Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > Race Instruction ?

[phoenix n max]

Your recommendations please ?

I've been riding 5 years (road based) and need more track time and some help.

I have a lot to learn and would like to know how best to spend the limited budget. I was 10 seconds or so off the pace at Woodlands with a 58.10 and I know where I lost those seconds despite being on a 583 - thats no excuse as Andy admirably demonstrated.

I know there is no substitute for track time which is what I intend to do and I have a basic idea of what i'm doing wrong.

So between now and Castle Combe i'd like to improve my race riding - How best should I spend my funds ? Your collective wisdom sought!

Anyone willing to tutor me ? I'm a good pupil

Thanks

[electricsheep]

if your budget will run to it i would recommend California Superbike School. To get the full effect you would do levels 1,2 and 3, although a lot of people make big improvements with level 1.

I am confident that TP will confirm that it helped with his racing

[TP]

It really depends on how much money you've got to spend. There's two schools of thought on the major schools and that is the European Superbike School and the California Superbike School.

I've never been on the ESS school's before but I have a bit of an understanding of how they work. I think I would be right in saying that you are at the entry level, no disrespect intended, and I think a very structured approach would benefit you and this is where I think the CSS will help you out. I've done all 4 levels of the CSS and I can't recommend them highly enough. But they're not cheap and I don't know if that's in your budget. Check out their website here

ESS is here

If you money is tighter than I would consider a track day with a company that has instructors that will show you around and do a date at a track that you are racing on later. No Limits has our very WeeJohnnyB as an instructor and we all know he's a bit quick!

Whichever you choose I wish you good luck

[Edited on 8-5-2005 by TP]

[skidlids]

Join us at Llandow on Fri May 27th at a cost of £65.22 and we can hopefully pair you up with a experienced Club racer, good couple of hours tracktime on a uncrowded circuit.

Are you doing Castle Combe on the 18th, my mate Rob Jones should be instructing there (he was at our last Llandow) he would be worth asking for a bit of help

[TP]

Originally posted by electricsheep
I am confident that TP will confirm that it helped with his racing

Amen to that, it's really given me a lot of confidence and pace that I didn't have before. I did my first track day last year and was fortunate enough to do it with the DSC at TA3 at Rocky in September.

I never thought I'd go from there to running the pace I can now and I owe that to the CSS (and to Sigma Performance for the great bike prep) so I can highly recommend their instruction.

[phoenix n max]

Originally posted by skidlids
Join us at Llandow on Fri May 27th at a cost of £65.22 and we can hopefully pair you up with a experienced Club racer, good couple of hours tracktime on a uncrowded circuit.

Are you doing Castle Combe on the 18th, my mate Rob Jones should be instructing there (he was at our last Llandow) he would be worth asking for a bit of help

Give me more details Kev please ?
Not doing 18th unless Domski still has his place to sell ?

[domski]

There is no substitute for race time.

I never did trackdays or race schools. Straight into racing me.

However, I was crap to start with, but didn't take long to pull my finger out.

You can't do better than talking to other racers at a race meetings. You're not doing much wrong if you're lapping in 58's in your first race.

I'm sure myself, Skids, Geoff & Ian Leah would be more than happy to spend some time with you discussing lines and brake markers etc.

Trackdays & Race Schools are probably ok, but they don't teach you how to 'RACE'.

Practice makes perfect

[phoenix n max]

Originally posted by domskidue
There is no substitute for race time.

I never did trackdays or race schools. Straight into racing me.

However, I was crap to start with, but didn't take long to pull my finger out.

You can't do better than talking to other racers at a race meetings. You're not doing much wrong if you're lapping in 58's in your first race.

I'm sure myself, Skids, Geoff & Ian Leah would be more than happy to spend some time with you discussing lines and brake markers etc.

Trackdays & Race Schools are probably ok, but they don't teach you how to 'RACE'.

Practice makes perfect

Thanks Domski I did speak to Geoff and Andy and they did give me some ideas to work on. Posture is an issue as evident from photos - I look stiff and I don't understand why really as I don't feel stiff on the bike - get no arm pump or stiff wrists ?? - Also I don't get off the monster - I used to on the cbr6 but don't find I need to on this bike.

[skidlids]

http://www.trackday-coop.150m.com/ site setup by my mate Andy

Myself, Senna3, his wife Trudi and Dallas are going, we are hoping Chippy is going to join us.
Last time as well as Rob Jones instructing, we had help from a few guys from North Glos including race winners from the ultra competitive 600 Supersport class.

We head down the evening before and camp at the caravan site next door.
One group is for newcomers to track riding one group is for those just starting racing, this includes Andy and Senna3 who have done one raceday and Damo who has yet to do his first race. The third group will be for those who have done a few trackdays.

[phoenix n max]

Originally posted by skidlids
http://www.trackday-coop.150m.com/ site setup by my mate Andy

Myself, Senna3, his wife Trudi and Dallas are going, we are hoping Chippy is going to join us.
Last time as well as Rob Jones instructing, we had help from a few guys from North Glos including race winners from the ultra competitive 600 Supersport class.

We head down the evening before and camp at the caravan site next door.
One group is for newcomers to track riding one group is for those just starting racing, this includes Andy and Senna3 who have done one raceday and Damo who has yet to do his first race. The third group will be for those who have done a few trackdays.

Righto - I'll call him tomorrow and make a booking - Do you have the details of the campsite please ? and Thanks