Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > Castle Combe report (at last!)

[NBs996]

Round 2 –Castle Combe – 04 June 2005

After the mega results from Cadwell, I knew I had a lot to live up to keeping the same score sheet. For a while before the meeting I knew there were at least 3 bikes (excluding the ‘factory’ bikes) that would, at the very least, give me a hard time. But my goal still stayed the same... top ten finish in every race.

Friday was a day off work to get those last minute bits sorted. I spent the whole morning driving around all the local bike shops trying to find some bar ends to fit our unusually small Renthal bars. It was getting to the point where I was convinced the only way through scrutineering would be with the aid of a squash ball cut in two, when I discovered an Aladdin’s cave called Portsmouth Trade Sales – bar ends sorted, even though they didn’t match the bike! Next on the agenda was a haircut so I didn’t look like a girl, and a trip to Asda to buy their cake aisle.

Stretching my timetable to its limit, the truck was packed and on route to collect spanner man and bike. Somehow everything fitted in the back with room to spare, and since we had to refuse transport home for Psy’s oil pack at Cadwell I’m pretty sure we’ve forgot stuff. Never mind, we’ll find out when we get there!

Turned up at Castle Combe circuit with the aid of Pete’s first class map reading and drove a lap of the paddock looking for familiar faces before calling His Lordship to ask where everyone was set up. “In the gate and turn left” I’m told, the furthest field away from race control and scrutineering! Parked up, emptied the car and set up camp only to find later that most people were pitched in the main paddock. Sod it, we’ll move in the morning. Morning came very early, 0530 early, but got up anyway since the sun was shining and the scrute bay opened in 2 hours. We decided to move to the main paddock, so bundled everything back in the truck and claimed a spot before providing everyone with some good entertainment by moving the gazebo in one piece as the wind was picking up!

Time to be scrutinised. Join the very long queue and wait in line next to Phil Bevan’s GSXR, what a nice bit of kit that is! After half hour in line the bike was inspected and I’m shown evidence of a fluid leak from the back brake, but the guy passed it anyway! Sound check next, so wait another 15 minutes for this and get through easily with a score of 97db before going back to camp to remove the previously mentioned evidence.

Free practice was going to be fun – I’d never ridden the circuit before and didn’t even know where the track entrance was, let alone where to go once I got on track! I followed someone else through the paddock who looked like he knew the way, and waited in line. Once out on the circuit it was pretty obvious it was going to be fast... the tarmac must be twice the width of Cadwell so all the cock-ups in my immediate future should be easy enough to get away with.

After first practice I still didn’t know the track and couldn’t recite a lap to help prepare for qualifying, so I was still feeling my way round when the clock was on for grid slots! Rattly was looking like he knew the way as he’d been here for a track day a couple of week before, so I tagged on and followed him round. Thanks Tim. This was good enough for 12th on the grid which was ok, and just about satisfied my aim of 3rd row.

Not long to go ‘til race 1 and I STILL don’t know my way round the track – this is gonna be a tough one! Form up for race 1 was going to be interesting since I was first out on track and had no idea where to park. Found my slot easy though, and Mark pulled up next to me in 11th and gestured “am I in the right spot?” I dunno, it looked about right so I gave him a thumbs up. Anyway, off on the sighting lap and I realise this is my last chance to learn this damn circuit! Nope, not a chance, for some reason I just can’t remember anything past the first chicane.

Back to the grid to form up and I’m wondering if the lights would be as quick as they were at Cadwell. Red light came on and went out just as fast, and while I’m too busy thinking how quick it was that I forget to go! On the gas, I get a near perfect reaction, front tyre skimming the tarmac with the throttle on full in no time. Tim was right in front of me and didn’t get a great start, I had to shut the throttle to avoid getting too friendly, checked to my right to make sure it was clear and moved over to get a clear line before feeding the beast some more motion potion. Even after all this mucking about off the line, I still managed an absolutely mega holeshot, jumping to 5th place within the first 100m and finding myself right on the tail of the 4 fast boys all the way through Quarry and into the first chicane. If I wasn’t slack off the start then I’d have easily been first into Quarry! Glad I wasn’t though, cos the fast boys would’ve just passed me though their otto cycle like an unwanted kidney stone!

Bugger me, there’s no way I can try’n keep up with these guys on my best day, let alone when I don’t know where I’m going! But while they were all slowing each other up fighting for the lead, I could keep within spitting distance and was about 1 second behind at the end of the first lap. Across the line and I see Firefly hanging over the pit wall cheering me on. Eh? What’s that all about then?? I look round to see what’s become a very familiar sight, a no2 bike blocking the sun... so I guess Kelly wasn’t cheering for me after all!

