Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > Robbed???

[MLC Racing]

Originally Posted by rossco572

am I the only person that feels robbed of a slot at Assen to make way for our overly sponsered 'new boys' on their shiny 848's????

Personally, if I'm miffed about anything its that I put forward an idea some time ago about racing at WDW2010, which was discussed at a Brands Hatch DD. (WDW is not a race event so would have been more of an exhibition).
This has now been hi-jacked for the 848 series, a series that will receive much more in the way of promotional help and sponsorship than DD anyway.

Perhaps this could have remained a DD as the 848s got Assen?

[antonye]

I think the problem will be the entry fees, as it ain't gonna be cheap to get bikes to both Assen and Misano and pay for it all. DD has never been about big fees, just the racing on an even field at a cheap cost. The big events we've done in the past have been a bonus and not a right. Yes, the popularity of DD has tailed off recently (either due to the series itself or maybe just due to current economic pressures that everyone is feeling; you can make up your own mind about this) and the simple fact is that DD didn't get enough people signed up to pay for a grid this season, the Dutch spat their dummy (for whatever reason; again make your own mind up about that) and DD simply won't be going back again in 2010.

The 848 series is obviously aimed at a "higher level" of racers than DD - those that can afford to go through a hefty tyre bill every race meeting, that can pay more for the bike and generally have all round bigger bills. It's a new series with DUK backing - DD never had that, remember? There's a lot of sponsorship money in there but don't kid yourself that you're not going to be coughing up a big chunk of money to enter and do all the rounds. This is a big leap up in terms of cost (and probably racing too) from DD.

If people really want to race at Assen and Misano, why not buy a cheap 848 and join that series? Simply sell your DD bike on to someone for next season, offset the cost of an 848 with this money and away you go.

Remember that nobody is forcing anyone to ride in DD next season; all of the dates have been released in advance (including two excellent meetings at Brands and Silverstone) which is far more than most other clubs/series are getting. It seems that a lot of people are having the "glass half empty" view with DD next year.

Besides, you can always go and race with Nog's series; at this rate you're guaranteed a podium in "Class A" and there's half a dozen in "Class B", so plenty of opportunity to go pot hunting in that too!

Or just put the money down on a MotoGP bike and race with them? I hear they're going to Assen next year...

[skidlids]

Originally Posted by antonye

Or just put the money down on a MotoGP bike and race with them?

Thought of that Option
Do you think I would be allowed to enter a Cross-plain cranked R1 modified along the lines that WCM did a few years ago

Failing that option are there any Cat C 848s about going cheap, I have a rider in mind that already has the spares required to prep it for racing, then I can have working holiday at WDW as well as Assen. I already have a offer to go and help a team out in another class at Assen as well as at the IOM


Wasn't it WDW2009 that was discussed at Brands in 2008, the event was then postponed for another year (probably heard the DD lot could be in town )
Not suprised the 848 series gets the Nod after all not only have they got Ducati UK backing the series but also the Ducati Factory would prefer to support a series for a current model over a series that uses bikes some of which they ceased producing over a decade ago

[bradders]

although 848 looks far more expensive than DD, if you have the bike thats a large chunk towards the cost so yes more cost, but lots more? Not really...except tyres!!

[skidlids]

As I learn't at the 2004 TT you need to be able to afford to write off what ever bike it is you have for racing as you never know what might happen.
Since then the bikes I have raced have been budget bikes and mainly DD bikes.
So its not only what can you afford in running costs of a race series but also how big a crash damage budget you can manage up to the value of the bike

So whats the race bike worth

at a calculated guess I would say

Class B £1.5 to £2k
Class A £2.5k to £4k
848 £8k+
Minitwin £2k to £4k
944SS with all the bits £2.5k to £4k
748R preped £5k
748S preped £3.5k
SoT ex Buildbase 1098 £13k

F400 ZXR400L with ram air etc £3.5k +
Steelie 600 CBR600FW preped £2k to 2.5k
YPMS TZR250 preped £1.8k

I may be wrong but Class B Desmo Due is still one of the cheapest classes to get into and be able to compete with the bikes running at the front

[Monty]

Originally Posted by bradders

although 848 looks far more expensive than DD, if you have the bike thats a large chunk towards the cost so yes more cost, but lots more? Not really...except tyres!!

What bike is you have again Paul-848 was it??

John

[antonye]

Originally Posted by skidlids

Not suprised the 848 series gets the Nod after all not only have they got Ducati UK backing the series but also the Ducati Factory would prefer to support a series for a current model over a series that uses bikes some of which they ceased producing over a decade ago

I was starting to think it was just me that thought that way Kev!

[couchcommando]

Some need to remember DD is a basic cheap entry level race series that is a success because of that.
Seems to me some are confusing it with motogp, if you don't like the rules/rounds/costs/tyres then go race another series and as it happens there are plenty of series you can race a Ducati

[Imola Duke]

Originally Posted by skidlids

Thought of that Option
Do you think I would be allowed to enter a Cross-plain cranked R1 modified along the lines that WCM did a few years ago

Shorten the stroke, bore to 81mm and you can in 2012

[skidlids]

I did read a couple of weeks ago that Pedrosa would be in favour of returning to 990cc bikes and at the same time I read something about allowing those engines to be based on Production engines to reduce development costs.
The exact same thing they objected to WCM doing.

Hopefully in the cost cutting exercise they will dump a lot of the electrics that take over some level of control from the riders, having one cheaper basic contol system from the likes of Magneti for all teams to use

OR

How about intoducing 500cc Two Strokes