Sensations on an Urban Circuit or Road Race

Being a Road Race rider is like belonging to a special category — an Olympus that few dare to enter, but that everyone dreams of reaching.

Raül Torras, carrying the number 49 on his fairing, is one of those fearless and brave riders who is completely hooked on the adrenaline that this discipline generates.

Raül currently rides the Honda CBR 1000 RR-R with the Toll Racing Team and in his most recent race at the Chimay Street Circuit in Belgium he explained to us how a bike like this is ridden and braked on these types of urban circuits.

What is the main difference between racing on a permanent circuit and in a Road Race?

Above all, it’s the “safety margin.” Crashing in a Road Race could be the last thing you ever do, or it could leave you with very serious consequences. That’s why you must be cautious and take it step by step: calmness, patience, and focus are essential.

Briefly explain your braking process when approaching corners in this kind of race. How many meters earlier do you brake compared to the same type of corner on a permanent track?

Since you have to be more careful and leave a small safety buffer, you brake a bit earlier and with the bike as upright as possible. Because street and road asphalt has much less grip than circuit tarmac, combined with surface irregularities (dirt, painted lines, patched areas, etc.), it’s safer not to reach the apex at maximum lean while still braking. It would be very easy to lose the front wheel and crash. Having good feel and precision under braking is extremely important.

Do you think our NG Race Star discs give you different sensations compared to conventional racing brake discs?

The NG Race Star brake discs are the perfect complement for any competition bike — and even for road riding. The added braking feel, stopping power, and anti-fading performance make a huge difference. From the very first moment until you release the brakes, you feel that extra power without any drop-off.

If you want to know more about this discipline, read our blog article about the most famous Road Race event: the Isle of Man TT.