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Castle Combe Circuit is an ever popular motor racing circuit in the South West of England, with a wonderful history on 2 wheels and 4, and so many personalities that have visited or been part of the journey.
Join us as we bring you all sorts of guests and conversations for the Caste Combe TV podcast and find out who we may catch up with at the circuit or via the remote studio.
00:00:00:03 - 00:00:24:12
Chris Dawes
Welcome back to Combe TV. We're back at the circuit again. And it is. We've hijacked an MPs motorsport track day because that means we can speak to a very special guest. He's the outright lap record holder on two wheels, Charlie Nesbitt. Stay tuned. This is going to be cool.
00:00:24:15 - 00:00:48:23
Chris Dawes
It's.
00:00:48:26 - 00:00:54:00
Chris Dawes
So welcome back to Coom TV and greetings, Charlie Nesbitt. Hello, mate. How are you doing?
00:00:54:07 - 00:01:04:11
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. Hi. All right. Yeah. Not doing too bad. It's been a lovely day here at the MPs motorsport track day. Nice and sunny Friday. Some bikes live in a drink. What more could you want?
00:01:04:14 - 00:01:14:03
Chris Dawes
It's all right, I admit. Although I always think when it's not like it is a really warm day, isn't it? And I always think it must be a nightmare in leathers. Or is it not that? Is it? No. Bad. Once you move in out there.
00:01:14:10 - 00:01:26:07
Charlie Nesbitt
It's not too bad. Most of these leathers perforated anyway, so you get quite a lot of air from airflow through. Not the legs, the chest and all that sort of stuff. So it's not too bad. It's more when you stop, all the heat hits all at once.
00:01:26:10 - 00:01:29:27
Chris Dawes
Yeah. Good point. Yeah. Okay. So you just want to keep going fast basically. Yeah.
00:01:29:27 - 00:01:30:29
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah.
00:01:31:01 - 00:01:43:26
Chris Dawes
Which is kind of the story of your life. I mean, we kind of say welcome back to to Castle in general, where you are the lap record holder on two wheels. 2024. You did that and didn't you?
00:01:43:28 - 00:01:51:02
Charlie Nesbitt
Yes. Yeah. 2024 I did that on, on the hot racing super bike, the team I was riding for at the time. Yeah, yeah.
00:01:51:04 - 00:01:58:26
Chris Dawes
Which was a wonderful treat for everybody here to actually see you being able to race an actual BSB bike out there. That was pretty cool.
00:01:58:28 - 00:02:24:07
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. Yeah. So it's here is so close to Thruxton in the characteristics of the bike and the track in the setup wise. So this was always the North Gloucester round here at Castle cool was always the weekend before the BSB round at Thruxton, so it was good we could set up and stuff like that in, you know, because it's so fast and flowing it, you just sort of go to Thruxton.
00:02:24:07 - 00:02:32:03
Charlie Nesbitt
It's like, easy. Yeah, your mind's already up to speed and you go in for that really. So and I love it around it to be fair.
00:02:32:05 - 00:02:34:10
Chris Dawes
Is it good on bikes, this circuit then.
00:02:34:15 - 00:02:50:11
Charlie Nesbitt
Yes it is fantastic. You know, it's bumpy. It's fast. You know, there's some technical bits with the two chicanes. Well the three chicanes even. Sorry. Yeah. So yeah it's got a bit of everything and it's tricky to go fast.
00:02:50:13 - 00:03:06:06
Chris Dawes
Well I know, just make sure everyone remembers that. Yes, it's the three chicanes here because we had the Bobby Brooks chicane. Yes. When you. But because you know, what was it you guys between, Bobby Chicane and Cam, you're back up to full chat by then. And so it was like, right, we needed to get you back under control.
00:03:06:06 - 00:03:07:27
Chris Dawes
Basically, in simple terms.
00:03:08:00 - 00:03:18:28
Charlie Nesbitt
I think out the second chicane, I'll come out there in second. By the time I get to bodywork. I'm not really on LMA in fourth. Yeah. And that's even with the lashing with the chicane.
00:03:18:28 - 00:03:21:09
Chris Dawes
And so and that's a really tight one isn't it.
00:03:21:09 - 00:03:22:10
Charlie Nesbitt
Barring the first gear.
00:03:22:15 - 00:03:23:15
Chris Dawes
Is it really.
00:03:23:17 - 00:03:23:25
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah.
00:03:24:01 - 00:03:30:05
Chris Dawes
Well fair play. I know you mentioned bumps we got reminds you there undulations here at cost.
00:03:30:05 - 00:03:33:12
Charlie Nesbitt
Oh okay.
00:03:33:14 - 00:03:44:20
Chris Dawes
I mean, is that because we get two riders come in and test in here before the Isle of Man? T that way, but does that make it harder, or does it just make it more exciting?
00:03:44:22 - 00:04:05:26
Charlie Nesbitt
Because it makes the setup of the bike more challenging? Because like I said, there's no way really, really load the front of the bike up. So you want a softer bike, but you want something that's going to be able to track the bumps so you can't go too soft. So you need to try and find a happy medium between everything.
00:04:05:29 - 00:04:19:24
Charlie Nesbitt
Like saying with the rear, you want the rear to track the bumps, not just slap up the face of them or the heel or the undulations. Sorry. You want them to track it all, but still have enough support that it doesn't spin too much on the exit.
00:04:19:26 - 00:04:20:14
Chris Dawes
Of course.
