CARBON DATING

Imagine something that, fully wet, weighs about the same as a Ninja 300 (171kg) and yet has an engine punting out not 40hp like the LAMS Kwaka, but a whopping 215hp. That has carbon wheels, carbon bodywork, carbon frame, self-supporting carbon seat unit and is wearing exquisite World Superbike spec forks, swingarm and brakes. Also imagine you're about to ride it around Phillip Island GP circuit, a track you've never seen in the flesh, a place full of hugely fast corners and a 280km/h main straight. Imagine, finally, that just as you're leaving the pit-box, already wearing a thin film of nervous sweat on your brow, you're reminded that the bike is worth a cool $115,000 and there's no ABS.

Welcome to the slightly surreal world of the BMW HP4 Race.

It took a lot of stars to align for me to find myself in the BMW pitbox preparing to go out on the HP4, a previous attempt at Eastern Creek having been rained off after I'd stood around all morning watching everyone else ride it in the dry. A huge thanks, therefore, must go out to the people at BWM Motorrad Australia for making this happen, particularly Nigel Harvey, who is not only an awesome bloke and a quick