Now Phil knows this track and isn’t exactly the slowest rider on the grid, so it was only a matter of time before he came by and cleared off in the distance. It wasn’t until the run up to turn 1 on lap3 that he came by, so I thought it’d be a safe bet to follow. For the next couple of laps I managed to stay within a second of him, until Mark came by me and went to have a word with Phil. This was a good battle to watch, and for next 3 laps I had the best seat in the house even though I couldn’t close them down.

Two laps to go, and I’m the thick end of 2 seconds behind no’s 2&36, and about the same in front of no.68 (Paul Payne). There’s no way I’m going to catch up with them two, and it should be a cruise to stay ahead of Paul, so I sat back and settled for 7th place. Mistake number one. On the last lap, as if from nowhere, a big red thing with “68” painted on the front came alongside my left on the run up to the right hander after chicane no.1 – Looks like I relaxed a bit too much! I step up my pace again to keep a chance of getting him back somewhere, and find that exiting the corners I could easily drive past but decided that since I had such better drive that I’d leave it ‘til the last turn and outgun him to the line. Mistake number 2 – I miss my braking point to the last chicane and end up doing battle with a battalion of traffic cones. Position lost, finish in 8th spot. Paul kept a cool head and did everything right, and I didn’t. Fair play to him, he earned the place more than I did.

Whilst a little disappointed with losing the spot, I’m chuffed enough with the position, especially since I still wasn’t able to talk myself round a lap. I’ll sort him out in race 2 no problem!

Race 2, formed up and ready to go. This time I positioned myself further to the right so I could see a gap past Tim in front, just in the hope that I’d get another flying start. The light went out and we’re off for another adventure... This time I reacted in good time and went straight for the gap on the right of Tim. I’d got a better start than race one but so had everyone else! This time the front half of the grid were a lot closer together, and I found myself fighting for 6th spot into turn 1 with Phil and Paul. They got the better of me without too much trouble, and I’m in 8th place being harassed by Ali and Mark. Lap 3 saw them both come by me on the run up to Avon Rise, and I’m now in 10th. I must be not more than 3 meters behind Mark going round Quarry when he decides to try some stunt riding – left foot in the air, arse almost dragging on the floor, and I’m convinced he’s off so I ease off the throttle and try to work out which way he’ll fall so I don’t run him over. But somehow, god only knows how, he hauls himself back on board and gets on with the show... all this and it didn’t even look like he shut off – Mark, dude, do you have no fear?!!!

The rest of the race was a pretty lonely ride, even though I was just waiting to see who was next to come past me nobody did. I get a clear track to try and hold on to the place, but soon realised that I was slowly reeling in Paul. Now I had a target, but was struggling for good speed mid-corner as the bike just wanted to go sideways. These tyres seem to have seen better days but I was still catching up so I kept on it.

With 3 laps to go, I was less than a second behind... 9th place was mine for the taking. I stick behind him and decide, this time, to try for a pass early on in the last lap and then try to clear off. We’re on lap 7 so I stick with him and as I come round the last corner planning a move into Quarry there seems to be some dude waving a chequered flag! Aw crap, I can’t count! I’m really not too happy about yet another silly mistake, but can’t take anything away from Paul, he rode another good race and showed much better race craft than me. 10th place, not too shabby I s’pose.

With another meeting over, we pack up and go home. I’m thinking I should have done better, but it was always going to be a difficult meeting so all things considered I think it was another result to be proud of. Maintained 6th spot in the championship so spirits are still high and I’m looking forward to putting on a good show in the next round. Look out Clint, here I come!

Before I finish, it must be appropriate to say thanks to the huge amount of spectators that turned up to be part of the DD show. Without all your input and support the series wouldn’t be anything like what it is. And a quick thanks to Pete for the bike prep... as a reward to you sir, you’ll note I decided not to bend it this time!

See you all at Snet.
NickB #34

[Edited on 11-6-2005 by NBs996]

[skidlids]

Originally posted by NBs996
Round 2 –Castle Combe – 04 June 2005

On the last lap, as if from nowhere, a big red thing with “68” painted on the front came alongside my left on the run up to the right hander after chicane no.1 – Looks like I relaxed a bit too much! I step up my pace again to keep a chance of getting him back somewhere, and find that exiting the corners I could easily drive past but decided that since I had such better drive that I’d leave it ‘til the last turn and outgun him to the line.
NickB #34

Nice report Nick and well done.

Find the bit of the report quoted about says it all on the advantage a 620 has, Paul's bike has about all it can have done to it under the rules and you can still easily drive past out of corners.
Which in turn speaks volumes aboul Phils performance.

[NBs996]

I see what you're saying kev, but the extra drive was coming from low on the rev range. I think we were almost on an even keel once the motors were spinning up properly. Rapido have seem to have done a cracking job with paul's bike, and with him on board it a package to be reckoned with.
We should have some good battles through the rest of the season.