Cadwell shake-down !!!!
 

Well Nick and I managed to squeeze out at Cadwell yesterday for our first real test on the DD bikes.

Mine was looking pretty stripped down, with no electrics or fairings, Nick's looked like he'd ridden it there, it had full electrics, etc, etc!!!

This weekend is a full on New Era Super Cup (I think) weekend, with many racers taking the opportunity to use this trackday as practice!!! So you can imagine that as there were only limited places and it was full up, you actually had racers in the Novices!!

Effectively, the novices were a inters group, the inters were really a fast group and the fast was a f****** fast group.

So as you might tell, Nick and my decision to test out bikes for the first time in the f****** fast group might not have been too wise!!!!!

However, after a couple of sessions of finding our feet, (the first session was slightly damp) we quickly came up to speed and can safely say that we didn't embarass ourselves.

I'll let Nick post his own views, but for me, despite having a slipping clutch and not having ridden the DD bike more than 50 yards before, I was pleasantly surprised.

The Monster is resonably capable in standard form, I had considered suspension changes previously, but the standard suspension is OK, a bit more rear ride height might render the front a bit too soft, but for my abilities, it suited fine.

The lack of power meant that we were obviously getting absolutely killed down any straights, but as for cornering speeds, it could be a match for most of the bikes out there. Saying that, there were a few very, very,very quick boys out there and it wouldn't matter if I was on a exocet, there was no getting close to them.!

So overall, pretty pleased, I've gotta sort out some fairings, and sort the clutch out, the tyres performed very well and I was surprised by the amount of grip. I did have a small moment late on in the day when fully cranked over coming around Chris curve, but this may have been the surface and not the tyres???

Who knows, but I've come away very pleased and a lot happier than before. The Monnie is a great fun bike, it does lack power for sure, but that just puts the onus on cornerspeed - fantastic.

The times were way down on what I've achieved around there on the 996R, but I felt that I was cornering pretty close to my previous speeds.

I reckon it must be down to pure top speed. I saw just about 110 on the Park straight and the Jap 1000 boys were coming past at approx 30-40 Mph faster - what's that worth a couple of seconds a lap?

Who knows, who cares!!! I'm looking forward to facing pretty well matched bikes in May!!

Getting really excited about this now - BRING IT ON!!!!

Tim:ninja:

great report, I cant wait and I'm only spectating!!

I think thats good for all of us to hear Tim, its great that a fairly Standard ish Ducati 600 didn't feel to out of place in the fast group. Its also good to know that you fely comfortable with it first time out as I have yet to ride mine as my first time may or may not be our 1st Cadwell race meeting.

I can confirm Rattlers findings re corner speed and handling. Yes i got mullered on the straights but my bike pulled brilliant out of corners and on a par with bikes with much more bhp than me.

The Monnie just felt pretty "neutral" I suppose, no great surprises. It was pretty light and flickable.

In the early sessions I was waiting to get some kind of feedback from the bike (whatever that is) and it was almost as if she was saying "come on, get on with it, I can do more than this you know!".

So I pushed on, and she took it in her stride and there's plenty more to come I reckon.

Tim:ninja:

Tim, did you dicide on your racing name yet? I liked 'B & Q' racing. Could stand for Bold and Quick, or could just stand for the brackets holding your exhausts on. :D:D

I got to go out in minute but I'll try'n write a few words later.

Looks like Timothy's being a little guarded about the cornering... we didn't just 'keep up' with the club racers in the wiggly bits - we were all over them, and past them! Highlight of the day for me was going past an R1 over the mountain on me back wheel 'chillo style'!!

Got a nice photo too which I might run through the scanner for your enjoyment :)

later.
n

That Chillo style photo is an absolute gem, Nick. And it was impressive the way those little bikes with you and Tim riding them were running with the pack of Jap bikes and making it look dead easy.

Have you told Pete B yet about your bike? :devil:

had my monnie out at lydden today and he went very well shame about the rider:)

It was megga! Can't believe how the little beastie could put some seasoned racers to shame round the woodland section!

And no, I haven't spoken to Pete yet... I'm trying to work out how to break the news to him :(
Shhhhhh......

:saint:

No report on my day yet cos I want to go to bed, but a couple of piccies for your pleasure...

I need to eat more pies!

Looking good Nbs - That first picture scares me :o

He's definitely 'at one' with that bike. Someone is going to have to buy him a black and silver leather one piece though because by the sound of it the leathers he's going to be wearing for racing are not remotely photogenic.

:devil:

Any more sponsors out there willing to spare a bit of cash to kit him out ?
Come to think of it, my new ones might fit him - we're the same weight. :lol::lol::lol:

Sounds like it went well, chaps. Anyone take any lap times? Come on, post them up!

Looking good Nick - although I thought both wheels were supposed to be on the ground...?:devil:

I did Felix, but I need the permission of the duo to release them:)

Was it on the full circuit? Lets see those times Jon ;)

Yep full circuit TP. His lordship will have my guts for garters, if I spill the beans without his permisson:lol:

G'warn ... I won't tell ;)

Fair enough, I'll wait for the results to be ratified by the Rattler Estate community before being released to the general public.

I won't actually have a clue if the times are decent or not anyway, not having been there. But I'll be there on the full circuit the weekend before the racing starts so it would give me something to aspire to.

[Edited on 27-3-2005 by TP]

Lets say that you should be able to half boil a soft boiled egg.;)

That slow, eh?

Isn't there a recent Rossi (or his manager) quote that goes something like;

"why would I want to let anyone know how fast I can go, we aren't racing yet are we!!!" ;)

Tim:ninja:

That's funny!

We were watching fridays events from various places around the track and it was very obvious that the two monsters were holding their own around the corners. I certainly didnt see any bikes that were gaining ground on them. They both looked very impressive, even Nicks bike that still had the number plates on!

Later on in the day we were both very impressed to watch a BMW flat twin tourer thing complete with panniers beinmg ridden very quickly. He took it steady for a couple of laps then in was knee down into the left hander before the mountain and huge wheelies over it. Very impressive. Turns out it was a journo from MCN.

Low point of the day was watching the medivac helicopter take a faller away to hospital.

Lap times are a secret, but let's just say both timothy and I showed up a lot of the jap riding club racers, and our bikes aren't even race ready :D

Tim, have you found a big enough trophy cabinet yet?

Nick - its not the winning, its the not losing that counts!!!!;)

How's the bike Nick? All sorted?

Ive heard rummers of a 583 bigbore doing 1.48,s.dont know how true or evan possible that is but sounds quick to me .
Chris was doing 3 day 22 hour laps last sunday !
Butch

Sounds like a misquote opportunity;

"we were timing our laps, but we didn't need a second-hand!!!"

1.48's - pah - we were going back up the mountain on our second laps in that time!!!! ;)

Whats a second hand,we didnt need a minute hand!

Errrrrrrrrrrr, what hands, I was using a mobile:roll: