dickies 2006 desmodue diary
 

firstly a piece from the end of my 2005 diary:


"what did i achieve?

wanted to get through the season with myself and the bike in one piece - done it.

wanted to improve as the season went on - i recon i did. qualified 10th in my last meeting and came 13 th and 16th.
as opposed to qualifying 21st and finishing 19th and 18th in my first race.

wanted to learn more about racing and skills required to do well - definitely. picked up some things that i would not have known about at the start of the season. and that will make a big difference to my racing next year.

wanted to grow in confidence and feel i belong in a race- definitely."


so to 2006.

well the competition will be fierce in 'class A'. everyone joining in seems to be quick and well up for it compared to the wet behind the ears novices most of were at the start of last season.

thats fine with me, really looking forward to getting out there, the racing should be even closer than last year i would say as the classes have been split.

my bike is much more advanced than at this stage last year. just needs a bit of fettling, it was standard engine and front suspension last year. front has just been sorted and i will be taking it for engine work at the weekend.

should be out on track early feb to get some trackdays under my belt. be nice to see lap times im doing at the tracks i have already raced at. gives me a good target.

aims for this year?

the same as last year; keep myself and the bike in one piece

try and improve at each meeting and on my best postions from last year.

so want to qualify better than 10th
want to finish higher than 13th

i think that will be tough considering the competition but i'll give it a go.

overall, if its anything like last year cant wait to get started.
there will also be the added bonus of being able to watch the other DD class too.

looking forward to seeing everyone there.

One comment confuses me, you state 'well the competition will be fierce in 'class A'. everyone joining in seems to be quick and well up for it '

How do you know and who is everyone ? I'm kinda worried now and want to race 583's :( :(

purely because anyone coming into the series fresh who is a true novice (no racing at all) is more likely to go 583. the ones joining in 620 have some experience already and some have very well set up bikes from the off.

Isnt your bike a 620?

can't see your name there.

feel free to come and show me how its done. ;)

Are you competing in the 583 bit on a 620? Isnt that as unfair as some of the stuff last year?

come out on your 999 if you like.

I came out a long time ago............. so is it a 583 series, apart from or what?

2 classes - 2 grids Andy

583

620

oh, i thought he was taking the p*** as usual. :lol:

Id never be that sharp............:saint:

Id love to compete on the vfr 400 that is fun, though she'd kill me if i binned it..........:o

I'm with you to a point Dickie.

Class - A : bigger investment = higher expecations = competition

Class - B : Some new novices and some old hands = competition

I for one will NOT be letting anyone have their own way in Class B.

update:

so bike is all finished. suspension and engine done, new numbers on, been chucked on the dyno so at least i have an idea what i have and where it is.

first outing at brands this sunday, may even be dry.:o

just remains for me to see if i can actually go quicker than last year.

will be happy to just have a little 'loosening up' session sunday, but will have an idea after that.

the season starts now. :D

nice realistic targets... there's nothing worse than being miles away from your expectations.

Push yourself a bit more though fella.... make the goal a top 10 finish.... give yourself something to stuff someone that little bit harder into turn 1 for.

I have to admit, much as we've had issues, you seem to have a great desire to do well and are trying as hard as you possibly can...

i respect that a lot.

i wouldn't be looking to get within 2 seconds of your best lap if i were you... the cold really does make a HUGE difference.

cheers steve,

yeah i'll see how i feel on sunday and what the weather is like, be nice to get close to my race lap times though.

I can echo that sentiment Chris..................No more MR take it easy ride at 85%.....this year its all cylinders blazing...:cool:

steve & dickie get a room................:P

he wishes mate... ;)

he can't keep up with me on track, what chance would he have of keeping up in bed. :sing:

You owe me a keyboard tiger!!

And maybe a screen, although I think I might be able to get all the coffee out of it!!

:lol: oh god my sides hurt, make the nasty man stop!

anyway.............back on thread.

a very late and very brief cadwell report.

qualified 12th i think.

finished 10th in race 1.
fiinished 12th in race 2.

pleased with results.

race 1. was good batting with mal wheeler (the ducati uk guest rider) managed to pass him 3 times and get passed back each time. i guess his experience although quite a few years back is still there. felt a bit gutted really as i knew i was quicker than him but couldn't make it stick long enough to pull away. planned to line him up out of barn (the last corner) on the last lap, which i did and out dragged him for 10th place. my first top 10. very chuffed.

race 2. was knackered from the first race. i was amazed how tired i was racing again not just physically but also mentally. it can take alot out of you keeping an eye on the track, where you are going, what you are doing and also trying to pass people. had an uneventful race and finished 12th.

weekend overall was great. superb to get out with everyone again and to be able to watch a couple of great class B races too.

cadwell in march? would probably pass, but race weather was good. setting up and packing up in the ****ing rains not so good.

overall pleased with results first aim achieved for a top 10.

two top 10's on the way at brands for me next time out.

quick brands report...............

it was wet ....im crap in the wet

abismal qualifying 15th i think,

1st race on a drying track managed a 10th place
2nd race on a soaking track 14th place. says it all really.

well done to all those out there especially those who had offs and got back out there. big respect.

also big up to nick and fellow essex boy antonye for their podiums finishes. top job. and well deserved.

special thanks to all the support (too many to mention) for everyone; with plenty making long jorneys in really crap weather. all the riders really apreciate it. hope there was enough action for you.

glad we've got the only wet race of the season out of the way now.

assen cant come soon enough.

still good fun though. :D

Which track were you racing on???

:lol: