Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > Midfield report, my first and last..........from the midfield (or furtherback )

[Cranker V2]

Saturday warm-up
Three laps to learn track and last one out as I was held at the gate for noise testing. It did give me two clear laps to wobble round on and then I caught traffic. Result – yes it goes right right left left right then I remember other bits. No point rushing I thought.

Qualifying
Last(ish) one out again and a couple of clear laps. No moments, just trying to learn the track and confirm braking points, turn-ins, apexs and exit points. I never figured corams out, needed a tow but never got one. Satisfied with seventh in class, knowing I could have gone quicker if I knew where I was going.

Race one
Good start with a bit of space management resolution required with Bradders. Hung back at first turn and took a couple of places down the inside into turn two. It then turned into a Bradders-Cranker YOYO session for two laps. Up the inside, round the outside, out brake, duff up generally. All fun and entertaining. Third lap (I think), I get a brake on braddrs by around two bike lengths. Now I need to get past Paul Payne and get to Neal Catling and the rest at the front.

Oops…… Damn………Scrape……….Oh no!
Under bridge, gotta make this stick and get a bike betweeen me n Bradders. Carry a fair amont of speed into Nelson with the intention of getting past Paynep. His line into Nelson is neat and tidy, with me still half a bike lenth behind. Brake as hard as I can as I will not get into the corner first ………then down I go……. Then skittle Paul.. Borrocks as the Chinese man said. Paul is more than miffed at me, rightly so, but is a gent sat under the brolly with me and the marshalls.

End of race one for me and Paynep

Watched the rest of the race and the restart sat in the muck under a brolly. Some very entertaing lines in Nelson with a couple of overshoots out of Bridge to watch.

Sunday warm
An easy run out to scrub front tyre in. At least its dry, but I was behind Paynep and didn’t want to get any closer so sat five lengths back from him and Senna to learn some lines.

Race Two. Part 1
Okayish start hamppered by the mirth and merriment watching Jolley jumpstart, kankaroo start and bunny hop start away from the line. It was impressive to watch Ron! Gointo the first corner decently and then second too. I was happy to have Sorted and Jolley behind me and a I was making good progress and hunting the leading pack down. Leading class B´s that is. Race stoppage and I am gutted for the fallers and me too, I was in a good postion – fourth or fifth in class.

Race Two. Part 2
Awfull start and lots of work to do straight away. The front pack gets a break of four to five seconds and I am tusseling with Brummie Dave eighth or so. I get past Dave after two laps and head off after Sorted, then See Ghostie grass tracking round Corams, You need a different race licence for that I thought to myself. On the way round we pass Neal Catling (what happened Neal?) and I know I can catch Sorted on the last lap. Round Corams I made three bike lengths on Sorted, but needed four really. The inside line into the hairpin thing gets me infront knowing I have lost lots of speed and can I get the drive out to the line better than Alan? No, the inevitable happens and Sorted drafts past to beat me to fifth by 0.199 seconds.
So a half decent sixth is the result. Confidence gained all weekend and track knowledge too. I can do this now, I just know I can. The results are improving for me each round and I will continue improving…………….. get in there!

[bradders]

mate, Just like Anglesey....we had some more VERY close racing, elbows and everything, until you binned it!! Great fun, few Miiikkkkeeeee moments on some of the passes on me which I'm sure you got back with some of mine

for 47hp that bike of yours shifts well in a straight line the third amigo - Badger - wont know where he is when he comes back to Pembrey and we disappear away