Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > Just for discussion (rain riders ?).

[dunlop0_1]

I have raced with most if not all of you in the past 3 years and like many people moaned when it was wet. However, all of my DD crashes (6 of them) as I said earlier where in the dry. I agree with the fact that whatever tyre is available you have to find it's limit wet/dry whatever.
I think a big part of the problem is the test days being mixed with people on faster bikes and using wets. Now given the income DD generates for Hottrax I would have thought some pressure/leverage could be applied to allocate DD it's own test day sessions?
Another thing to consider is that the weather is not just wet or dry. So making the tyre call 15 minutes before you race isn't excactly enjoyable. At Oulton on Saturday I made 6 wheel changes and 2 tyres changes and still got it wrong for MG qualy and MG race one so had to miss race one and start at the back of the grid for race 2. Then in Supercup race one started as a full wet race dried out almost straight away leading to a completley destroyed rear tyre (which costs more than a pair of DD Dunlops).
I assure a cooked wet rear in the dry is worse than using a slick in the wet.
So given the fact I had all the kit it still comes down to making the right or wrong decision sometimes at the last minute.

Not an issue for DD at the mo.

[mat2hew]

I remember back to when I had my 999, I did a track day at Mallory Park, I missed the first session because it was wet and I had Slicks on,,, then I did 1 lap of session 2 in the dry with wets on, then it was lovely and sunny so I put my slicks back on, and you guessed it in the queue at the pit lane it rained so the wets went back on and it dried up at lunch time so I did 1 more lap in the dry with wets on, the whole day went like that and I was really miserable by the time I went home having travelled 3 hours each way spent £100 on the track day taken time off work and did about 6 laps on the wrong tyres and changing wheels all day long.

At the other end of the scale the 'team' in the tent next to me were able to change both wheels in about 3 mins and didn't miss a session all day.

[bally71]

What if the club decided when it was ok to use them?

I mean like call a wet race .. but only when it's really wet.

If the original suggestion was to call races if the conditions are too bad for the dunlops .. why not just make the call for all riders to change to wets.

half an hour before the race start if it's chucking down on a cold day with little or no chance of drying out .. quick text / tannoy announcement

Would save all the hassle of should I or shouldn't I

Decision would depend on a lot of factors other than just the rain of course

On the friday it was chucking it down and the track was drying in about 20 mins .. no need for wets

but on the sat the temp had dropped, the drizzle was constant and the wind was cold .. race 2 was always going to be wet.

The track plays a part too .. Anglesey is suprisingly grippy in the wet .. Oulton is a nightmare around druids and Brittens and not that great elsewhere

Oulton subtantiated my original opinion that the majority of riders appear to be circulating hoping not to fall off rather than racing

[Spjallen]

I was definitely racing and not circulating at Oulton in race 2. It may not be knee down chuck it on its side stuff but its still racing.

Having the choice is part of which tyres is part of the fun / tactics so restrictions of "it’s a wet race so you all have to put wets on" isn’t really the answer. Wet front dry rear etc. I think this thread is getting way too long and nothing can be changed before the end of the season so maybe we should just leave it well alone. Its aint broke, don’t fix it.

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by Spjallen

I was definatley racing and not circulating at Oulton in race 2. It may not be knee down chuck it on its side stuff but its still racing.

Having the choice is part of which tyres is part of the fun / tactics so restrictions of "its a wet race so you all have to put wets on" isnt really the answer. Wet front dry rear etc. I think this thread is getting way too long and nothing can be changed before the end of the season so maybe we should just leave it well alone. Its aint broke, dont fix it.

Tactics, arn't they supposed to give you fresh breath.

[bally71]

Originally Posted by Spjallen

I was definatley racing and not circulating at Oulton in race 2. It may not be knee down chuck it on its side stuff but its still racing.

Having the choice is part of which tyres is part of the fun / tactics so restrictions of "its a wet race so you all have to put wets on" isnt really the answer. Wet front dry rear etc. I think this thread is getting way too long and nothing can be changed before the end of the season so maybe we should just leave it well alone. Its aint broke, dont fix it.

No offence but that may be your opinion .. it's not mine

And that's what forums are for aint they??

[Senna3]

Originally Posted by Spjallen

I was definitely racing and not circulating at Oulton in race 2. It may not be knee down chuck it on its side stuff but its still racing.

Having the choice is part of which tyres is part of the fun / tactics so restrictions of "it’s a wet race so you all have to put wets on" isn’t really the answer. Wet front dry rear etc. I think this thread is getting way too long and nothing can be changed before the end of the season so maybe we should just leave it well alone. Its aint broke, don’t fix it.

well said that man totaly agree

[Shaggyboy]

I think after Oulton I should have a pair of knobblies to put on, I might stand a chance of staying upright when on the grass

[badgerpilot]

Think youre thinking of Tic Tacs Phil, dementia is a pain at times!

The tactics of DD are simple, if it's wet:- do you race or not, if you race then how hard do you push? If you don't then do you have a brew or a beer?

These were the rules when we all signed up so why do we have this conversation every year?

I know let's have wets, hang on, why not have a wet bike and a dry bike. That would save the wheel swapping issue!

Another brain wave has just hit me, let's use 1098s with traction control instead? That would make cornering in the wet safer wouldn't it?

While we're at it lets make it compulsary to have a 90ft Winnebago so we don't have cosy sleep problems either?

This only leaves 1 snag, how do justify calling it budget racing?

DD is probably the quirkiest series out there because of its rules and the great people who take part in it, I've had 3yrs of brilliant fun and wouldn't want it to change at all.