Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > 14 finishers of 30 entries

[banger san]

It's in everybody's interest to keep the series running and in good health otherwise the money we've all invested in our little 600s will be wasted as they are unlikely to be competative in any other series and not easily sold on.

All this talk about wets let's not forget we are currently running on a tyre that is no longer in production and with out a control tyre whether that be one that does everything or drys and wets, I think the series will be worse off.

If DD is a starter/budget series how about a tyre capable both in the dry and wet for class B the same for class A but with an option of a more focused dry tyre this way newbies to class B don't have the worry or expense of having a second set of wheels but those in class A can choose to have a spare set of wheels with some stickier rubber for the sunny dry races. This way speed differential would not be too great either.

Think not what DD can do for you but what you can do for DD

[milesaway]

I do seem to have started something here. I basically have no bones with any point anyone has made.
Agreed we are nowhere if no one can do what kevs and trudi do next year, agreed we signed up to the rules in the beginning, agreed we are good having the control tyre/ our own grid and any sponsors that come with those.

My point was only that not many enjoy wet races on our tyres and wondered if of a control combo of a wet and a sports road tyre deal from one manufacturer may be a possibility as long as a clear majority of both A and B class riders preferred this route. It's not just about falling off or not it's also about how much you're enjoying it. I'm not big into rules generally but have no real beef with any of our's and have never whined about wets before. Rules should only evolve if all can agree it's for better.

The cost need not be so great- most have spare wheels already- a set of wheels can be well under £100 and a set of wets could cover most or all of season if you were lucky. No warmers will be needed still. The scenario often faced of choice between racing on worn out vs not scrubbed tyres in wet sucks. I also think that the practice days where we're mixed in with others on wets running a totally different pace does make it feel a whole lot worse than it probably is.

A point to consider maybe a big part of problem with tyres in wet is as much to do with "set-up" as actual tyres. The difference between forces involved in wet/dry on same tyre are greater than they would be if grip level was higher therefore difference in suspension requirements is greater. The chances of getting working setting from same bike are probably better with wets. Bikes are set primarily for dry and there is rarely time to change them enough to get the kind of feel that would make them feel nice in the wet.

At the end of day i'm just sharing some ongoing ideas not moaning or bitching!!

[coppersaucepipe]

Originally Posted by milesaway

My point was only that not many enjoy wet races on our tyres

I don't enjoy riding in the wet on any tyres. Too many years commuting in the rain have left me really bored of getting wet.

[bradders]

Thick skinned about sums it up Kev. Onward and upward

[Senna3]

Thing is Paul as you know the riders rep is there for you to talk to and to voice your opinion to right people not for you to go and abuse because your pi55ed off
if your feeling that strongly its best just to go straight to the top and speak to the Clark of the course , the guy that makes the final decisions

[mat2hew]

I've always stayed out of the wets debate, I always liked the odd wet race, even on road tyres, when I bought my class A bike I also bought a set of Wets and a spare set of wheels as it was the end of the season and I had booked every single race in a 1 day event in November at Donington, it didn't rain and I had a brilliant day I raced my 620 monster in all classes even in the 1000's and finished about 2/3s down the order, I took my unused wets home with me.

After booking track day at my local (Brands) I was looking forward to the forecast rain just so that I could test the wets for the first time, which I did, in all honesty I didn't notice much difference, it was the first time I'd ridden a dd bike on wets, maybe I didn't go fast enough to warm them up or something but I didn't notice much.

I have got a photo of me on my 999s on wets at druids hairpin with my knee planted firmly down but I only rode that in the wet once maybe the extra power helps? and I don't think it was that wet or a particularly slippery day.

I am at a point in my life/racing career, 6 years racing in DD, where I wouldn't mind racing with wets, but if I'm honest when I was first thinking about racing, a stage that everybody must be at at some point, racing on road tyres and not having wets was one of the draws of DD over other classes, every thing was new and confusing and it was one less thing to worry about, I thought I'd buy a bike and come race it, the end.

I do remember a trackday me and Neal Catlin did at mallory, I had the slicks on and it was raining when we arrived so I missed the first session, Neal missed it as well having stayed in to help me change the wheels, I didn't have spare discs so had to change them as well, then it dried up and we both missed the 2nd session as well and just before the 3rd session guess what? I left the unridden 999s in the paddock and rode the DD bike all afternoon.

so,

do I want wets? Maybe.
is it right for DD? not sure.

Kev E Kev P and Trudi, Please don't leave us, my life would not have been as good without you guys in it.

Matt

[Spjallen]

Well said. I agree with all that. Especially the last statement.