00:04:20:14 - 00:04:25:29
Charlie Nesbitt
So again, happy medium. Trying to find that little bit is definitely hard work.
00:04:26:02 - 00:04:41:03
Chris Dawes
And of course, the year that you, broke the lap record, 2024 was the second year after it had been retirement and a little bit of reprofiling, in the first season.
00:04:41:06 - 00:04:41:29
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah.
00:04:42:01 - 00:04:53:01
Chris Dawes
And that presumably, therefore, is what made it, you know, possible to go just that quick. And I've heard that you're like two seconds quicker than anybody has gone round there. Yeah. It's, it's unbelievable.
00:04:53:04 - 00:05:23:10
Charlie Nesbitt
So the resurfacing did help. You know, there was like it's like a washboard sort of bumps through the, the left of the first chicane, which just gave you a little bit of chatter, but since they've resurfaced it, you can run through it a little bit quicker. But obviously with the technology of the bikes and everything else now, and obviously I'm on a super bike, so it's got the different swinging arm, the better brakes and and all the top level stuff, which obviously is a massive factor into it as well.
00:05:23:12 - 00:05:40:21
Chris Dawes
Absolutely. So I've got the time is 106.6 and I think 108. No one else has gone below 100 weight in reality, which is phenomenal. And of course you won the King of come in at 2024. We don't. I'm saying that loud. So Max, you know that was the year that he didn't win it.
00:05:40:24 - 00:05:42:10
Unknown
Yeah.
00:05:42:12 - 00:05:57:05
Chris Dawes
There we go I let him yeah. But you know, even he was saying about the fact that nobody can get Nate that time. No one that you won King of came are gonna quickly be cheeky. Are we going to see you back at home this year?
00:05:57:08 - 00:06:19:23
Charlie Nesbitt
I'd like to just. All depends on if I can get a bike time, because obviously I don't, I don't know, a race bike or anything like that. So if I can get a bike or to do something like that and then yes, you'll see me, but if not, I'll be here anyway. Watch in support in the circuit and in all of that, because I'm only 40 minutes down the road.
00:06:19:23 - 00:06:22:00
Charlie Nesbitt
So how are you? Yeah. So it's not exactly far for me.
00:06:22:00 - 00:06:30:24
Chris Dawes
So I love that that you're still via Watts and that's really, really cool. I mean, it's such a great race weekend isn't it. The bike weekend here and the the banks are always full.
00:06:30:25 - 00:06:33:06
Charlie Nesbitt
Always. Yeah. It's fantastic to see the place so busy.
00:06:33:06 - 00:06:55:00
Chris Dawes
Yeah I agree, some people may look at that time 106 and compare it to the car time. But of course they don't have Bobby Brooks chicane. No. And Max and I were chatting and reckon if you remove that, there's got to be 4 or 5 seconds quicker at least. Yeah, possibly more, because you're going to be quicker.
00:06:55:02 - 00:06:58:12
Chris Dawes
Yeah. Up the straight and up to up even rise. Yeah.
00:06:58:15 - 00:07:02:11
Charlie Nesbitt
Well to be fair, I'm not too sure I wouldn't be going any faster for Foley. And that may even.
00:07:02:11 - 00:07:02:28
Chris Dawes
Are really.
00:07:02:28 - 00:07:05:01
Charlie Nesbitt
Scary enough. Is, is I mean.
00:07:05:01 - 00:07:12:24
Chris Dawes
Well, I was going to ask that question on two wheels. What are the most exciting parts and the most scary parts on cue? And I think, you know.
00:07:12:27 - 00:07:33:18
Charlie Nesbitt
Well, following up to a from Roy's is scary, but is most exciting. It's all really. Yeah. Just because you go through that flat to the stop in sixth and you sideways as soon as you tip in, obviously the road, you go into the side of the tire, the revs pick up, and then you start spinning and you just in one big slide all the way up the hill.
00:07:33:20 - 00:07:50:01
Chris Dawes
That's just bonkers. That really is just incredible. Well, I've got to ask as well, is the Avon Rise? Obviously it's famously up over the hump. Do you brake fully afterwards? Or do you need to do a little bit before the rise? Forgive my ignorance. On on. Yeah.
00:07:50:02 - 00:07:58:10
Charlie Nesbitt
You know, so I normally flat out all the way up over the top of Avon, rise and past it, and then brake.
00:07:58:13 - 00:08:01:12
Chris Dawes
Presumably the ideal thing. You still got yourself in a straight line.
00:08:01:12 - 00:08:11:27
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. So you sort of come out close to the white line on the right hand side. Yeah. Unimportant yourself in a straight as long as you can. Sorry. From rise towards quarry.
00:08:12:00 - 00:08:17:03
Chris Dawes
That must be adrenaline going through the roof on that I think it.
00:08:17:08 - 00:08:22:29
Charlie Nesbitt
Look, in 24 we look to the daytime. We're doing about 180, 590 mile an hour. Very nice.
00:08:23:02 - 00:08:29:03
Chris Dawes
Got. That's just incredible. Do you, do you, get er over Avon Rising?
00:08:29:05 - 00:08:35:11
Charlie Nesbitt
No. No, not not over Avon rise. No. You bum goes a bit light in the seat, but it will stay on the floor.
