Ducati Desmo Due - Pay Day

Thanks Jodie Wilcock for the pic

Friday night we loaded the van and got some shut-eye before the early morning trip down to Brands Hatch.

Got there around 08h00 - in good time for the 09h20 Qualification. Bike and kit through skroot okay then out onto a damp track for Qualifying. Most of the racers  made use of the Friday testing so were up to speed quickly. I just warmed my tyres for 2 laps then started chipping away.

Lap 4 and I feel a clunk. Then again. What the? I slow down and check where I can... no loose bolts sticking out. Bike still stops and turns. Engine running fine. Hmmmm... then 'clunk' again. After another lap, it get's worse so I pull into the pits.

First check I and I don't see anything. Helmet and gloves off... check again. Look, look, look. The I spot my chain... at one point, it's at a funny angle. One of the fecking links has broken. Crap! The clunk feeling was the chain hitting the engine casings.

I got a few hours before my race start, so just have to source a chain and a chain-breaker tool. With no race shop in the paddock (which is a bit weird), I ask around. Turns out Colin Norris of the SorryMate Endurance team (they kindly let me share their garage) has a spare chain from last year, a chain breaker/riveter and an angle grinder. Awesome! I get to work.

All done in good time for the race. But my Qualifying time from earlier is shite and I'm 19th on the grid from 23 riders. Got my work cut out for me. Dry, sunny but a cold wind. We line up and wait for the lights...

Hangin' with team SorryMate.com - thanks guys!

Thanks Justine Verwey for the pic.

I make a good start and grab a few places off the line. More places to be had going into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time... and some more going into Druids. Sweet! On lap 2 I get behind Michael Burke and we have a good ol' ding-dong battle for the next 8 laps.

Then the Wee Monster starts to fluff at high revs. Then clears... then fluffs again. I lose touch with Michael, then she bogs down completely going into Surtees. After trying my hand at engine work for the first time over the winter... and the ham-handed cock-ups I've made - all I see in my mind are bits of metal being sheared and swarfed up inside the engine and the poor beast chewing herself to bits. I swear I can smell burning oil. Bollocks!

First corner in a road race is pretty busy.

Thanks Jodie Wilcock for the pic

I pull into the pits and have a quick look. No oil. No chunks of metal. No rattles or knocking sounds. I check again. Nothing. She seems to run ok. Then I spot fuel around the rim of the fuel cap. I twist the fuel cap off and hear the 'ppppffffsssssssstttt' release of pressure. Shit. Must be fuel starvation... I check down pitlane at the finish line. The chequered flag is being waved. Too late.

Team SorryMate.com starting their 3hr endurance race - they got 4th and were unlucky not to get on the podium

This leaves me with a problem. There is only one race on Saturday... only one opportunity to get a qualifying signature for my TT Mountain Course Licence. It doesn't matter which class or bike I'm on... I just need a race finish to get that signature. I check the race schedule. There is a 'Lightweight' race for which the Wee Monster is eligible at the end of the day. I go find Dave, the race meeting Boss. He lets me enter the 'Lightweight' race on short notice.

Paul Berryman helping out with a cup 'o tea and the all important sticker alignment.

Thanks Justine Verwey for the pic.

The fuel cap is a cheap Chinese one. I got it originally for the Ducati 888 Classic TT bike. I didn't like the feel of it so swapped it for the good quality European made fuel cap that was on the Wee Monster. Turns out that although it is the right size and bolt configuration as a Yamaha fuel cap, the breather hole is in a different location. When fitted to a Ducati, the breather is blocked. Yep - cheap Chinese crap.

Thanks Jodie Wilcock for the pic

Besides the chain and gas cap issues, the bike is running well. I'm not being left for dead down the straights :-) Incremental gains: new rings, lapped in valves, removed base gasket, 2:1 exhaust (thanks Kevin Ellis), open airbox and the beautiful Desmosedici aero pack from one of my sponsors, Peter at Oronero.

Because of changeable weather (and some hail), my Lightweight race is cancelled and rescheduled for Sunday. Bollocks. I got find the Race Director and he agrees to give me a signature for that race if I finish it on the rescheduled Sunday. A long, frustrating, tiring day. Cold and hungry, I head back to my Mom's for an awesome home-cooked meal and a dry, warm bed :-)

Lookin' sweet! Did I mention the cool fairing is from Peter at Oronero?

After a fantastic night's rest and some great breakfast, I head back up to Brands for warm-up, the Lightweight race and then the two Ducati Desmo Due 18 lappers. It's bright and sunny, but soon big black clouds blow in and we have intermittent showers for the rest of the day.

