General:
NOTE: This strategy was written by SuicideEagle, many thanks to him. I didn't edit anything, simply because I didn't feel it was necessary. Let's go then...
This level is, I believe, the hardest level in the game. The consistency strat for M3 makes that level relatively easy but M9 is just evil. There are 4 methods I know for completing this level so here goes...
I want a consistent finish!
The first method is to just take the whole level slowly. The first part is easy but it's only when you start getting to those last few turns that it starts to get harder. The best way to do them is to stop so that the bottom of the ball is directly on the corner, but not to line up the monkey's feet or to mess around with the radar. Then you very slowly turn the ball making sure you don't actually move off the corner. The camera is annoying but just keep your eye on the bottom of the ball. You should finish with anything between 0.5(!) and 10 seconds on the clock.
The other method which I haven't really tried that much but is still fairly consistent is to stop right on the outside of the corner after the banana facing west. Then go right and run straight at the next corner. Line yourself up with the bit after the gap and jump over. You'll cut out half the level which is handy if you have time problems. Just finish as normal.
I want a good score!
We'll say 11580 which is a 57.40 finish. Hold somewhere between left and up left at the start to get going in the right direction. You should aim to hit the edge of the path about halfway between the 1st and 2nd turns. As you hit it pull over to the right and if you're lucky you'll bounce up and over the path immediately to your right and hit the near edge of the 2nd path to your right about 2 squares right of the corner. This bounce will send you towards the 0.1 wire (before the final turn). You need to land on the wire and 'grind' around the very final short section of wire and straight into the goal (through the side you would normally go through on a slow run). Most goes you will bounce over the very final piece of wire (if you're going really fast). If this happens a lot you could try letting go of the analogue for a split second as you land on the 0.1 wire to slow you down enough for the grind.
I want the record!
OK. This is tough. Start off exactly as before but this time as you hit the bit 2 squares right of the corner you need to pull over to the right a bit more. You then need to hit the second to last corner perfectly which will give you another bounce sending you straight into the goal (through the opposite direction to where you would normally go). Most goes you will either go too fast and go over the corner, hit the corner but not perfectly sending you in the wrong direction or hit the corner just about right but hit the left hand post of the goal. It's annoying but just keep trying until you hit the magic bounce. 58.00 and better is quite easy with this strat... (I have 58.00).
Current Record: 11716
Finish: 58.08
Bananas: 1
Difficulty rating for 11580: 3/5
Difficulty rating for 11700: 4/5