Michael Dowson | Part 1 - Hansford’s brilliance and wheelies at Bathurst
About this episode
Michael Dowson’s story kicks off with his Bathurst dominance on two wheels—“Took 11 victories at Bathurst on two wheels”—and the record tie for Castrol six-hour wins. The conversation then follows his path from Yamaha and Toyota opportunities into national racing, including the Toshiba Yamaha sponsorship push and first-time Bathurst rides. Along the way, the hosts compare old-school stability tricks and wheelie moments at Bathurst, from headwinds to Hansford’s “barber scrub” technique, before shifting toward the technical mindset behind staying fast and safe.
Thanks to all of our loyal listeners who messaged and asked for this one. It’s an overdue chat with a bike racing legend who was just as skillful in Touring Cars.
The unexpected medical benefits of heading west as a youngster and how early experiences with dirt bikes made a powerful impact.
His vivid recollections of the late Gregg Hansford at Waneroo and how he was spellbound by his riding.
The advice from a rival who convinced Dowson’s incredibly supportive parents that he had the right stuff but a move to the east coast might open more doors.
Plus a connection to Supercars commentator Chad Neylon and being brave enough to hold it wide open at Bathurst.
This is the first half of a ripper conversation with the rider they call ‘the Doorman’ and ‘the Colonel’ the hugely talented and widely respected Michael Dowson.
Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's Garage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
TZ750
"When I... About 1985, I got to ride a TZ750, [887.6s] which was what Will Hagen called as the Old Man's Axe."
A TZ750 is a Yamaha race bike with a 750cc engine that uses a two-stroke design. Two-strokes typically rev hard and feel very aggressive compared with most modern engines.
The Yamaha TZ750 is a famous 750cc, two-stroke racing motorcycle known for its dominance in Grand Prix-style racing in the 1970s. It’s notable because it uses a high-revving two-stroke engine, which makes it feel very different from modern four-strokes.
two-stroke
"[891.6s] So it was an old 750cc two-stroke, [894.6s] but in the day of when the Hansfords and those boys were around,"
A two-stroke engine makes power every two piston strokes, so it can feel punchy and rev quickly. That’s why two-stroke bikes were popular in racing.
A two-stroke engine completes its power cycle in two strokes of the piston (one crankshaft revolution), which generally allows it to make strong power for its size and rev quickly. In motorcycles, two-strokes were common in racing because they respond sharply to throttle and can be tuned aggressively.
wheelies
"So the boys would come up and wheel spinning out of the bowl and then sort of manhandling these things up to the top of the hill"
A wheelie is when the front wheel comes up off the ground while you’re riding. It usually happens when you apply enough power (or the bike is set up that way) that the front end loses contact. Here, it’s part of what makes the hill section tricky.
A “wheelie” is when a motorcycle accelerates or is ridden in a way that lifts the front wheel off the ground. It’s a traction and balance problem as much as a power problem—too much torque or the wrong throttle timing can destabilize the bike. In this context, wheelies are happening as riders try to carry speed up a hill section.
rolling the throttle off
"when they get to the bridge to the top of the hill, rolling the throttle off or working out how they can stop these things from flipping. Mostly meant they had to roll the throttle off."
It means you let off the gas pedal. Doing that changes how much pulling force the engine is making, which can help the bike stay balanced over a tricky part of the track. The host is saying that easing off the throttle is what keeps the bike from flipping.
“Rolling the throttle off” means easing off the accelerator to reduce engine torque. On a motorcycle, that can shift weight forward and change traction, which helps prevent the bike from tipping or flipping when cresting or changing direction. In this segment, it’s described as the key technique to stay stable at the top of the hill.
barber scrub
"You see how they do in motocross they call it the barber scrub where they roll the bike on the side and just about put the handlebar into the mud as they go over the hill."
A “barber scrub” is a riding trick where you sort of slide/scrub the tires as you go over a hill or jump. The goal is to keep the bike stable and under control rather than letting it bounce or tip. The host is using it as an analogy for how Hansford was handling the crest.