Out for 4 laps warm-up and then straight into the Lightweight race. Because I was a late entry and didn't qualify, I'm right at the back of a 21 bike grid. Revvs up, lights out and I make a blinder of a start. I take handfulls of places in the first 2 corners... 13th after lap 1. Sweet! I lose some places to bigger, faster bikes as the race winds down. But I finish to gain my first signature of the weekend. Turns out that I finished 2nd in class :-) but no trophy because there were only 3 of us in the class. Bike works good.

Bike on fire at Clearways... all in a days' racin'

An hour later and I'm lining up 19th on the grid in the first Ducati Desmo Due race of the day. Another good start and I'm making up places all the way through lap 1. Next few laps I catch and pass, catch and pass. I'm up to about 7th and I can see the leading group ahead. Drops of rain start flicking off my visor and screen... I push on. Two laps later and I'm starting to see lines left by the tyres on the wetting track so I back off a bit. The next time we hit Druids and two riders are down and the red flags come out. Damn! Now I got to do all that work again from the back of the grid in a shortened race.

We gather for the restart - 8 laps. But the rain gets heavier, then it starts to hail. They call an early lunch and postpone the race by 30 mins. The rain stops after 20 mins, but the track is soaked. Our control tyre, the Dunlop Qualifier isn't too good in the wet. But we're all on the same rubber so we got to give it a go.

Spot the Wee Monster - 19th is a loooong way back!

Thanks Alan Lygo for the pic.

Another good start off the line. I cut through the pack around Paddock hill, take another bunch of places into Druids, another one into Graham Hill, another into Surtees. I cross the start line in 3rd! By the time we are around again for lap 2 and I'm leading! Its been a long time since I've lead a race... an awesome feeling. Acres of empty track in front of you. Just you, your machine and the track. No one kicking up spray in your face. Beautiful!

Working our way through the traffic.

Thanks Jodie Wilcock for the pic

I push the front a few times in the next couple of laps. I get the rear sliding around too. I focus on being relaxed and smooth. Feeling everything through my arse. On the gas as hard as I dare... just enough to get it sliding. A bit like flattracking. I'm really enjoying it and just keep trying to brake that fraction later and harder on every corner, and get on the gas that fraction earlier and quicker. The last lap flag comes out and that's when the thought of  "I can win th...". I crush the thought before it can escape and do me harm. "There's someone on your 6. Just keep doing what you're doing.".

Through Clearways for the last time... hanging off the bike, egging a slide on. Tuck behind the screen... braaaaaap, braaaaaaaaap... over the line. "Fuck yeah!" I roll down Paddock Hill, the marshals applauding. Goddamn this feels good! I turn around and the track is empty. I turn to the other side looking for the guy that was on my 6. Empty track. I slow right down, wave at the spectators and marshals and wait for the next riders for a hand touch. Turns out I won by 10 seconds. 19th place start, 8 laps... and I win by 10 seconds. This was almost the same as my only other race win which was at Anglesey... 6 years ago... in similar conditions... on the same old bike! Stoked!

Thanks Jodie Wilcock for the pic

Job done - two signatures for the TT Licence. Sweet. The attrition rate is high by the time race 2 rolls around. The track is also a bit damp and patchy after rain showers. No worries. I make another decent start and carve my way through the pack. I'm up to 5th or 4th after some laps.

Over the start/finish line and I get a face-full of hail. Shit! I back off a bit, brake earlier, tip her in slower and easier. As I approach the apex of Paddock Hill, a pair of riders in the leading group have skittled down the track and have been flung into the air as they hit the raised gravel trap. I ease off and hit the apex, my front pushes, I recover, it pushes again. Whoooooah, boy! That hail sure is slippery stuff!

Thanks Justine Verwey for the pic.

The race is red-flagged. Kevin Palmer and Scott Wilson got pretty beat up in the gravel but I think are ok - hope you're feeling better by now. We restart a 10 lapper. I got all the hard work to do again. No worries - what man has done... man can do. Lights off, full gas. More barreling through the pack... awesome fun. End of lap 1 and I'm up to 5th. With my dark visor on, it's hard to see just how wet or damp the track is. I sit behind a few riders for a few laps in the uncertain conditions.

A bit patchy out there.

Thanks Justine Verwey for the pic.

I see the leading group a few seconds ahead, they're not getting away. After 5 laps I decide to make a pass and start pushing. I catch the lead group and start picking them off. There is a lot more grip than it looks like -  I'm riding by feel. Pushing harder every lap, and the grip is there.... no front-end pushes or slides. I wind her up. I catch the leader, Matthew 'Awesome' Lawson as we cross the last lap flag. I don't take any chances through Paddock Hill, get in late, square it off and drive up Matthew's inside toward Druids. Matthew comes across to defend, but I hold my breath and squeeze through on the brakes.