00:08:35:18 - 00:08:57:06
Chris Dawes
That's another story, though. Yeah. The bottom is very lively, but no. Okay. So, that that I've always wondered because some of the cars can really go light and the car is. You make a mistake if you try to brake whilst you're like, you don't want to do that might be the song about. Yeah, yeah. Wow. Okay. Then obviously you're back on the power out of quarry Corner.
00:08:57:07 - 00:09:07:09
Chris Dawes
You down? Down the straight. Yeah. Then it's the retirement reprofiled. S's the first chicane that's got quite quick, isn't it? That one?
00:09:07:12 - 00:09:17:26
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. It's second gear still. But again, you don't. Yes. You brake quite hard for it, but you don't. At the same time. You still use quite a lot of roll speed through there.
00:09:17:29 - 00:09:19:01
Chris Dawes
Okay.
00:09:19:04 - 00:09:35:05
Charlie Nesbitt
Because it tightens up on the exit. So it goes in quite open, and so the track carries on. You need to carry on turning for the next right. So you tend to just use the roll speed to, you know, on the edge of the tire so much your electrons are spinning.
00:09:35:07 - 00:09:41:18
Chris Dawes
Right. Got you. And of course, that next right hander, old paddock that presumably is just accelerating all the way through it.
00:09:41:21 - 00:09:55:08
Charlie Nesbitt
Sort of. Yeah. You sort of accelerate to it and then roll to a neutral point in the front. You don't shut completely. You roll to say 40% throttle and just hold it, and then you get on the throttle on the way out. Fine, because otherwise you'll be out on the grass.
00:09:55:15 - 00:09:56:03
Chris Dawes
Yeah, yeah.
00:09:56:07 - 00:09:56:29
Charlie Nesbitt
Up in.
00:09:57:01 - 00:10:10:27
Chris Dawes
And then of course, what's it called now. How it's how it's way now isn't it. The left kink. Yeah. Down to what was tower and is now Gooch is. I'm still getting used to these changes. That left kink of how is I presumably that's flat.
00:10:11:02 - 00:10:17:12
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. Well, there is a undulation, on the left of.
00:10:17:14 - 00:10:18:03
Chris Dawes
Oh, really?
00:10:18:03 - 00:10:39:25
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. And the first year I came in and early sent me to the moon because obviously first year on Superbike. Yeah, I've only ever ridden a 600 year before. Yeah. And the Moto three. A couple of years back now. But you didn't feel them on those sort of level bikes, but now you've got 230 horsepower, right?
00:10:39:25 - 00:10:47:16
Charlie Nesbitt
You were at eight. You. Right. And with no traction, it's a mark that it hits at and it spins and it you out the seat through the left. Wow.
00:10:47:19 - 00:10:51:00
Chris Dawes
I had no idea about that. I'm going to be watch, presumably to try to miss it.
00:10:51:00 - 00:10:55:21
Charlie Nesbitt
Now will you get on the rear brake and pull the rear of the bike in to keep it out?
00:10:55:25 - 00:10:58:23
Chris Dawes
All right. So you can't miss the undulation?
00:10:58:25 - 00:10:59:11
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah.
00:10:59:13 - 00:11:09:01
Chris Dawes
Okay, then. Tower Gooch is sorry. Gupta is, what's that like on a bike? Because that can be quite challenging in cars. I know,
00:11:09:03 - 00:11:12:26
Charlie Nesbitt
I do know I've broke my foot there in the past. In 2019. That was a great.
00:11:13:02 - 00:11:15:10
Chris Dawes
Oh, wow.
00:11:15:12 - 00:11:27:01
Charlie Nesbitt
But it it's one of those corners is off camber. You don't really have a braking reference or anything like that because it's quite open on the way.
00:11:27:03 - 00:11:33:16
Charlie Nesbitt
It's it's a tricky corner, but it's not the hardest cornering around, if you know what I mean.
00:11:33:18 - 00:11:36:19
Chris Dawes
You'd get presumably on a bike, you don't double apex that one.
00:11:36:19 - 00:11:39:10
Charlie Nesbitt
Nice sort of go in and just hug it all the way around.
00:11:39:18 - 00:11:43:26
Chris Dawes
Okay. Fine. Then there's a square on the power before we get.
00:11:43:28 - 00:11:45:26
Charlie Nesbitt
Down to the white line on what's on the grass.
00:11:45:27 - 00:11:53:13
Chris Dawes
Yeah, and Bobby's the middle apex. It's quite a dip into that, isn't it? Is. Does that answer all?
00:11:53:13 - 00:11:55:13
Charlie Nesbitt
You know? You can use that to your advantage.
00:11:55:15 - 00:11:56:08
Chris Dawes
Oh, really? Yeah.
00:11:56:08 - 00:12:03:08
Charlie Nesbitt
You can get on the gas because it's coming at you. You can load the bike up and get it to sort of hook in turn easier.
00:12:03:10 - 00:12:15:13
Chris Dawes
So you're on that power nice and early, then come flying down to the first gear chicane. I can almost imagine with the speed and flow and of everything else, it's kind of quite an annoying chicane, that one.
00:12:15:16 - 00:12:27:08
Charlie Nesbitt
To be fair, I'm quite thankful it's there because it is scary fast otherwise going into the last corner. So yeah, it is. Yes, it's a bit injury, but I'm glad it's out for the bike.
00:12:27:08 - 00:12:31:10
Chris Dawes
Which is why it was playing it, wasn't it? Coming into Camp flat would be yeah.