The “barber scrub” is a motocross-style technique where the rider intentionally angles the bike so the tires scrub sideways as they crest a jump or hill. By controlling the bike’s attitude and using controlled tire contact, it helps manage speed and stability instead of letting the bike go light or flip. The host compares the motorcycle technique to what Hansford was doing at the top of the hill.
KR750 factory three cylinder water cooled GP bike
"Hansford was doing that on a KR750 factory three cylinder water cooled GP bike."
The KR750 is a Kawasaki race bike. It has a three-cylinder engine and it’s water-cooled, and it was the machine Hansford was riding when he used that special technique to stay stable. The point is that this wasn’t just any bike—it was a purpose-built GP racer.
The “KR750” refers to Kawasaki’s KR750, a Grand Prix racing motorcycle known for its three-cylinder engine and water cooling. In this segment, it’s the specific bike Hansford was using while applying the stability technique at the top of the hill. The three-cylinder layout and cooling system are part of why it could deliver strong, controllable power for GP-style riding.
Greg Hansford
"“...here's a legend of our sport, Greg Hansford doing it on a KR750...”"
Greg Hansford is a famous motorcycle rider. In this segment, the hosts say he was the only one they can remember doing a particular stunt (“barber scrub”) in that era.
Greg Hansford is a well-known Australian motorcycle racer associated with the sport’s stunt-and-racing crossover moments. Here, he’s credited with performing a “barber scrub” on a KR750 in the 1970s, which the speakers frame as a standout, almost unmatched feat.
Wanneroo
"“...doing a scrub across the top of the hill at, everyone that races bikes and has been to Wanneroo...”"
Wanneroo is a well-known race track in Australia. The speaker is basically saying: if you’ve raced bikes there, you’ll understand how hard that stunt is.
Wanneroo refers to Wanneroo Raceway in Western Australia, a circuit that’s strongly associated with Australian motorcycle racing. The hosts use it as a shorthand for local track knowledge—if you’ve raced bikes there, you’ll understand why the “scrub across the top of the hill” is such a big deal.
Toyota Corolla
"So later in life, she got a brand new Corolla like what you can see around. Yeah."
The Toyota Corolla is a regular passenger car that’s made for everyday driving. People often choose it because it’s practical and easy to live with. In the podcast, it’s mentioned as a newer car she got later in life.
The Toyota Corolla is a compact, everyday passenger car known for being widely available and practical. In a podcast context, it often comes up as a dependable “normal life” vehicle—something people buy later on when they want reliable transportation. Mentioning a brand-new Corolla highlights a shift to a newer, more current version of that familiar, low-drama ownership experience.
Fso 125
"...o get to know over the period before that, riding 125s and 250s and starting to know some of the guys fr..."
The FSO 125 is an older compact car made by FSO in Poland. It’s the kind of vehicle people talk about when discussing classic or historical cars. In the podcast, it’s mentioned as part of the speaker’s background with vehicles.
The FSO 125 is a compact car produced by Poland’s FSO (Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych). It’s often discussed in enthusiast or historical contexts because it represents an older, simpler era of car design and local manufacturing. In the podcast, it appears alongside talk of riding smaller motorcycles, suggesting it’s part of a broader “getting to know vehicles” story rather than a modern performance discussion.
Yamaha
"so the Antonin Thompson was the Queensland distributor of Yamaha at the time."
Yamaha is a well-known motorcycle company from Japan. Here, it’s mentioned because the speaker’s contact was Yamaha’s distributor in Queensland. That connection helped them get a chance to ride a race bike.
Yamaha is a major Japanese manufacturer known for motorcycles and racing programs. In this segment, the speaker’s connection is through Yamaha’s Queensland distribution at the time, which led to access to the RC500. That kind of distributor relationship often played a big role in getting riders into early factory-backed machinery.
Antonin Thompson
"so the Antonin Thompson was the Queensland distributor of Yamaha at the time."
Antonin Thompson is mentioned as the Yamaha distributor in Queensland. In this story, that distribution connection is what helped the speaker get access to a race bike. It shows how local business links can open doors in racing.