I know he'll be trying to get back at me when he sees how much grip there is. I pin my ears back and sprint the last few turns for the line. I take my second win of the day by a few bike lengths. Fuck yeah! Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

Top step... feels good!

Thanks Karen Claridge for the pic.

After all these years trying, I finally take a Desmo Due win and go on to do the double. It's been 6 years since my last and only race win. Goddamn!

I'd like to thank my Mom, Peter at Oronero, Mike Dawson at MD-Racing, Steve at MTS Classics, Colin and Warren of team SorryMate.com, all the great fellas (and gals) in the Desmo Due paddock, Ale, Oz-Poz and Dooley-Bug for all your love and support form afar. I couldn't have done it without you! It's been real.

Wee Monster at Donnington Park

A few weekends ago, the day after the DTRA flattrackin at DirtQuake II, I got the Wee Monster up to Donnington Park to do the last of my ManxGP Qualification races.

I cannot remember where I got these pics from...

Apologies for no credits and thanks for the pics

 

After the get-off at Oulton, she was down 5 bhp across the rev range. Mike at MD Racing did a compression test and found the front cylinder is down 35psi. She must have eaten a stone from the gravel pit. So I got up to Donnington just wanting a finish.

I unloaded the bike and then realised that I had forgotten my leathers. Doh! I normally have a check-list that I use... after flattrackin the day before, I was full of confidence and reckoned that I'd done this enough times to be able to remember everything. Yeah, right!

Bike, check. Fuel, check, kit, check... no hang on... whe're my leathers?

With a two-hour round-trip back home not really feasible, I started asking fellow Ducati Desmo riders around the paddock and garages if anyone had a spare set of leathers. I was in luck! Kevin Ellis had a spare set on hand that were the rightish size (they were up for sale). He kindly offered let me borrow them for the day. Thanks Kevin!

Kevin Ellis was so kind as to lend me his spare leathers... we then fought it out on track!

Apologies for no credits and thanks for the pics

I haven't been to Donnington since 2004. It's a big track for a wee 54bhp bike. With loads of blind corners and 'faith' sections, I just felt me way around... careful not to repeat my gravel feats of Oulton Park. I qualified second from last. Hmmmmm.

I could hardly see the start lights from back there!

Apologies for no credits and thanks for the pics

With the GP grid at Donnington (bigger spaces and only 3 slots in each row), the 11th row is a million miles back from the front row... I had to squint hard just to see the start lights! I got a good start and got up to the next row by the time we hit Redgate. I'm still learning the place and just take it easy, making sure I finish. The underpowered little bike is getting killed on the straights... even by some of the Class B bikes. On lap 5 the race is stopped with a red flag incident. No worries. I bag my last qualifying finish for the Manx GP. Not a proper race and a crap result, but relieved that I'm now qualified :-)

Apologies for no credits and thanks for the pics

Race two and I push a bit harder. But with only 4 laps in qualifying and 4 laps in race one, I only have 8 laps experience around the place. I can go a bit quicker through sections and am not pushing as hard as the bike will go... so I reckon I'm down 3 or 4 seconds a lap off where I should be. Turns out I was 8 seconds a lap off the winning pace... I guess that'll be my 10 bhp deficit (class limit is 65bhp). The race goes full distance and I get my second finish of the day. Job done.

Desmo Due at Oulton Park

Drove up to Oulton Park on Friday afternoon for the Ducati Desmo Due qualifying and racing on Saturday. Lovely sunshine, but a cold breeze kept it at about 12 degrees. Through skrootinering, sound test and signing-on. Bike fuelled, tyre pressures checked and pretty soon we’re out for qualifying.

Oh dear - all that winter effort and now she's bent...

 

Just about all the guys have been out for a few sessions in the morning practice. I need to take it easy and work it up to speed. We get waved onto track at about 17h00. I go out last, leaving a big gap to the next guy. I hang back… testing the new clutch, scrubbing the new brake pads and discs in. Lap one done… lap two with a bit more welly to get some heat into those tyres. 

Postman Pat engineering vs. metal. Postman Pat wins!

 

The Wee Monster is pulling well… maybe it’s just the placebo effect, having spent money on her I believe she is faster :-) The corners are rushing toward me a bit faster than I expected - a bit rusty. Lap two… all’s steady. She’s feeling a bit too much on the front – falling into corners and then having to stand her up before reach the apex. Need to sort that. 

 

Half-way through lap three and into the second chicane… tight right, tight left, short-shift and bring her around the next right… clunk! Screeeeeeessssshhhhhhh... My shoulder hits the tar and I'm sliding down the track on my side... I come to a stop on my back just a metre into the gravel. 