00:12:31:10 - 00:12:39:03
Charlie Nesbitt
If you get it right you can graze your shoulder along the barrier. Really. That's when you know you've got it right to graze your left shoulder and then clip the right curve on the way out.
00:12:39:05 - 00:12:50:03
Chris Dawes
Love it. I absolutely love that. 106.6 can that be beaten or do you think that's that's maxed.
00:12:50:03 - 00:13:12:05
Charlie Nesbitt
Oh no, it can be beaten. Really sent. Yeah. Yeah. There on that lap there's a few mistakes that I made. Go in a bit deep here and there. I think if I add another good go at it with my race bikes, initiate attack on the, I think we could possibly do a high five.
00:13:12:08 - 00:13:17:14
Chris Dawes
Wow. I was, like, equally looking at Max's face at that as well.
00:13:17:16 - 00:13:21:04
Charlie Nesbitt
With the right tires in and a good solid day of up.
00:13:21:07 - 00:13:40:06
Chris Dawes
Well, what? And talking about a good day of setup as well is that, I know from the commentary box, invariably when you have people deliberately trying to go for lap records, the weather has to be just so as well. What is just south on on the bike for you to try and do that? I mean, obviously dry, we know that one.
00:13:40:08 - 00:13:42:09
Chris Dawes
But can it be too hot or too cold?
00:13:42:09 - 00:14:02:18
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. No sir, it can be too hot. The track becomes greasy. Yeah. And the air is obviously too warm. So then that obviously takes power away from the bike. So you want to a good dry day about 20 degrees cooler air. But track temperature warm. So you want the sun out to warm the track up, but you want a cool breeze to keep.
00:14:02:21 - 00:14:15:13
Charlie Nesbitt
The engine is firing the best it can do. You see, an engine likes colder air. That gives you more power. So yeah, it has to be small.
00:14:15:16 - 00:14:30:26
Chris Dawes
Everyone will be doing, keeping an eye on the weather. Then when next time we see you up here in one of those, obviously, that that circumstance has to come in. Whether we see you on one of those bikes again, talking about you mentioned, tag. That's the new team this year after, what was it, four years with Hulk Racing?
00:14:30:26 - 00:14:51:03
Charlie Nesbitt
It was four years before racing. But yeah, we've moved to, tag from the, fantastic team. Obviously I've known them from since I was about two years old. Really? Yeah. Because they used to run their own motor championship, believe it or not. My brother used to race in that side championship. So I've known him since they don't really in.
00:14:51:03 - 00:14:54:10
Charlie Nesbitt
It's sort of like full circle. Yeah. Come back into the team and.
00:14:54:12 - 00:15:02:10
Chris Dawes
Oh, that's nice. I mean, I'd imagine it was probably quite hard leaving the team you been with for four years, but there's an emotional pull there that makes sense.
00:15:02:13 - 00:15:20:24
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah, well, it was time for me to leave. You know, I think I needed, I needed a change. The team needed change, from horse racing and the opportunity that came up with tango. So I couldn't say no to. Yeah. You know, like, I, I did have a few other offers, but I wanted to go with Tiger.
00:15:20:24 - 00:15:28:21
Charlie Nesbitt
I, I loved the Robin Tracy chicken. I love I'm sure and I love the whole family. They're fantastic. So.
00:15:28:24 - 00:15:32:21
Chris Dawes
Oh, that's really nice. That means it's more than just a team. Yeah. Still a Honda though.
00:15:32:21 - 00:15:33:26
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah, still on.
00:15:33:28 - 00:15:38:23
Chris Dawes
Is that is that your belief that that's your passion is the Honda?
00:15:38:26 - 00:15:49:07
Charlie Nesbitt
No. Not necessarily. Don't get me wrong. The Honda is a very good bike. It's proving a little bit hard for it in BSB at the moment. Because.
00:15:49:07 - 00:15:51:07
Chris Dawes
What you got is a domination. Yeah.
00:15:51:10 - 00:15:59:14
Charlie Nesbitt
Did you can't you have taken another step? Don't get me wrong, I'm going faster everywhere on the Honda. It's just not fast enough.
00:15:59:16 - 00:15:59:21
Chris Dawes
You.
00:15:59:21 - 00:16:09:14
Charlie Nesbitt
Know, I mean, so, you know, the the decanted, you're taking it another level. But we'll get there with Honda. It's a little bit more of a way round, but we will get there with it.
00:16:09:17 - 00:16:15:29
Chris Dawes
And the way you mentioned that it sort of sounds like you, you get to not just race, but you're part of a development program.
00:16:15:29 - 00:16:16:16
Charlie Nesbitt
Absolutely.
00:16:16:16 - 00:16:18:08
Chris Dawes
Yeah. That must be fun as well.
00:16:18:11 - 00:16:27:28
Charlie Nesbitt
I love developing the boat, you know, because one millimeter can be the difference between the bike feeling good and it feels really it can be down to as little as,
00:16:28:00 - 00:16:32:09
Chris Dawes
Wow. That's incredible. Fair play. So you've got the mechanical mind as well?
00:16:32:09 - 00:16:38:03
Charlie Nesbitt
I've always I've always had it, you know, even from they don't always like the mechanics and really.
00:16:38:05 - 00:16:38:26
Chris Dawes
Always getting your hands.
00:16:38:26 - 00:16:41:21
Charlie Nesbitt
Dirty. Yeah. The, the workings of it all.
