Gen 2 Suzuki Hayabusa - Hampton Downs NZ - 9 June 2024

I attended a Hampton Downs New Zealand track day on June 9th, 2024. It is almost mid-winter in New Zealand and the track surface temperature was cold. My tyre pressures were set at 26 psi front and rear. Before entering the track, you can hear the marshall warning me to take it easy on the cold track. Most sessions were red-flagged at some point with lots of crashes. It is quite rare to encounter another Suzuki Hayabusa on track and it was great to see how my Gen 2 Busa performs against a Gen 3 Hayabusa. My bike has no modern technology like ABS, traction control or quick shifter. My bike's technology is basically 25 years old. However, I reckon that the Gen 2 Busa is the most powerful of the lot and still very capable on track. During track days, riders are not allowed to pass on certain sections of the track and you are not supposed to pass while braking for a corner. The artificial chicane (cones) also messes with your rhythm and is a nuisance. We know that NZ is road cone crazy and safety precautions are over the top. However, I am grateful to live close to two really nice race tracks.