Antonin Thompson is mentioned as the Queensland distributor for Yamaha at the time. In the context of the segment, this distributor role is what connects the rider to the RC500 opportunity for the Hub 300. It highlights the importance of local distribution networks in motorsport access.
Rob Assink
"And they had a good relationship with Rob Assink. And he said, well, look, we've got one of these RC500s for the Hub 300..."
Rob Assink is a person the speaker worked with in the racing and motorcycle distribution network. The speaker credits him with helping set up the chance to ride the RC500. It’s part of the story of how they got access to the bike.
Rob Assink is named as a key contact in the Yamaha distribution/racing chain described in the segment. The speaker says Assink helped facilitate the opportunity to ride the Yamaha RC500 through the distributor network. This is relevant because it shows how riders gained access to race machinery.
RC500
"And he said, well, look, we've got one of these RC500s for the Hub 300, which is a big endurance race, ... And we won it. So we were the first people in the world to ride and race this RC500."
The Yamaha RC500 is a race bike Yamaha made for long-distance racing. Here, they’re talking about using it in a big endurance event called the Hub 300. The speaker says they were early riders of that specific bike model.
The Yamaha RC500 is a purpose-built endurance racing motorcycle from Yamaha’s 1970s era. In this segment, it’s described as being used for the Hub 300, tying the bike directly to Australia’s early endurance production-racing scene. The host also claims they were among the first people worldwide to ride and race it.
endurance production racing
"And he said, well, look, we've got one of these RC500s for the Hub 300, which is a big endurance race, a start of the endurance production racing in Australia."
This means racing machines that are closely related to what people could buy, but they’re tested in long races. The focus is lasting the whole event reliably. Here, they’re saying this was an early phase of that style of racing in Australia.
Endurance production racing is a motorsport category where bikes or cars are based on production models, but are raced for long durations. The key idea is durability and consistency over time, not just outright speed. In this segment, it’s framed as the start of that kind of endurance racing in Australia.
Lakeside in Brisbane
"And it was at Lakeside in Brisbane, which was my home circuit at that time."
This is a race track in Brisbane. The speaker says it was their home track at the time, meaning they knew it well. That familiarity can help riders perform better because they understand the turns and lines.
Lakeside in Brisbane refers to the Lakeside Raceway circuit used for motorcycle and car racing in Queensland. The speaker notes it was their home circuit, which helps explain why the RC500 opportunity mattered. Circuit familiarity can strongly influence a rider’s confidence and setup choices.
ADR compliance issues
"I'd already ridden, you know, proper bikes. And this was a road bike with ADR compliance issues, oil injection. The engine was a mix of piston port parts"
ADR compliance means the vehicle has to meet Australian rules for things like emissions and safety equipment. If there are “compliance issues,” it means the bike didn’t fully meet those rules as it came from the factory.
ADR stands for Australian Design Rules, the regulations that govern what’s allowed on Australian roads (emissions, noise, lighting, and other safety/technical requirements). “ADR compliance issues” implies the bike had to be modified or had limitations to be street-legal in Australia.
oil injection
"So it was just, it wasn't a fight. Like, I'd ridden a TZ250, 350, 500, 750s. I'd already ridden, you know, proper bikes. And this was a road bike with ADR compliance issues, oil injection."
Oil injection is a system that automatically adds oil to the fuel/air so the engine stays lubricated. Instead of mixing oil into the gas yourself, the bike does it for you.
Oil injection is a system that meters oil into the fuel/air mixture (or into the intake) so an engine—often a two-stroke—gets lubrication without the rider manually pre-mixing fuel and oil. It’s used to simplify fueling and can help keep lubrication consistent.
piston port
"The engine was a mix of piston port parts and read valve engines. And if you know what you're talking about with engines, that was a bit of a weird mix."
On many two-stroke engines, the piston itself controls the openings (ports) that let gases in and out. “Piston port” means the piston is what uncovers those openings to time the engine’s breathing.
In two-stroke engines, “piston port” refers to how the intake/exhaust ports are uncovered and controlled by the piston’s movement. As the piston rises and falls, it opens and closes ports to manage the timing of gas flow.
read valve engines
"The engine was a mix of piston port parts and read valve engines. And if you know what you're talking about with engines, that was a bit of a weird mix."
“Read valve engines” appears to be a transcription of “reed valve engines.” Reed valves are one-way valves (usually in the intake tract) that open to let the fuel-air mixture in, then close to help prevent backflow—improving two-stroke scavenging and throttle response.
VFR 1000 Hondas
"But funnily enough, we ended up getting the checkered flag first, which was a bit of a surprise to me. And we were riding against VFR 1000 Hondas. We were riding against GPZ 900 Kawasaki."
The Honda VFR 1000 is a Honda motorcycle with a V4 engine. Here it’s brought up because the rider says they were racing against those bikes.
The Honda VFR 1000 is a sport-touring motorcycle known for its V4 engine and strong all-around road performance. In this segment it’s mentioned as the competition the rider was racing against, helping frame the bike’s real-world pace.
GPZ 900 Kawasaki
"And we were riding against VFR 1000 Hondas. We were riding against GPZ 900 Kawasaki. So are you making, you know, the difference on the day here? How did that come together?"
The Kawasaki GPZ 900 is a well-known older Kawasaki sport bike. It’s mentioned because the rider was racing against those motorcycles.
The Kawasaki GPZ 900 is a classic 900cc sport motorcycle known for its strong performance reputation in its era. The speaker uses it as another benchmark competitor while explaining how their bike surprised them by winning.
road circuits
"[2160.2s] on TZs and stuff, on road circuits. [2163.6s] So that's me and Bumbry. [2165.8s] Check the road circuit."
“Road circuits” are race courses that use roads (or road-like layouts) instead of a dedicated race track. They can feel more dangerous because the track space is tighter and there’s less room for mistakes.
“Road circuits” are race tracks laid out on public roads or road-course layouts, rather than purpose-built closed circuits. They typically have tighter lines, less runoff, and more obstacles close to the racing surface, which makes rider focus and positioning especially important.
TZ 350
"[2165.8s] Check the road circuit. [2167.1s] That's a TZ 350 in 1980. [2172.7s] How the world has changed, right?"
A TZ 350 is a Yamaha race bike. It’s known for being built for speed and racing, and the speaker is saying they were riding one in 1980.
The Yamaha TZ 350 is a classic 350cc Grand Prix–style racing motorcycle known for its two-stroke performance and lightweight race-focused design. In this context, the speaker is referencing a specific bike used in road-circuit racing back in 1980.
your line
"[2200.0s] He said, don't look at anything. [2201.6s] Look at where you need to be. [2203.2s] Don't look at these balls. Don't look at those armcodes. [2205.8s] Just your line, are you?"
“Your line” is the route you plan to take on the track—like the exact path through a turn. The idea is to focus on that path so you don’t get thrown off by distractions.
In racing, “your line” means the specific path you choose through a corner or section of track. The speaker is emphasizing that staying focused on the intended path (rather than distractions) helps you judge speed, timing, and positioning more accurately.
armcodes
"[2201.6s] Look at where you need to be. [2203.2s] Don't look at these balls. Don't look at those armcodes. [2205.8s] Just your line, are you? [2207.1s] That's why I was never scared of armcodes and stuff,"
This word sounds like it’s meant to be a racing term for something you might see out of the corner of your eye. The point is that the rider shouldn’t stare at distractions—focus on the track instead.
“Armcodes” appears to be a transcription error for a racing term related to visual distractions or cues near the rider’s peripheral vision. The surrounding context is about not looking at distractions and instead focusing on where you need to be on track.
top riders
"[2213.6s] That's correct. I think probably the best way [2215.6s] and top riders now, we all know it now. [2218.1s] When you look at photos of the top guys,"
“Top riders” means the best motorcycle racers. The speaker is saying they look far ahead on the track so they can react sooner and ride more smoothly.
“Top riders” refers to elite motorcycle racers, and here it’s used to support a technique: looking far down the road to improve anticipation. The speaker is connecting advanced visual habits with better decision-making at speed.
Conrod Strait
"When you were roaring down, what was just a flat Conrod Strait, a sequence of hums?"
Conrod Strait is a well-known fast section of the Bathurst track. People use it like a landmark to describe where you’re going very quickly and what the ride feels like there.
Conrod Strait refers to a famous Bathurst section of road where the track runs in a long, fast straight. Riders often talk about it as a key speed and braking reference point, so it becomes a shorthand for “how fast were you going there?”
TZ 750
"Okay, so the first time I rode a big bike was for Pittman Yamaha in 1984. So it was a TZ 750."
The Yamaha TZ 750 is a race motorcycle built for speed and track use. Here, the guest says it was his first “big bike,” and that it needed upgrades to work well at Bathurst.
The Yamaha TZ 750 is a classic 1970s/80s racing motorcycle known for its high-performance two-stroke V4 engine and track-focused design. In this segment, it’s the “big bike” the rider first used in 1984, and it’s discussed as a machine that needed updates to be competitive.
suspension
"So it was all, you know, the chassis, the suspension, the forks, or the brakes were all antiquated."
Suspension is what helps the bike handle bumps and stay stable. In racing, good suspension helps the tires keep grip when the road gets rough or the rider is going hard.
Suspension is the system that controls how the motorcycle absorbs bumps and maintains tire contact. In racing, suspension setup is crucial for stability through fast corners and for keeping the bike composed under braking and acceleration.
geometry
"Malcolm and his father were able to convert late model road bike stuff into this machine to bring it up to speed in regards to geometry and suspension"
Geometry is how the bike’s steering and suspension are positioned relative to each other. It changes how the motorcycle turns and feels—especially when you’re riding fast.
In motorcycle setup, “geometry” describes the angles and relationships between steering and suspension components (like rake/trail and fork/swingarm positioning). Changing geometry can dramatically affect how the bike turns, how stable it feels at speed, and how it behaves under braking and acceleration.
rigidity
"to bring it up to speed in regards to geometry and suspension and just rigidity, all that sort of stuff."
Rigidity means how stiff the bike’s structure is. A stiffer bike tends to handle more consistently because it flexes less when you ride hard.
Rigidity refers to how stiff the motorcycle’s frame and mounting points are under load. More rigidity can improve handling consistency by reducing unwanted flex, which helps the bike respond predictably when accelerating, braking, and cornering.
crankcases
"Apparently it was brand new crankcases, brand new Conrod crank assembly. Everything was brand new in the motor."
Crankcases are the engine’s main lower housing where the crankshaft sits. Saying they were “brand new” suggests the engine internals were fresh and built to run hard.
Crankcases are the engine’s lower housing that supports the crankshaft and contains the rotating assembly. In a racing context, “brand new crankcases” implies a fresh, likely more reliable and precisely built foundation for the engine.
Conrod crank assembly
"Apparently it was brand new crankcases, brand new Conrod crank assembly. Everything was brand new in the motor."
The Conrod crank assembly is the engine’s internal rotating parts—basically the crankshaft and the rods that connect to the pistons. “Brand new” here means the engine’s core moving parts were fresh.
A Conrod crank assembly refers to the crankshaft-and-connecting-rod components that convert piston motion into rotational power. In this segment, the speaker emphasizes that the Conrod crank assembly was new, which points to a freshly built engine bottom end.
brakes
"So it's just all the way straight down over the hill into the brakes. No Caltex chase."
Here, “brakes” means the moment you slow down hard for the next part of the track. At Bathurst, that’s especially important because the track changes elevation quickly.
In this context, “brakes” refers to the heavy braking phase right after a fast section, where riders slow the bike for the next corner. The transcript’s emphasis on “straight down over the hill into the brakes” highlights how critical braking timing and stability are at Bathurst.
wheel stand
"And these things would wheel stand between the humps."
A wheel stand is when the front wheel lifts up off the ground. It can happen when the bike accelerates hard or goes over a bump, and the rider has to control it so it lands safely.
A wheel stand (wheelie) is when a motorcycle lifts its front wheel off the ground under acceleration or over a crest. On a track like Bathurst, the combination of power and the “humps” can make the bike pivot so the front end rises, then you bring it back down safely.
front tyres
"The front wheel would be like an aircraft landing. They'd smoke up the front tyres when they'd smoke up."
The front tyres are the tires that control where the bike points. If they “smoke,” it usually means they’re losing traction, so the rider has to keep the bike straight and under control.
“Front tyres” are the tires on the front wheel, which are crucial for steering and stability—especially when the bike is pitching up and down over crests. The speaker describes smoking the front tyres, which implies the front tire is losing grip (spinning or sliding) under braking/acceleration while trying to stay straight.
engine temp gauge
"I'm thinking, what freaking time am I doing? I'm looking at the taco. So I've got an engine temp gauge and a taco. And that's your guide. You're looking for..."
An engine temp gauge tells you how hot the engine is getting. If it runs too hot, the car or bike can lose power and potentially get damaged.
An engine temperature gauge shows how hot the engine is running, usually via a coolant or cylinder-head temperature sensor. It’s critical in racing because overheating can reduce power and can cause engine damage if ignored.
clutch
"And I remember just touching the clutch every once in a while, trying to bring the revs up. Because the engine was good for about nine and a half thousand revs. And I think I was getting about 87"
The clutch is the control that lets you smoothly connect or disconnect the engine’s power. In this situation, they’re using it to adjust engine speed while riding.
The clutch is the control that connects and disconnects engine power from the transmission, allowing the rider to manage drive and engine speed. Here, they’re “touching the clutch” to help bring revs up while staying focused on lap timing and the gauges.
nine and a half thousand revs
"trying to bring the revs up. Because the engine was good for about nine and a half thousand revs. And I think I was getting about 87"
“Revs” means how fast the engine is spinning. Nine and a half thousand revs is very high, and racers watch it because it affects how the engine performs and how hard it’s working.
“Revs” refers to engine RPM, and “nine and a half thousand revs” means the engine is spinning extremely fast. In racing, riders watch RPM closely because power, traction, and engine stress all change with revs.
500 RPM
"There's 500 RPM that I could have got down straight. And therefore, that would be extra time off the clock."
RPM is how fast the engine is spinning. They’re saying they could have gotten the engine speed down by about 500 RPM sooner, which would have saved time in their run.
RPM (revolutions per minute) is the engine speed. The speaker is saying they could have reduced the time spent at a higher engine speed by about 500 RPM, which would translate into less time “off the clock” during a timed run.
PA
"Going into the pits, not being able to hear any of the PA stuff going on."
“PA” is the loudspeaker system at the track. It’s how officials and crew announcements get broadcast, and they couldn’t hear it while in the pits.
In motorsport, “PA” usually means the public-address system—announcements made over trackside speakers. The speaker says they couldn’t hear the PA while going into the pits, implying they missed timing/communication updates.
change the gearing
"You said it should do 95. So we're going to have to change the gearing because it just won't pull it."
Gearing is how the transmission multiplies the engine’s power. If the car isn’t strong enough to pull at the speed you want, changing the gearing can help it accelerate better and stay in the engine’s useful range.
Changing the gearing means altering the transmission’s gear ratios (often via different gear sets or final-drive ratios) to better match engine power to the car’s speed. If the car “won’t pull it” at the target speed, a gearing change can improve acceleration and keep the engine in its effective power band.
750cc
"We were on 750cc Yamis that Warren and his team had put together."
“750cc” is the engine size, measured in cubic centimeters. Bigger numbers usually mean a bigger engine, which affects how fast the bike can go and how much fuel it uses.
“750cc” refers to engine displacement—how much volume all the cylinders sweep in one engine cycle. In motorcycle racing, displacement is tightly linked to class rules and how much power and fuel the bike can make.
Bathurst
"So that race, Roger was always the guy to beat because he had the biggest fuel range. And around Bathurst fuels, your range is pretty much what's going to get you over the line first."
Bathurst is a famous race track in Australia. They’re discussing how the track’s speed and layout make fuel range and riding technique decide who wins.
