Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > Fil2's race report

[fil2]

First, thanks to Kelly, Fordie, Tim , Karen for the support on the weekend without it, it would not be the same. Thanks to nelly for building the bike “ sweeeeeet “ and thanks to all that turned up and made the first race weekend the best it could be considering all the factors.

Qually...

Went out behind Ali which proved to be a wise move, the big fella was on a very quick pace from the word go, much like all our races last year, decided to sit in behind Ali even though he slowed me up a little in the corners Ali was a good slip stream for the straights, going down Park straight Ali had a look behind him and I gave him a little wave, after that he decide to use all of his gears lol and ****ed off into the distance but I still managed to keep him in sight which gave me a good target to try and catch. The track was still a little wet in places, Hall bends being the worst offering me a wake up call as to how slippery it can be in the woodland section. Finished after what felt like 34 laps and was pleased after wandering around in a exhausted daze that I had qualified POLE………now I really would have the 583 pack gunning for me…………

Race 1…

To say I felt a lot of pressure on me to perform is an understatement, my heart was thumping so loud several times I had to look at the rev counter to see if the bike was running ..my heart pumping had drowned out the thump of the little v twin…Well lined up pole position to be face with no riders in front of me..was a very strange experience. The lights were red for what seemed like ages ages and then ages then in a blink were gone..i nailed it hard the front wheel came up twice but I held the power on knowing Chris was hunting me down and if I shut down would give him the hole shot. Next thing I know I’m Leading , now what..? right ride hard and I did for 3 laps ! was extremely weird I had no idea if I was on the pace !! who was behind me !! how close !! I just kept riding hard and no-one came past, had no moments and was comfortable at the pace I was holding..then it all went “ twilight Zone “ started thinking about my gearing and what gear I should be in..started to change my approach gears etc……god knows what I was thinking certainly was not about the race..!!! next installment in” twilight zone “ was having Chris Woods come past me towards the end of park straight… WTF that woke me up ! where did he come from this is my episode !!...that was it I was back in the “race” and in no way going to give it to chris without a fight …chris broke for park and I hung onto the power a fraction longer and went on the inside of him..then put the pace down..i had no idea how close he was to me but assumed very close so keopt a good pace up but blocked every line I could thru the woodlands and assuming he was still on my tail I really got on the power early coming out of Barn a quick glance back and I see him prolly 15 bike lengths back as I cross the line. I cannot believe I took the chequered flag..I won…WOW .

Race 2………

More pressure now to perform again…right this time I will not drop my focus. Lights out of we go..i pop the front wheel up again. Must be the 49 horses bursting to get out hehehe, but this time Chris is pulling along side me and slowly edging past… “ got to get the inside line up coppice I think “ and I know he is thinking the same thing..he has got it he has the line..right I tuck in behind him and plan my move for Park corner as in race 1. we both got great drive out of Charlies and we are on the same pace, right gonna get him on the brakes I m thinking….but no he musta known it was coming he broke late and covered his line, nice move you bastid.!! In we go to park and chris is carrying so much corner speed he is going wide out to the white line,i have three thoughts here”shit chris don’t bin it m8 “ “Am I pushing him to hard” and “damn I gotta stay with him“..sat in behind him and waited for my chance. Thru the Gooseneck and Mansfield he was quick but I got on the power earlier outa Mansfield and was making ground into the chicane..right its here chris went on the inside and I carried the outside line with pace and took the line into the chicane..right first place back in under one lap..now ride and I did…cant remember now what lap it was but chris was still behind me the rain was falling and as we approached park a marshall was frantically waving a yellow flag with a fallen ride on the grass.. “ **** “ I thought and slowed right up into the corner, chris obviously did the same cos we had a good chat about it after the race, this gave 3rd and 4th a real chance to gain some distance on us, got back on the pace but it was getting wetter so decided to ease of just a little bit…once again back round to park still in first and the same marshall is waving a slippery surface flag “ wtf now” I thought ! so slowed again worrying about oil or something on the track..then I notice a front wheel on inside of me ! Chris no ! Griff AND Skidlids….wtf is going on I thought have they not seen the hazard lol …gave serious thought then for the next 10 seconds as I watched Griff and Kev carry good corner speed and start to pull away thinking damn they are going quick…”3rd is ok”… Then NO WAY I want first so knuckled down and made plans to pass them one at a time….caught up kev by the chicane and sat in behind him drove hard over the mountain on the inside line while kev took the outside line…first into hall was mine pulled along side skids and took the line into hall..right next griff…caught sight of Griff as he entered Hall was about 5 bike lengths away….needed to bridge that gap not gonna make it on the straight so really got on the power early outa hall and gained some good speed onto the straight “LAST LAP shiat”…im catching him and by coppice im on his tail..i know I have him.just wait phil don’t make any silly move…nothing in the top speed of the bikes I gain nothing but loose nothing down park straight, Griff brakes late and covers his line..i brake later and run up the inside..thats it back in front…not having anyone coming past me now so I lift my pace…put in the fastest lap in race 2 and took first across the line by a good 15 bike lengths. WOW a double


What have I learnt

Don’t slow down for Yellows
Don’t slow Down for Slippery Surface flags
Don’t slow Down when you are leading
Don’t make it any harder than it needs to be
Don’t wheelie of the line
Look out for Chris Woods, Kev, Glyn and Griff
Will I learn any of the above Probably not LOL

Summary

Race 1 …1st
Race 2 …1st and fastest Lap

[domski]

Getting plenty of work done then

Good report ya trophy hunter

[Fordie]

More , more, that was a good read Fil but then I had the real thing whilst travelling back home on Sunday. Always a bonus that . Big well done to you and Nelly for your 1st double. 4D

[fil2]

Originally posted by Fordie
More , more, that was a good read Fil but then I had the real thing whilst travelling back home on Sunday. Always a bonus that . Big well done to you and Nelly for your 1st double. 4D

and you Pete...without you m8 i would not be doing it..u will be sadly missed at BH...................

[TP]

Great report and great results Phil, you've done well mate.

It's all well and good to lump all the pressure on you as the favourite, but it's another thing altogether to soak up all the pressure and deliver the results - which you did.

Rock on

[fil2]

Originally posted by TP
Great report and great results Phil, you've done well mate.

It's all well and good to lump all the pressure on you as the favourite, but it's another thing altogether to soak up all the pressure and deliver the results - which you did.

Rock on

thanks TP........



[Edited on 29-3-2006 by fil2]

[Glyn]

good read m8
i did wonder what had happened in the 2nd race

well done again chap

[skidlids]

Originally posted by fil2
it was getting wetter so decided to ease of just a little bit…once again back round to park still in first and the same marshall is waving a slippery surface flag “ wtf now” I thought ! so slowed again worrying about oil or something on the track..then I notice a front wheel on inside of me ! Chris no ! Griff AND Skidlids….wtf is going on I thought have they not seen the hazard

Wasn't me Phil I passed you when you missed a gear exiting the chicane, it was either swerve around you or ram into you, although I did pass Chris entering Park corner as I tried to follow Griff through. At least I stayed ahead of you for a lap, two bends and the mountain.
Top race I thought

[Jools]

Nah...if I was your schoolmaster I'd still write up your report as "tries hard, could do better"

[Glyn]

and id write it up as tries hard but i could ave im:P