Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > Anyone think we should be using wets?

[speedtherapy]

I agree with Bionicle, Stevce41, MOnty, chris.p and others.

Wets will not make racing safer. You'll probably find there as many fallers duing a dry race as there are during a wet race where wets are being used (wonder if any clubs have some stats on this?). Upside in the wet is it'll probably be a lowside into the mud - less likelyhood of bodily or machine damage. We chould allow the use of Ohlins TTX front foorks on the safety argument. Safety is the connection between brain and right hand.

In my experience wets will work on DD bikes but are only good for 1 race -
a bit more if it is constantly wet (standing water). Ideally they can only be used once. Using wets adds expense, hassle, stress and complexity.

We race within a set of rules. These rules and the conditions are the same for all competitors. The challenge is to get results within these rules and conditions. When we land in an unfamiliar situation (in a race, on a DD bike, wearing road tyres during a biblical deluge... in Norfolk...), it is uncomfortable (some say scary... others say exciting...). Simmilar to the feeling we all had when we ventured out onto the race track for the first time. Through practice and application we gained proficiency in that situation. This is the fun part :-)

All those riders who were out there on Saturday: over the course of the race, did you feel yourself getting better? Did you get just one corner 'right' within that situation? Did it feel good?

I have found that the amount of money I spend on racing tends to be inversely proportional to the amount of enjoyment I get out of it. DD is a relatively cheap, simple format that works. It is the most enjoyable form of road racing I've done... let's keep it that way ;-)

The only rule changes that should be made should be to encourage more riders to the grid.

http://www.speedtherapy.co.uk

[chris.p]

Originally Posted by speedtherapy

I agree with Bionicle, Stevce41, MOnty, chris.p and others.

Wets will not make racing safer. You'll probably find there as many fallers duing a dry race as there are during a wet race where wets are being used (wonder if any clubs have some stats on this?). Upside in the wet is it'll probably be a lowside into the mud - less likelyhood of bodily or machine damage. We chould allow the use of Ohlins TTX front foorks on the safety argument. Safety is the connection between brain and right hand.

In my experience wets will work on DD bikes but are only good for 1 race -
a bit more if it is constantly wet (standing water). Ideally they can only be used once. Using wets adds expense, hassle, stress and complexity.

We race within a set of rules. These rules and the conditions are the same for all competitors. The challenge is to get results within these rules and conditions. When we land in an unfamiliar situation (in a race, on a DD bike, wearing road tyres during a biblical deluge... in Norfolk...), it is uncomfortable (some say scary... others say exciting...). Simmilar to the feeling we all had when we ventured out onto the race track for the first time. Through practice and application we gained proficiency in that situation. This is the fun part :-)

All those riders who were out there on Saturday: over the course of the race, did you feel yourself getting better? Did you get just one corner 'right' within that situation? Did it feel good?

I have found that the amount of money I spend on racing tends to be inversely proportional to the amount of enjoyment I get out of it. DD is a relatively cheap, simple format that works. It is the most enjoyable form of road racing I've done... let's keep it that way ;-)

The only rule changes that should be made should be to encourage more riders to the grid.

http://www.speedtherapy.co.uk

Nicely put


Chris

[paynep]

Originally Posted by speedtherapy

Wets will not make racing safer.

Pardon?

Originally Posted by speedtherapy

All those riders who were out there on Saturday: over the course of the race, did you feel yourself getting better? Did you get just one corner 'right' within that situation? Did it feel good?

Others may disagree but I think I've raced enough to feel qualified to say that racing on wet tracks on road tyres does not feel as "good" (good=safe and fun in my book) as racing on wet tracks on proper wet tyres.

Originally Posted by speedtherapy

The only rule changes that should be made should be to encourage more riders to the grid.

Precisely. Perhaps not being able to use wets is discouraging new entrants? We've run single control tyres now for 7 years, maybe it's time for the series to evolve in that direction?

[bradders]

Originally Posted by speedtherapy

All those riders who were out there on Saturday: over the course of the race, did you feel yourself getting better? Did you get just one corner 'right' within that situation? Did it feel good?
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felt worse, but then on track in standing water I am a pussy

[Simps]

Wets are for safety when RACING in the wet. These are road tyres which can be used in anger when dry with bikes of our power. When very wet the slip resistance is hugely decreased and there is no way the manufacturer would suggest they are suited to racing in that weather.

A bike with slicks on "could" go round in the wet and Im sure if you made it you "might" feel a better, smoother rider. But this is racing, not a competition of who can get the bike back to the paddock in one piece.

However I do understand that DD is more about ducktape and cable ties rather than wets and warmers.

[skidlids]

Originally Posted by 955SP

However I do understand that DD is more about ducktape and cable ties rather than wets and warmers.

or a full Wet bike to sit alongside the Dry bike, and yes I have everything to build a second bike and the space to transport it
And I'll do a better job of water-proofing a wet bike

No different to when I was racing F600, SoT and Powerbike, only series I never had a wet bike for are 1300 Streetstocks as we raced with 130bhp on Road Tyres (see attached regs) and Desmo Due with its lower power output

[Simps]

Originally Posted by skidlids

No different to when I was racing F600, SoT and Powerbike, only series I never had a wet bike for are 1300 Streetstocks as we raced with 130bhp on Road Tyres (see attached regs) and Desmo Due with its lower power output

I guess its all in the title with that series. The notes you attached say that the bikes needed to have a current MOT and I think wets aren't road legal.

[PDL]

Originally Posted by speedtherapy

...Ideally they can only be used once...

Not sure were you read that but I set my fastest wet time on Sunday on a wet rear that:

a/ Got punctured on Sat in race 2, and I repaired with a mushroom
b/ Was a scrub from TST at the start of the season
c/ Has seen 5 wet races this season
d/ And was mullered after a dry race late on Saturday but I smoothed it off in Sundays morning practice.

Maybe on a 150bhp bike wets should only be used once or twice but on a 48bhp bike they are awesome, I had my knee down and set some good lap times and the braking is awesome on well used wets.

[bradders]

I'd love to try them, see just how different they are. In the dampo the current tyres seem to work well (for me) but in standing water not so - but then you cant have everything!

But this weekend would have had me so confused...wet...dry...wet I doubt I would have got out there!

[skidlids]

Originally Posted by bradders

But this weekend would have had me so confused...wet...dry...wet I doubt I would have got out there!

Whats your name ? Craig !!!