Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > the biggest crash of my life

[Dominic Clegg]

hi everyone

All week before the assen weekend I was thinking this was going to be my weekend. As it will be a level playing field no one had been to this track. So I should have a good shot at the podium.

during all the sessions i was getting faster but ended up qualifying 21st and 4th in class behind the very fast phil and chris and then it was me and andy.

looking over the bike i was on the edge of the front tyre as i still have been able to get hold of the 70 profile (so still on the 60). so i real couldnt go any faster or lean the bike over any more. after seeing phil going around and the way he hangs off the bike i tryed doing the same it real worked.

On to the race. out of the pits on to a sighting lap bike feels good and find my grid place. the man at the front moves to one side revs build and the lights go on then off i pull a massive wheelie off the line so a bad start. moved over to the right of the track and got past a few riders pushed it up the inside of the hairpin my favorate corner. can see andys pink bike just in front of me. the race pace was very fast i was trying everything i could to stay with him. the bike seemed it was like on the limit. chris wood must of got a bad start as i think he came flying around the out side of me leaving a huge black line just before the left right on to the start finish. mark#45 past me going into the frist corner but i ran around the out side of him to keep my place. onto the back stright and again marks got the legs on me and goes infront i try and hang on around the out side of him only to have the front tyre let go iv run off the edge of the tyre. The bike lands on top of my leg and me and the bike seem to side for a very long time on the tarmac as there is a large run off area there. My foot was twisted under the bike and it real hurts when it final stops i cant get the bike off me i was in some real pain at that point. by the time they get the bike off me and an abulance was there. was taken to the medical centre and was given something for the pain i could hear the podium being called i so wanted to be up there this weekend. i was the taken to hospital and thank god nothing had broken.

my leathers took most of the damage so need a new set also a new master cylinder and some dody filler. oh and yes a new font tyre to the larger 70

sorry for having the race stopped but i just couldnt get up.

should have my leg back to normal and the bike up and running for castle coombe. but iv got to start finishing the races theres no point if you fall off.

even with my crash the weekend was fantastic. and next year i want to be on that podium.

thank you to every one that looked after me and got us going again see you at the next race.

[Edited on 9-5-2006 by Dominic Clegg]

[dickieducati]

glad to hear you are ok. couldn't get much info straight after your off. yep, to finish first you much first finish as you know.

always worrying when a race is red flagged but nice to know you'll be out there again soon.

in future; if you must; can you fall off when i have a crap start and am doing badly as opposed to assen where i was having my best race yet.

[Redruth]

Good to hear you're OK Dominic, nothing broken and will be fit for Castle Combe. It was pretty worrying watching the aftermath of your crash. All I could see through the binoculars was a crowd of men in white coats. You can now officially say the men in white coats came to collect you.

[Dominic Clegg]

how far did i side?

did any one get any pictures of it

[ChrisBushell]

Dom

Glad to hear that you are ok and hope that you can get a 70 series tyre for the front end before the next round, I beleive that Castle Coombe is fairly quick as well.

[VanDaMauler]

Glad you are ok...

There is one certain way to never crash and thats never ride.

Crashing is all part of racing (unfortunatly )

[stevebale]

Dom... Saw you go on ur arse... Glad your all ok and well.. Dont need to apologise for stopping race... It means everybody raced twice at Assen !!!!!!

Steve and Pete #9

[ericthered40]

Glad to hear your in one peace, was all a bit worried when we found out it was at the fast chicane

[domski]

Glad you're OK Dom, and thanks for stopping the race. I jumped the first start and had Kyle all over me like a rash (part 2 was much better for me).

I had the same issues with the tyre. We still had the showroom fitment tyres on, with a 60 profile front and I was running on the edge of that on Friday. We changed it for Saturday and it made a huge improvement (honestly don't think I'd have got a podium without the new tyre).

Keep your chin up fella, and give it some at Castle Doom

[phoenix n max]

Glad you are relatively ok Dom - I was very concerned when I came up seeing you buried under the bike and slapping the gravel

I'm still on a 60 too, however even I used all the available front at Assen so it's change to 70 for me as well.