Bathurst refers to the Mount Panorama circuit in Australia, famous for long, high-speed climbs and heavy braking zones. In this segment, it’s the backdrop for fuel-range strategy and the difficulty of shifting while riding hard through fast sections.
fuel range
"So that race, Roger was always the guy to beat because he had the biggest fuel range. And around Bathurst fuels, your range is pretty much what's going to get you over the line first."
Fuel range means how far you can go on a tank of fuel. In a race, whoever can travel farther before needing fuel can often win because they can plan pit stops better.
Fuel range is how far a vehicle can travel before running out of usable fuel. In endurance-style racing, the rider who can go the farthest between refuels can control pit timing and often has a decisive advantage.
fuel tanks
"So these, these boys from Yamaha put massive fuel tanks on these things."
Fuel tanks hold the gasoline for the bike. In long races, bigger tanks let you ride longer before you have to stop for fuel.
Fuel tanks are the storage containers for the fuel supply on a motorcycle. Enlarging or adding capacity is a common endurance-racing tactic to increase fuel range and reduce how often you must refuel.
Oren Park
"I remember going out, we'd done testing at Oren Park, which is a fairly low speed circuit."
Oren Park is a race track they tested at. They’re saying it’s slower than Bathurst, so the bike feels different in terms of speed and how hard you’re working through corners.
Oren Park is a race circuit referenced here as a “fairly low speed” track used for testing. The comparison is used to explain why cornering forces and engine behavior feel different than at Bathurst.
G-force
"The G-force on your bikes, nowhere near as much as at Bathurst because your traveling's so much faster."
G-force is how hard the bike is accelerating or turning, measured in “g’s.” More G-force usually means the rider feels more pull and the bike is working harder through the track.
G-force is a measure of acceleration felt by the rider, expressed in “g” units. Higher G-loads at faster circuits increase physical strain and can change how stable the bike feels through corners and transitions.
top of the mountain
"So we had situations where we're going to cross the top of the mountain on a bike. Still, I'm co-railed everywhere, but didn't look at it."
“Top of the mountain” is a notable section of the Bathurst track. They’re describing what it feels like there—fast enough that gearing and shifting become critical.
“Top of the mountain” refers to a specific high point on Bathurst’s Mount Panorama layout where the bike is transitioning between sections at high speed. The rider’s line and gearing here matter because you’re close to the limits of RPM and traction.
overrevving
"So halfway through the top of the mountain, we'd be exhilarating and overreving the engine. You'd need to shift up, but the shifter was on the ground."
Overrevving means the engine is spinning faster than it’s meant to. It can be risky because it can stress the engine, especially if it happens for more than a moment.
Overrevving (over-revving) means pushing an engine beyond its intended RPM range. It can happen when you’re forced to stay in a lower gear too long, and it risks engine stress or damage if it’s sustained.
shifter
"You'd need to shift up, but the shifter was on the ground."
The shifter is what you use to change gears on the bike. If it’s damaged or stuck, you can’t shift when you need to, which can make the engine run too fast.
The shifter is the mechanism you use to change gears on a motorcycle. If the shifter is “on the ground,” it implies a mechanical failure or damage that prevents timely upshifts—forcing the rider to ride at the wrong RPM.
gearbox
"We both missed a few gears, but at that place you don't want to do that for often. You blow a gearbox or you go into a hill."
A gearbox is the part that changes gears so the engine can keep pulling in the right way. If you shift wrong too often, you can damage it.
A gearbox is the transmission’s gear set that changes engine speed to match the bike’s needs. The host mentions “blow a gearbox,” meaning repeated missed or harsh shifts can damage the transmission internals.
shift pattern
"Because you're so used to it in the other way. You had to be able to concentrate on the most dangerous circuit in Australia and do the lap times you need to do and think about changing your shift pattern all at the same time."
A shift pattern is just how the gears are arranged and which direction you move the shifter to get the next gear. They changed the setup so it was easier to shift while the bike was leaned over on a fast, dangerous track.
A shift pattern is the order of gears you use—like which gear comes after another and how many gears are “up” or “down.” In this story, they reversed the shift layout so the rider could change gears without needing to get their foot under the shifter while the bike was leaned over.
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