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

[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

[bradders]

take the point Skids, and you have the experince of it, but surely its very unlikley to completely total a bike on a track (excepting fire maybe). And is it that different to racing an R6 or R1 in most UK series? (obviously if you dont have to shell out 10500 for the bike!) OPK thers still a risk but then there are risks on trackdays

I've worked up the budget, and the big differences with DD are tyres and some of the preparation costs (although I dont have to buy a DD bike which offsets some costs). Entries, travel, damage costs are pretty much likely to the same (excepting above comment re fire). Sure, two international rounds add a bit (but they are WDW and Assen!)

For me, the way I am viewing this is as a once in a lifetime oppotunity; if it doesnt work out (or I cant get the level of help with funding I need) then I'll go DD and enjoy that as much.

And if 2011 means racing, having ticked this box I'd be happy to head with all my mates into DD. Most think I'm made contemplating the 848 serioes anyway (varying between cost and ability I'm sure!!)...but life's short

apologies if this is a bit of a hi-jack, especially as this is a DD thread.

[paynep]

Originally Posted by bradders

but surely its very unlikley to completely total a bike on a track

How much does an 848 frame cost?

[bradders]

Originally Posted by paynep

How much does an 848 frame cost?

good point

but everything else could be broken (no pun intended) and much of the value recovered.....or you could just weld it

[skidlids]

Originally Posted by bradders

but surely its very unlikley to completely total a bike on a track (excepting fire maybe). And is it that different to racing an R6 or R1 in most UK series? .

Unlikely but not unknown, just ask Dan Abrahams, his very first time out on his new 1000 and he total'd it at Pembrey. As Paul says a replacement frame if needed wouldn't be cheap neither would replacing a blown engine.

just pointing out that you have to be prepared for these things or at least be aware that it could happen. Dallas is a dab hand at inflicting damage on exspensive race bikes and is well aware of the costs involved, but as yet he has never risked his road bike, as he buys new ZX10Rs and RC8s and secondhand 998Rs with a view to just racing them, so something like the 848 series would be ideal for him, but these days its not ideal for me. The loss of the bike at the TT means I haven't got that money to put back into the racing especially in the form of helping someone else out financially.

Turn the clock back eight years to when I first raced a Ducati in SoT then a series like the 848 series would have been very appealing with the BSB meetings and two overseas rounds, Especially as I had around a extra £3k disposeable income back then. Add some sponsorship and it would have been something I could have afforded to do.

So I'm happy racing a cheap and cheerful DD bike these days as its keeping me racing especially as all the other associated costs keep going up, maybe i'm not scareing myself as much as I did on my old TL1000 but its probably taught me more.

[rossco572]

all that you all say is very true. we are all aware of the costs involved etc but what i think is in question here is the level of commitment to DD that we recieve. we have imho been ousted in favour of a more modern officially supported bike but one that has not been homologated for racing because as Kev rightly pointed out ' it is a bike in the current model line up and more likely to attract TV and Media coverage'. So where do we go from here? your very grown up comments about Daves attempts to expand the Ducati particpation at New Era events don't show a particularly non partisan viewpoint? what is the problem with more relaxed tuning guidlines? we have as far i can see been running with something similar ourselves. we don't even take points of particpants running on illegal tyres???? if the cap fits wear it!!!

[ChrisBushell]

Originally Posted by rossco572

all that you all say is very true. we are all aware of the costs involved etc but what i think is in question here is the level of commitment to DD that we recieve. we have imho been ousted in favour of a more modern officially supported bike but one that has not been homologated for racing because as Kev rightly pointed out ' it is a bike in the current model line up and more likely to attract TV and Media coverage'. So where do we go from here? your very grown up comments about Daves attempts to expand the Ducati particpation at New Era events don't show a particularly non partisan viewpoint? what is the problem with more relaxed tuning guidlines? we have as far i can see been running with something similar ourselves. we don't even take points of particpants running on illegal tyres???? if the cap fits wear it!!!

Well it is not exactly clear how many issues you are attempting to deal with here!

Your concern over the level of comitment from the people who actually put the effort in to make sure that Desmo Due happens each year is a little wide of the mark! There has been no loss of focus, effort or commitment to Desmo Due for 2010, by those involved. I would invite you to show some from of evidence that this is not true, rather than just spouting off.

You have in no way been usurped by the 848 series, that series is not being run by the Ducati Sporting Club, so as a Club member you have no say in the activities and actions around that series or do you seek to attempt to control the activities of others for your own benefit?

Your original comment was with regard to the Assen round not being available to Desmo Due - simple answer to that is the required numbers were not acheived by the required date.

With regard to the attractiveness of the 848 series V the Desmo Due one, then yes Promotors of meeting will have a lot more interest in current production Sportsbikes, than bikes that haven't been made for over 6 years. With regard to TV coverage that is even more so.

As for other "non-recognised" race series, the biggest problem for any organiser is to get the series off the ground with at least 25 entries on a grid, so that a Promotor can allocate a grid - not as easy as it seems! With regard to the one to which you refer, then the near complete lack of rules does it no favours in terms of making it attractive. It has been covered elsewhere on this forum that it is a potential money pit, as soon as one individual starts spending money (then going faster) - there are no friends after the flag drops in racing.

With regard to your problem over cheating in DD, if that is a problem to you at the time of the infringement, then put a protest in as per the ACU handbook. If you are sucessful then the individual concerned would be excluded from the meeting and as such not score any points.

[Cranker V2]

Their is and always will be a conflict of interests between DD and the 848 series whilst the same person promotes both series. I do not believe it is intentional, just a simple matter of human nature. The constant belittleing of the MCDRS proposal does no favours to anyone who authors negative comments.

Having a foot in two different boats and trying to sink a third by peeing in it will never be a good option. Or perhaps I am not viewing this in a common sense , business like, non biased manner.

And there is distinct possiblilty I could have the oppertunity to contest all three series if a couple of conversations go right over christmas. So it is not a case of wanting to be in any one camp. All three would be great.

This is a bike club forum, to promote bike racing and riding. Dont forget that.

[Chris Wood]

Apples, apples and apples.

I'm not convinced we are all talking about the same thing.

DD - simple and basic class with good history of numbers.
848's - NEW and unproven class - expensive to get in and to run in - compared to DD
MCDRS - NEW and unproven in terms of numbers/grids and product.

So it is a free market, choose your flavour of apple.

Tesco sells lots of type of apples, to lots of customers, conflict of interest not really.

Market forces will always apply, if you were running Assen, what would you do? If you were NEra, same question? Everyone is just trying to fill a grid with bikes.

Let it go and enjoy the racing, simple.