00:16:41:23 - 00:16:56:16
Chris Dawes
Yeah. Like that. That's really cool. BSB Knockhill this weekend obviously that dates when we record in this now. Yeah. But how how are you feeling that. I mean that's a challenging circuit by the looks of it, for a layman like me.
00:16:56:20 - 00:17:01:27
Charlie Nesbitt
Oh, it's hard work, you know. It's 47 seconds. It just beat anybody.
00:17:02:03 - 00:17:02:22
Chris Dawes
Is it really?
00:17:02:22 - 00:17:04:12
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah.
00:17:04:15 - 00:17:06:21
Chris Dawes
Yeah, because it's really undulating that thing.
00:17:06:21 - 00:17:19:13
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. You mean you take off over the start line and you got some bumps on the way into turn one that kicks a rear up. You know, it's just nonstop. And you. I think it's a 30 lap race around there or something like that. So it is just go go go go go.
00:17:19:15 - 00:17:22:23
Chris Dawes
Well how do you think you'll do you think the.
00:17:22:25 - 00:17:33:09
Charlie Nesbitt
You know, the weather is looking a bit questionable. So, the team we've got a fantastic set up in the rain. So, yeah, it was quite interesting to see what we can do.
00:17:33:11 - 00:17:41:24
Chris Dawes
Well, best of luck with that one. And, any rounds this year that you're particularly looking forward to? Circuits, I guess.
00:17:41:26 - 00:17:43:07
Charlie Nesbitt
Action into action.
00:17:43:09 - 00:17:44:20
Chris Dawes
A really?
00:17:44:22 - 00:18:03:03
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. Aston is just absolutely fantastic. You know, the people over in Netherlands and the town and actually in town, the circuit is fantastic. Everyone was just so friendly. I love it over there. Well, and Thruxton is 15 minutes from now. Answer.
00:18:03:05 - 00:18:06:21
Chris Dawes
Of course. And that's fast on there. And those bikes.
00:18:06:25 - 00:18:08:21
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah, I love it. Yeah it's great.
00:18:08:29 - 00:18:12:27
Chris Dawes
Although it's, ages and it's fast until you get to that large chicane at the end of the lap. Yeah.
00:18:12:27 - 00:18:21:23
Charlie Nesbitt
Pretty much. Yeah, yeah. And we're doing 200 on the way up to the chicane here. So not far from up into quarry.
00:18:21:27 - 00:18:46:06
Chris Dawes
Yeah, yeah. But into a chicane at that. Yes. That's incredible. And I love the fact there wasn't even a pause. It's like yeah I think these two that's the. Yeah no doubt about it. You mentioned and apologies I'm going to go back over this. But the Ducatis have done something that's that's put them really strong place, which I guess that's motorsport is that things come and go.
00:18:46:08 - 00:19:00:16
Chris Dawes
Is it insurmountable this year? Or are you, you know, are you starting to actually develop ready for next year because you go look, they've they've gone or is it do you think you can get the better of them this year? And I don't not that's not you. I'm talking about the bike. Obviously.
00:19:00:18 - 00:19:08:18
Charlie Nesbitt
I think it's going to be difficult. Because if you look at any other manufacturer that's not a Ducati seems to be struggling.
00:19:08:21 - 00:19:09:16
Chris Dawes
Right.
00:19:09:18 - 00:19:31:12
Charlie Nesbitt
To keep not keep up with them, but to do what they're doing. But yeah, who knows? Some circuits suit different bikes. You know, Thruxton seems to suit the Honda where it's fast and flowing and, but with this new Ducati, it might suit out a little bit more. Now it's got the twins doing it. But it's not single centered.
00:19:31:17 - 00:19:40:04
Charlie Nesbitt
It's not single sided anymore. So who knows what every track we go to is, sort of wait and find out, right?
00:19:40:05 - 00:19:45:27
Chris Dawes
Sort of. Especially if you don't even get testing at Thruxton, do you know? Hence it's good. Come in there, I guess. Yeah.
00:19:46:03 - 00:19:47:29
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's fantastic coming here.
00:19:48:00 - 00:19:49:16
Chris Dawes
So make sure you convince time.
00:19:49:17 - 00:19:56:21
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah, I'm going to try to. Yeah, but I doubt it, I doubt it, but I'll have a word. Yeah. See if I can make a deal with Rob.
00:19:56:23 - 00:19:59:00
Chris Dawes
Yeah, exactly. If you're watching and hopefully.
00:19:59:01 - 00:20:00:05
Unknown
Yeah.
00:20:00:08 - 00:20:10:21
Chris Dawes
That's what wants to have. Yeah, yeah 25th, 26th of July wants to be on it. Obviously you are here today. What's your involvement with MPs?
00:20:10:24 - 00:20:32:14
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. So MPs is a is a personal MPs. Motorsport is a personal sponsor of mine. And they obviously set this up last year. They did a couple of track days last year, and they invited me along to how to do all the free tuition and stuff like this. So anyone who can, who was here booked on can just walk into the garage and say, can you come and teach me?
00:20:32:19 - 00:20:51:17
Charlie Nesbitt
That's my job. I'll go out, teach them, help them out as best as I can if I even if they don't want me to go on track with them, I can do some static stuff in the garage. Just body position stuff. And because sometimes it's easier to talk through it and show someone on a bike and then try to explain it to them and then go, then go do it.
00:20:51:17 - 00:20:57:13
Charlie Nesbitt
But I'm showing them visually at a static stand point. Yeah. So wow.
