too bad. Braking way early waiting for somebody or something, looking behind you. 1:30.75, 1:34.60 as you come up on the orange vest.

1:31.50. You looked alot better coming into the lakeside turn. Sounded alot smoother too. 1:33.30. 1:28.90. Looking alot smoother coming into the Lakeside turn. 1:31.80 (maybe late) 1:28.75. 1:27.25.

Something wasup with the bike. Seems every so often on the front straight the power would float a bit. Not really sure what it could be... maybe low on gas? Not quite a total power loss or a cut out, but just an occaisional lessening of pull when im hard on the gas. Strange.

LAP SUMMARY FOR THIRD PRACTICE:
1:33.15, 1:32.30, 1:33.85, 1:30.75, 1:34.60, 1:31.15, 1:33.30, 1:28.90, 1:31.80, 1:28.75, 1:27.25. This was kindof a going to school session with Wayne Neilson, so I wasn't really trying for best lap times, more than trying to learn the right lines. Nonetheless, a 1:28.25 is my best time yet. I don't think I'll be hitting 1:22 today though.

Dale had to leave after the third session, to keep some previous commitments, so Im on my own. Not sure what the power problem is. I have plenty of gas. I'll look into that when I get home.

LAST ROUND LAP TIME SUMMARY:
Last session of the day for me. I could do two more but its damn hot and I'm getting tired. I've kinda figured out a few tricks on turn 10 and the bus-stop. They seem to be working. I'm beginning to get into a rhythm now. The TZ is feeling heavy, but it's my own fault. Stop weighting the bars. put more weight on my feet. Let the bike turn in on it's own! Damnit I know these things, start applying them.

Ok, im feeling good now. There's definately a rhythm to this track. Coming out of the Lake side turn feels good... here comes turn 10.. downshift...3 -2- .... ... what the? bike's dead, im off my line, no power... here comes the gravel, I'm not turning this thing here. I'm going slow enough though, gravel here I come. .... Ok, no problem stopping, but what the hell happened? Bike just died. No bang or snap or vibration. Ok, wheel it out of here quick before they go yellow. Im out of the danger zone now and theyre on green.

Hmmm... talking with the corner worker. He is asking what kind of bike I am on. ("a TZ250"....i say...I'm getting tired of saying that)

Well, the bike starts back up fine so I must have just missed a shift. I'll have to watch that. The race is over now, so off I go back to my truck to load up the bike. What a day!

Mixed timing.
A lady and a guy trying to time me with my timer, but they didn't quite figure it out, so ... the laps that I did pull off the timer were:
Lap 1:28.90 1:27.65, 1:28.45, 1:28.60, 1:28.15. Thats what they had on the timer. They had a piece of paper with 1:30.37, 1:28.80, 1:28.45, 1:28.60, 1:28.15.

And I am DONE!

After getting home, I discovered one of the lower cylinder powervalve cables had come loose. This explains my power loss on wide open throttle / top end. Cable has since been replaced. It had stretched beyond adjustment limits.

This was a great first track day for me. I'm pretty excited about the next one!