Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > New Provisional Timetable for Donnington

[skidlids]

Glyn I think a few people made assumptions about the numbers, with 24 Class B entries out of a possible 41 already in a week before the closing date and about half or the Class A riders entered by that time it looks like the assumption was made that we would end up with more than 40 riders, so CB started applying pressure on New Era to give us two grids something that woul have been needded if we had 6 or 7 more entries, after all 42 or 43 out of a possible 60 odd shouldn't have been to hard.
As it is it hasn't happened and it may well work against us later in the year as the RC campaigned for two grids from new Era and then didn't come up with the entries to fill one combined grid.

Just like the first round last year at Mallory where we put out the smallest grids at the meeting as i mentioned previously here.

http://www.ducatisportingclub.com/sh...t=78617&page=5

and when you look at the top of the page it looks like Donny will be a Mixed Grid with 36 riders and no reserves

[Scooter916]

Well the no reserve thing is a good thing, At least all who entered will get a race.

[bradders]

difference is Kev at Mallory there were many other races which could be entered on a DD bike

[skidlids]

Originally Posted by bradders

difference is Kev at Mallory there were many other races which could be entered on a DD bike

Yet we still had the smallest grids even when you take out the DD bikes from the SoT or the Class B bikes from Class A.

We can't keep telling New Era we need two grids and then barely put out half a grid in each class, or in Class A's case a quarter of a grid at Donington, its not going to help us influence any of New Eras decisions.

If we want split grids we need to justify it with numbers or expect the costs to go up.
Say a grid of 36 at a cost to New Era of £120 a grid place its worth £4320 to New era
Split that between 24 class B riders and its £180 a head
Split it between 12 class A riders and its £360 a head
But split between 24 Class B and 12 Class A its £120

I know the Supermono's use to pay for a full grid and then divide the cost between the entries, that way they knew what they were getting every time, so they knew they had untimed practice, timed practice and a long race.

Considering New Era is a business that lost a lot of money last year we have to realise they are going to do whats best for THEM and the best thing we can do is get our entries in as early as possible.

Thankfully not all circuits are as costly as Donington where its hard for New Era to break even, at other circuits the grid spaces cost them less and if they fill enough at the right price they can make a profit and afford to be a bit more generous with their grid allocations, hence the chances of getting two seperate grids at the likes of Angelsey, Pembrey, Snetterton, Mallory and Cadwell are pretty good and not many of those offers Garages and electric

[andys 900ss]

So where does that leave our team & spectators?

Last race of the day and only one on Sunday seems alot for people to fork out for.

How many times do we get the late races at big meets. I remember my first meeting at Oulton 2006, it was 6pm by the time we'd finished. Looks like we still get the ****'est times 3yrs on.

Andy

[bradders]

appreciate the point about mixed grids, but think thats a different one to the issue I'm describing.

2 days for 2 races and 1 practice and no option to enter another race seems unfair in the extreme for a series which has contributed to NE for a reasonable period of time and mostly filled their spots.

Yes its a business, and its too late to chnage anything now, and probably promises were made to the RC of seperate grids (which would have meant you could have entered the other class for some extra track time) but it hasnt happned.

I have no right to speak of, as I'm not racing this year, but am planning to spectate at most rounds and TBH will not be at Donny for this. As its Craig's 1st, I wanted to be there to offer my kind of support, but I have to weigh up everything and on balance will be seeing him at the next one (coz he will bring it home safe!!) but not this.

[skidlids]

Originally Posted by bradders

.

2 days for 2 races and 1 practice and no option to enter another race seems unfair in the extreme for a series which has contributed to NE for a reasonable period of time and mostly filled their spots.

Same sort of deal for Pro bike open although they paid more and got a extra Free practice but have 3 outings on Sat and one on Sunday
F600 now only seem to be on track on the Sunday for Free practice, timed practice and one longer race sharing the grid with the GSXR Cup guys
125s seem to have been dropped altogether.

So the New Era classes aren't doing that brilliantly out of it.
Maybe we shouldn't have bothered with Donington this year and either had 2 rounds at Mallory or started the season at Angelsey.

But a few months ago the choice of race dates were very thin when having to try and make a decision, as there was only one Cadwell, No Oulton and Pembrey wasn't confirmed leaving 3 Mallory's, 1 Angelsey, 1 Snetterton, 1 Castle Combe and 1 Donington.
Take Donington out of that lot and its not the best looking race Calendar and bearing in mind there is no race format at that time what are you supposed to do.

[Robinashman]

I guess someone has to race last but to get Sat and Sun that’s just ****. I was looking forward to sitting down and relaxing after the race but looks like all that will be in my Van on the M6.