00:20:57:16 - 00:21:20:24
Chris Dawes
And that's going to be pretty cool for the people that are coming. Is that with the BSB rider. And yeah I mean it amazes me. Just listen to explain it. There's that much that you can pass on. Yeah. To people out here that that just is incredible. Fair play. I mean what would you expect presumably do you do the age old thing of just try to work on a couple of bits with them, because I've watched coaches do too much.
00:21:20:27 - 00:21:40:00
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. No. So I'd, I'll try and get the basics down. Yeah. You know, it's like if we do more than one session sometimes I what I say to them in the first session, then it needs them the rest of the day to try and get their head around it. So I don't try to overload them or anything like that.
00:21:40:00 - 00:22:03:27
Charlie Nesbitt
It get the basics down or if they've got the basics, and then I can tell you need to go wider here or you know, you need to maybe break here, but not as hard or you run a little bit more mid speed. There's bits like that I can do after. But the the main thing is to get the basics down, you know, get the body in the right position, make the bike work for you, not the bike work against you.
00:22:03:27 - 00:22:06:09
Chris Dawes
Yes. Yeah. So do you enjoy doing.
00:22:06:10 - 00:22:07:10
Charlie Nesbitt
I do I love it.
00:22:07:13 - 00:22:30:17
Chris Dawes
Yeah. Yeah I almost job anyway. Well there is that. Absolutely. I mean I think the answer might not be what I expected to be, but did the young version of you ever think that you would be here racing in super bikes, doing coaching like this, that people are there listening to your advice with the young version of you have ever believe that?
00:22:30:19 - 00:22:33:18
Charlie Nesbitt
I think so. Just because I've always. This is what I've always wanted.
00:22:33:18 - 00:22:34:13
Chris Dawes
Tunnel vision.
00:22:34:13 - 00:22:41:23
Charlie Nesbitt
This is what I've wanted my life to be like. And I've worked really hard to try and get in the position I am today. So.
00:22:42:00 - 00:22:43:03
Chris Dawes
Well.
00:22:43:06 - 00:22:45:24
Charlie Nesbitt
Well, I don't want them on the sound cocky or anything, I.
00:22:45:27 - 00:22:46:29
Chris Dawes
Don't know, it's this is.
00:22:46:29 - 00:22:49:15
Charlie Nesbitt
This is what I've always wanted. This, this lifestyle.
00:22:49:15 - 00:23:07:14
Chris Dawes
So yeah, no I don't I didn't think it was cocky in the slightest. It was like, great to see that tunnel vision. I mean, what would your advice be to. I mean, let's make it really obvious of go to the youngsters that that have maybe starting to get into it, which I mean, certainly that tunnel vision sounds like something that you would advise.
00:23:07:14 - 00:23:24:12
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. No, just keep your head down. Focus. Don't listen to your mates when they go and out on the push bikes, or you're going out late at night with your schoolmates causing trouble. Just ignore all of it. If racing is what you want to do, you need to be entering 10% from day one.
00:23:24:15 - 00:23:27:18
Chris Dawes
And what is that 110%? I mean, I'm guessing fitness.
00:23:27:22 - 00:23:41:11
Charlie Nesbitt
Fitness, eating healthy, you know, it's the obvious, but minimal. If not, no drinking, no drugs, just clean athletic. Yeah. So a lot of stuff.
00:23:41:18 - 00:23:49:06
Chris Dawes
But what about then mastering the actual riding? Because I'd imagine at a young age your opportunities are relatively limited or am I wrong?
00:23:49:06 - 00:23:53:16
Charlie Nesbitt
I know there's a place up the road called M4 Kine. Yes.
00:23:53:19 - 00:23:55:04
Chris Dawes
Other mini mini motor.
00:23:55:04 - 00:24:01:09
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. Seat time. Okay. I'll even still ride many miles, even to this day. Really? Yeah.
00:24:01:12 - 00:24:08:16
Chris Dawes
Because I was amazed me. I'm not thinking me at six foot three and no longer built like a racing snake. I'm thinking I'm not sure I would get one of those things.
00:24:08:23 - 00:24:18:16
Charlie Nesbitt
I've seen seven foot rugby players get on them before. Yeah, I mean, they they'd look a little bit stupid, but they got on a modem and they were absolutely fine.
00:24:18:16 - 00:24:20:11
Chris Dawes
And as the bike went past you could get on.
00:24:20:12 - 00:24:21:13
Unknown
Yeah.
00:24:21:16 - 00:24:22:02
Chris Dawes
Yeah. No.
00:24:22:08 - 00:24:23:07
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. Pretty much.
00:24:23:08 - 00:24:24:05
Unknown
Yeah.
00:24:24:08 - 00:24:34:02
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. No it's good for flexibility is good. Keep you you mind sharp and you're riding and having fun. So every time you on the bike you learned something new anyway.
00:24:34:04 - 00:24:35:21
Chris Dawes
Because they've got championships on those.
00:24:35:28 - 00:24:41:28
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. Fab racing. Yeah. There you go. I don't even at all. Was riding really outdoors. Yeah.
00:24:42:00 - 00:24:56:04
Chris Dawes
Because you've got to be content. I mean that's your training isn't it, that you are on track as much as you can. Yeah. And not you can do what are you able to then get out onto a full bar, you know, big bike and out onto a circuit next.
00:24:56:06 - 00:24:57:01
Unknown
That's.
00:24:57:03 - 00:24:57:21
Charlie Nesbitt
13.
00:24:57:24 - 00:24:58:15
Chris Dawes
13.
00:24:58:15 - 00:24:59:01
Charlie Nesbitt
13.
00:24:59:07 - 00:25:00:11
Chris Dawes
Yeah. Fair enough.
00:25:00:13 - 00:25:07:16
Charlie Nesbitt
I don't know, no. Yeah. No, I'm when I was younger, I got on track days at 12.
00:25:07:18 - 00:25:08:15
Chris Dawes
Wow. Really?
00:25:08:20 - 00:25:20:05
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. Just because I had a AC license at the time. But now the age limit is been up, doesn't it? So I've won. Wow. I had grandad rights at that time because that's what it was before the new rules came in.
00:25:20:05 - 00:25:24:22
Chris Dawes
So okay. Fair enough. What's your opinion on that? Do you think that's the right age?
00:25:24:23 - 00:25:28:29
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah, it's definitely it's not a bad thing at all.
00:25:29:01 - 00:25:30:19
Chris Dawes
Doesn't stunt anyone's potential.
00:25:30:20 - 00:25:32:15
Charlie Nesbitt
No not really. No. Because.
00:25:32:17 - 00:25:35:21
Chris Dawes
Because you can still be doing the mini motos. Young. Yeah. Yeah yeah yeah.
00:25:35:21 - 00:25:38:19
Charlie Nesbitt
99 times out of ten they move up a year too early.
00:25:38:19 - 00:25:39:19
Chris Dawes
Anyway. Oh, really?
00:25:39:19 - 00:25:55:20
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. Because they, they still need that year of development on the small circuit. The change of direction is so key, especially on a big bike. One, you know, fighting the bike battle in that racecraft everything is vital.
00:25:55:23 - 00:26:06:12
Chris Dawes
So what is that cross over from the mini bikes up to the what would you need? What would you be advising someone? Does I mean track days by the sounds of it. Start getting out on those or something?
00:26:06:12 - 00:26:06:25
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah, no.
00:26:06:25 - 00:26:13:03
Chris Dawes
So you've got all that learning that you were talking about. How does someone now transition from mini up to full.
00:26:13:06 - 00:26:17:20
Charlie Nesbitt
So obviously North Gloucester, North course racing.
00:26:17:21 - 00:26:19:14
Chris Dawes
Yeah.
00:26:19:16 - 00:26:44:26
Charlie Nesbitt
You know, the they're a fantastic club. They've got the, the limited amount of fours, and that class in them like the Atcs, you know, that's a good stepping stone from the mini bikes to the big circuits, you know, because it's restricted power. You're on a bigger bike, you're on the bigger circuits, but you can't get yourself in too much trouble, if you know what I mean.
00:26:44:29 - 00:26:48:29
Charlie Nesbitt
So that, like all I would say is probably best, but okay.
00:26:49:01 - 00:26:50:16
Chris Dawes
Fair. Do and be patient.
00:26:50:16 - 00:26:52:16
Charlie Nesbitt
And be patient and it will come.
00:26:52:16 - 00:27:05:08
Chris Dawes
Yeah. Just be an absolute sponge and learn everything thrown at you. And I guess that's why it's really good that you're here doing days like today as well. Then do you do anything else like do right. Is there race in schools for.
00:27:05:10 - 00:27:07:10
Charlie Nesbitt
No, no not really.
00:27:07:13 - 00:27:21:27
Chris Dawes
So track days is the option with coaching on them? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I just suddenly wondered that because in four wheels we get some, don't we? Yeah. But, Okay. Would you encourage people to get involved in bike racing?
00:27:22:05 - 00:27:26:04
Charlie Nesbitt
Absolutely. No. Feeling like it? No feeling like it in the world.
00:27:26:06 - 00:27:38:15
Chris Dawes
I can imagine. But then you guys are a different breed. I've got to be honest. You know, I got to ask a question. This is a really stupid one, but it's one that's always been in my head. I heard that bike racers learn to fool.
00:27:38:17 - 00:27:39:11
Charlie Nesbitt
Yes.
00:27:39:13 - 00:27:43:06
Chris Dawes
Because you need to keep the injuries to a minimum.
00:27:43:06 - 00:28:06:17
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. No. I've been when I was younger, I was, gymnastics heavily into gymnastics. Yeah. And then I stopped that because I wanted me to stop racing. Then I told bugger off basis. Yeah. But anyway. And then I went out to Spain racing world junior championship, and they took us to a proper gymnastics gym and we spent a week learning how to fall.
00:28:06:19 - 00:28:07:20
Chris Dawes
Wow. So is.
00:28:07:20 - 00:28:18:01
Charlie Nesbitt
That true? You were jumping off sick for all these things, you know, until like the springboard floor that I have and landing and doing all sorts.
00:28:18:03 - 00:28:21:15
Chris Dawes
Wow. I genuinely didn't realize it was as true as that.
00:28:21:16 - 00:28:22:09
Charlie Nesbitt
Oh, yeah.
00:28:22:11 - 00:28:31:20
Chris Dawes
But you because you watched the bike riders when they come off and they look like a rag doll, but it's like you have to because you got to be losers. Loose a little bit.
00:28:31:23 - 00:28:33:01
Charlie Nesbitt
More relaxed, you all the better.
00:28:33:01 - 00:28:35:07
Chris Dawes
Yeah. Wow.
00:28:35:10 - 00:28:38:26
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah, you might get a bit more battered, but it's battered and broken.
00:28:38:26 - 00:28:39:17
Chris Dawes
But yeah.
00:28:39:22 - 00:28:41:23
Charlie Nesbitt
When as soon as you tense, you.
00:28:41:23 - 00:28:59:21
Chris Dawes
Got more chance of breaking. Yeah. The, the other one as well is that obviously car races. Fine. They go, oh my God, that's just bonkers. Going into a corner, you know, leaning in like that. But I've heard that bike races think it's nuts that cars, when you go around the corner, you're leaning the other way.
00:28:59:23 - 00:29:18:16
Charlie Nesbitt
No. I've done a track day here with RB performance. And he's all right, and I'm a bad passenger. Anyway, but it was great fun, and it didn't really so freak me out or anything like that. I've worked in go kart centers and stuff like that.
00:29:18:20 - 00:29:19:02
Chris Dawes
To.
00:29:19:02 - 00:29:23:07
Charlie Nesbitt
For ten years almost. When I was younger.
00:29:23:10 - 00:29:25:18
Chris Dawes
Any excuse to be able to get on there in the.
00:29:25:20 - 00:29:47:03
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah, pretty much. Yeah. No, because I left school at 15. Because they kicked me out because I was right. And, and world Junior championship. So I was never there, really. I was in Spain for a month back for a couple weeks back out to Spain there. I, so I left school at 15, and then I just went straight to work at cars and, because obviously I grew up at M4 kind.
00:29:47:10 - 00:29:50:15
Chris Dawes
Yeah. Yeah. So. And that is literally just the other side of that.
00:29:50:21 - 00:29:51:11
Charlie Nesbitt
There's so much.
00:29:51:16 - 00:29:57:25
Chris Dawes
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Cool. I do love that place is a really good place, that one as well. Both karts and the.
00:29:57:27 - 00:29:58:24
Charlie Nesbitt
And the bike. Yeah.
00:29:58:27 - 00:30:00:21
Chris Dawes
Not that I've been on the Minibike.
00:30:00:23 - 00:30:02:02
Charlie Nesbitt
Bike night there as well.
00:30:02:04 - 00:30:21:16
Chris Dawes
Oh, yeah, I heard about that as well. Fair play. The big one then, is that we're just going to wait to find out if you're coming back to. Yes, King. I came, I'm going to make an assumption that the defending champs are not going to be there. Sadly, as he said with a leg up over there.
00:30:21:16 - 00:30:23:01
Charlie Nesbitt
Might have to nick your bike.
00:30:23:03 - 00:30:24:21
Unknown
Yeah.
00:30:24:23 - 00:30:33:24
Chris Dawes
Good idea. Is I like that. Cool. But it would be so good to see you back here again. And, of course, it's really cool to hear that you'll be back to support the very least.
00:30:33:29 - 00:30:36:05
Charlie Nesbitt
Yeah. If I'm not riding, I'll be here anyway.
00:30:36:08 - 00:30:41:10
Chris Dawes
Just suddenly, another question came to mind. Watch what's still to be achieved in your racing career.
00:30:41:10 - 00:30:45:21
Charlie Nesbitt
What race champion? Yeah, yeah, I want to be British champion.
00:30:45:23 - 00:30:48:05
Chris Dawes
Not looking at worlds.
00:30:48:08 - 00:30:55:22
Charlie Nesbitt
No not really. I love I love BSB and I love the way it's run and you know, it's the best domestic championship in the world.
00:30:55:24 - 00:30:57:09
Chris Dawes
Yes. Oh yeah. Absolutely.
00:30:57:09 - 00:31:06:10
Charlie Nesbitt
You know with the manufacturers, with the support you get from the Championship, everything, it's the best there is.
00:31:06:10 - 00:31:25:11
Chris Dawes
So which I think that there's a lesson for people to have is to be true to your goals as all true with your goals. I mean, because it would almost be I hadn't asked that question is that you go, well, sure. Do you want to go to the worlds? It's like, no, that isn't necessarily the the default right way to go.
00:31:25:14 - 00:31:34:05
Chris Dawes
And I it's so good to hear you saying that BSB is the best. I've always perceived that. Yeah. And it's good to hear that. It's listen, it's been amazing to catch up with each other.
00:31:34:05 - 00:31:35:26
Charlie Nesbitt
I appreciate it very much.
00:31:35:29 - 00:31:39:07
Chris Dawes
Well done on that lap record. I want to see if we can get you down in the water.
00:31:39:07 - 00:31:40:12
Charlie Nesbitt
Oh, happy. Nice.
00:31:40:15 - 00:32:00:16
Chris Dawes
Literally. So good. We'll hype that up when we find out if, when you are racing in a bike that's obviously capable of doing that, it would be, hoping that up against the crowd will just be like, enjoying watching that. Yeah. And supporting you for it. But best of luck at Knockhill this weekend very much. And the rest of the season, and hopefully we'll catch up with you again.
00:32:00:18 - 00:32:02:03
Chris Dawes
Perfect. Thanks, mate.
00:32:02:06 - 00:32:02:15
Charlie Nesbitt
Cheers.
00:32:02:21 - 00:32:28:29
Chris Dawes
So there we go, Charlie Nesbitt. What a great countv. I wonder if we can see and break that record. We'll see you next time. Cheers.
00:32:29:01 - 00:32:29:08
Chris Dawes
And.