Gravel down the poor girl's throat...

 Surgically removed with a chewed wine-gum.

“Shit! Fuck! Bollocks! What the hell happened there?!” I wasn’t pushing or going hard… tyres not up to temp… maybe. The front just washed out as I passed the apex. Never had that before.  Even on a Ducati. I’m fuming and stalk across the gravel to sulk behind the barrier.

Ploughing the field...

I go through it umpteen times in my head. I don’t know what happened… front just washed out. Maybe I should have been taking it even easier on those new tyres. Dunno. After the session, the recover van comes around. They’ve already collected Kevin Ellis whose bike and body looks a lot worse for wear than mine. Load the bike and get back to skrootineering.

Doing!

Damage didn’t look too bad at first, but it took me a good few hours to get it straightened out. Gravel and chunks off grassy soil everywhere – cleaned. Tank front clip broken – repaired with lock-wire. Airbox ripped off – gravel cleaned out of throttle bodies and cable tied back. Throttle damaged – repaired. Number-board broken – fixed. Brake master cylinder ripped off and pipe stuffed with soil – cleaned, repaired and brakes bled. Rear-set and foot-peg okay but brake lever not returning – repaired from bits of other rear-set parts. Rear hub filled with gravel – cleaned out. Seat lock broken – cable-tied. Tank dented and handle-bar bent – gonna have to live with that. Looks like there is some sort of fluid on the front-right tyre... but hard to see with all the gravel dust and soil. I spot a bit of weepage from the brake calliper nipple. Think it must have been that so I sort it. 

 

Miraculously the footpeg survived... but rear-brake was binding so needed changing

 

Three spare rear-sets... and they're all for the left side! Doh!

I find a local eatery in the dark. Fill my belly, get back to the paddock and hunker-down in the van for some shut-eye. It's only 3 degrees outside and am just barely warm enough - not a great night;s rest. I wake to a glorious sunrise and frost... I forgot to cover the bike and she's a bit frozen. Sorry old girl. 

Early morning frost

I only qualified 29th of 31. Starting form the back of the grid… all I was going for was a finish. Didn't go to all this effort and expense to not get a qualifying signature for the Manx GP. 3 lap warm-up goes okay. I think I fixed my turning in problem... but not comfortable on the bike. Pretty soon and we're lining up on the grid. It's been a while since I've been near the back of the grid... it's miles to the front row. A confidence boost knowing that things can only get better :-) 

Breakfast of Champions!

Celebrity racers. Jakub Smrz (beanie) and the Padgett's Team using the race day at Oulton as a test for BSB in 2 weeks

 

That new clutch is a dream. The Wee Monster wheelies off the line and I'm up to the next row before carnage unfolds ahead of me. I see bikes and bodies going down and sliding across the track. Off the gas, onto the brakes and pick my way through the strewn bikes, bodies and debris. At least 3 bikes are down. 

A bit wonky... but functional... kinda

Within 15 minutes, we are back on the grid for a restart. I don't get as good as start, but am still up to the next row by the time I join the first corner melee. I make a pass or two but generally keep out of trouble. I need that finish. I'm not riding with confidence... don't feel great on the bike... and the bike is very slow for some reason. I get passed by class 'B' bikes down the straights and land up battling for the lower positions. I finish 17th. My fastest lap is 10 seconds slower than the fastest of the race - I'm a million miles off the pace... but I get that signature!

There's something on my front tyre... not good for grip.

 

After the race I find oil on my boot... and some on the front wheel. The front fork had popped a seal and was pissing oil. Could explain the crash I had in qualifying. My hopes of doing better in Race 2 are dashed. I pack up and leave Oulton Park with what I came for - a Manx GP qualifying race. Five done... just one to go.

Oily boot - bad sign

The downfall...

Monster Ready for Battle

This afternoon I head up to Oulton Park for the first round of the Desmo Due Championship (the original first round from 5 weeks ago was abandoned because of weather). The Wee Monster is all prepped and ready her first outing - looking forward to seeing how she fares after all the winter improvements.

 

New ally swing-arm, brake master cylinder and lightweight disc... 

...carbon mudguard robbed off my road Monster, lightweight disks and new sooper-dooper race pads... 

 ...custom lightweight belly-pan...

 



 ...ECU flashed - ditched the old clocks and ignition key...

 



...massive thanks to Mike at MD Racing for the sponsorship and engine work... 

... my first bit of carbon lay-up... ignition switch has built-in neutral light... 

...lookin' mean and hungry...

...some old nose-art stickerage from a few years back...

... cables and springs are too heavy... some elastic bands from the postman will do...

...single exhaust saves at least 2kg...

...ready to rumble!