Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > Ericthered Donnington race weekend

[ericthered40]

Ericthered Donnington weekend.

Loading started on Thursday night, took the van up to Dick Dastardly 111, to load his bike and paraphernalia, (kitchen sink). I really must start beating him soon as he is treating me like another one of his bitches. He was coming up on the Saturday with Mark in proper Gucci stile. Friday morning loaded all my own kit up. Gary my claustrophobic mate prefers to follow the van in his own car rather than get in with me, or is it my driving? Anyway off to Rogers at Chelmsford and away.

Rolled in to the Melbourne view hotel at half Ten next to Ali,s Tent and set about removing his ten pegs. Then off in to the bar for a beer. I didn’t know he had scratched his screen at that point. I convinced the others that camping was out as the wind was howling and the jets were still roaring over head. Great place to stay.

Track day Saturday,

I’ve only ever watched from the fence at Donny before so Codpiece was a nice surprise on the first session. It was dry all-day and I was out in all the sessions knocking seconds off my lap times. There were a fair few offs during the day and Twenty One offs at Codpiece alone on Friday so I was determined not to be One of them on my first day there. I managed to get down to the One thirty mark before I got tired. I put the bike back in the van in one peace and headed back to the comfort of the Plaice, to find to very happy looking ladies sitting in the bar, Ruthie and Mrs Ali. Now at this point I may have mentioned that the Groom to be may have had a screen scratching incident for which I sincerely apologise. I am as you say a big mouthed F***ing idiot that had surpassed himself. I did feel a pang of gilt for about two seconds but any remorse completely disappeared the next day when you managed to scratch your screen for the second time with out the cover of a Ruthie pampering day. If only she could of seen you trying to wheelie that F***ing monkey bike Saturday afternoon, you Loon.
Still you getting a Fifth place on Sunday after that lot is the ride of the weekend for me mate. Enjoy Friday you two.

Qualifying,

Wet and all the previous days confidence disappeared instantly, well lots of instances really. Bikes falling everywhere, riders crawling around on the track. Griff going so far off at Redgate I thought he was going home. I will be honest I just wasn’t up for it and qualified Twenty Forth, my worst one since I started. The track was drying all the time and by the time I went out for the SV practice the lap times were nearly back to dry times and my own confidence was coming back.

Race.

The start was a blinder for me, by the old hair pin I had jumped right up to the top ten. I could see Phil2 ahead and a clear track, then he arrived, Griff64 and I settled in behind to be pulled up to Phill2. I wasn’t thinking of anyone behind but I should of because just before the Dunlop Bridge Dickey Ducati appeared next to me. To say I was surprised is an understatement. As we came to the chicane a game of chicken ensued which I Won convincingly. Unfortunately I had no chance of getting round the right at the end and ended up just wobbling round on the curb with no momentum at all. I spent the rest of the race trying to get back to Griff and Dickey but that was it finished twelve laps gone. 13th over all and 10th in class. One Twenty Eight lap on lap 11 in the race.

The heavens opened before the SV race and as I’m at Cadwell Monday and Tuesday the Bike went back in the van in one peace. Fantastic weekend, onward and upward. Donnington is an awesome track and right up there with Oulton to ride.

[antonye]

When you start putting in consistent top tens, you can be the #1 in the team and treat the others like biatches

Glad you had a good weekend, and a very wise decision not to race in the SV class because of the conditions. Here's looking forward to Snetterton with No Practice Required

[Redruth]

Great report as usual Eric. It was great to see you shaking loose from 24th to 10th place by the 2nd lap. As you say, onward and upward. It's only a matter of time before you're leading the Essex boys rideout.