Circuit Length (Miles):
2.356

Situated approximately 10 minutes south of Andover in Hampshire. Thruxton circuit is an old airfield but probably one of the fastest in the UK.

Most of the track has been resurfaced since 2000, which has improved safety. The circuit is demanding both on the riders courage and the machine’s set up. Spectators have a great view at Campbell, Cobb and Segrave bends.

Start / Finish

• The start / finish straight

Allard

• From the start / finish the first corner looks simple and usually is if riders get it right
The main problem is the difficulty of seeing the edge of the track and losing the line
The approach to Allard is slightly curved
Only slight braking is required, but riders on the 125’s - braking is not required at all
The entry is just past the lights and before the ‘laps to go’ board
Speed is high so this needs to be smooth, fast but controlled
The riders aim is to maintain corner speed without running wide on the exit
Riders will clip the inside kerb just later than mid corner for the apex, this is some distance after the barrier and the marshals’ post behind the kerbing
Riders need to drive through the apex and on exiting, riders need to use little more than half the width of the circuit out of Allard in order not to compromise the line into Campbell

Campbell (Cobb/Segrave)

• Otherwise known as ‘THE COMPLEX’
This is a testing sequence of bends and by the far the busiest section of the circuit
Superb place for spectators up on the left
The approach from Allard is slightly uphill to the brow with a slight left hand kink
If riders are carrying enough speed the kink will throw the bike towards the right
It’s important for riders to contain this drift to open the line into Campbell (the first right hander)
Braking is quite fierce and follows off the tail of the kink which is part of the reason why it’s so difficult to pull the bike back over to the left
Riders should not run into Campell too fast, as this will compromise their speed all the way through the section
They will turn the bike as late as possible while still making the apex and aim the bike for the centre of the track past the apex
The apex at Campbell is late, the idea being to use little more than half the track on the exit
Riders will bring the bike upright and begin to lean it over to the left for the Cobb using gentle acceleration at the same time
Apex 2 – Cobb: Riders need to clip the inside of the kerb at mid corner accelerating harder but being aware of the adverse camber
Riders aim to use around three quarters of the track on the exit then they will bring the bike back as far left as possible before turning right again for Segrave
Riders will accelerate hard
Apex 3 called Segrave is late and is just beyond the far end of the inside kerb
Riders need to be aware of the pronounced brow, which unloads the suspension just as the rider is trying to steer the bike tighter and accelerate
Riders also need to bear in mind that the exit continues to turn to the right and that they have to line the bike up accordingly
Riders should not open the throttle too early
The exit is slightly curved, but riders will use the full width before beginning to make ground right for Noble

Noble

• Riders will make to the right as they accelerate uphill through the obvious easy right- hander
Some riders tend to run down the right hand kerb but is not really necessary
Braking is unnecessary but riders may need to ease on the throttle to steady the bike and assist it in the turn
The entry is bumpy and riders need to turn in progressively and quite late from around the top of the rise
This is a fast and featureless bend
The apex is very late and is towards the far end of the pronounced inside kerb
Riders need to drive hard and hold a tight line on the exit from Noble driving towards Goodward

Goodward

• Goodward is faster than it actually appears
Riders on the approach will need to pull the bike as far left as possible for the entry into the bend proper
No braking is required
The turn in point isn’t that crucial as it is more important to be smooth and to be accurate in reaching the apex
The apex is just beyond the marshals’ post so riders should aim for this mark rather than hug the kerb
If riders follow the inside line of the track they will be thrown wide and run out of track at Village (where the track kinks to the right) at exactly the point where riders need to be hard on the power
Goodward carries on to a second kink, which does not take an apex
Riders will aim to pass this point in mid track before drifting wider for the approach to Village
Riders can easily be disorientated at this point as it is pretty featureless

Village

• The track is quite bumpy going into Village
Riders accelerate through Village over the brow, which is immediately followed by a dip

Church

• This is perhaps the fastest bend on the UK short circuit
It demands a huge commitment from the riders
It can be treacherous in the wet
The camber is adverse
On the approach little braking is required but the braking area is slightly compromised by a modest brow as the bend is approached
The turn in point feels quite early around the bottom of the gentle dip
Riders need to turn in smoothly and accelerate through the bend
The apex is almost at the far end of the inside kerb
If riders apex too early they’ll run out of room on the exit, delaying the transition to full power
The entire central portion of the bend is quite bumpy
If riders hold the line quite tight to the inside will avoid the worst of the camber
As riders leave the apex the road falls away so riders will be driving hard and will aim to drift out to reach the outside kerb at the far end of the exit kerb

Club Chicane

• Riders will leave the Church and power through Woodham Hill and up a long uphill drag
Riders on their approach will use the two consecutive marshals’ posts on the left to guage their braking point but they will remember to carry an awful lot of speed right up to the final approach
There are a variety of lines on the approach which all are possible
One of the fastest entries is achieved by carrying a lot of corner speed in a constant arc all the way up to the first apex
Riders will straighten their bike slightly while gently touching their brakes on the final approach
Riders should not get too carried away with the entry speed as it is just as important to have the bike lined up cleanly for the exit
There are 3 apexes through here and Apex 1 is the late right-hander, opening up the line into the left
Riders will begin to drive gently from here but they need to be aware, as the kerbs are tall through this point
Apex 2 is late but riders need to accelerate harder
Apex 3 is also late and the essence is to straight line this as much as possible to allow a strong drive onto the straight
The exit is bumpy but riders will be driving hard to the start / finish line