Oh how I wish I could be sat here writing about all the good parts of todays trackday at Brands, but sadly my day was cut short on the first session after lunch. The day had started out okay, a bit damp, but okay. We got down to the circuit without any serious problems. The morning sessions went okay, but I felt it was a little too damp in places to really push. There were a couple red flags, and several little offs by some of the other riders. During the hour lunch break, the circuit had completely dried and warmed and once we were out on the track, we were able to push harder than during the morning sessions. I had been filming all the sessions with my Drift Ghost camera and was getting some good footage. About twelve minutes into the session I was riding down the main straight approaching Paddock Hill bend. There was a rider in front of me lining himself up for the corner. I had seen him on track all morning and passed in several times as he wasnt the fastest guy out there. He's lined up the corner and I had taken up a position behind him and to the left. Paddock Hill bend is a big downhill righthander. The plan was to pass him midway through the corner around the outside, a move I have made many times on track and especially at this corner. I am now committed to my line and I'm travelling at about 90mph or just above, but certainly not flat out, leaning off the right side of the bike. Next thing I know the rider I'm following has sat up and eased off, or even shut the throttle, putting him right on my line. As he drifted out to the left, I had to swerve out of the way. I think I went down the right of him, but now as I've sat up as well, my line has disappeared and I've entered the gravel at speed. I managed to keep it upright for about 40 or 50 yards before the front folded and I went over the handlebars, landing on my shoulders and head as I slowed to a stop next to the bike. I flicked the killswitch and staggered over to the tyre barrier. Looking back I should have got myself on the other side of the barrier to make myself safe, but I wasn't thinking straight. All the panels on the right side were damaged, including the nose cone and the right mirror. The front mudguard is badly scratched, the brake lever is covered in gravel rash and it looks like the rearset mountings could be a little out of line. The rear tailpiece and the windscreen have been smashed and there are smaller signs of gravel rash on both wheels. Thankfully the bike was wearing its clutch cover so that saved a small fortune and the ride home showed not serious mechanical problems. So who's fault was it? his, mine, both or nobodies? I think its fair to say that if I crashed because of a fault of my own making, i.e poor braking or highsiding after trying too hard, then I could except that, so to crash because of a mistake somebody else made, that erks some. Would he have been better suited to a slower group? I think the only way I can really look at it, is that it's one of those things and I can't really blame him. As I sit here writing I feel like I've been punched in the ribs, I've got a huge graze/cut on my right leg, where part of the bike and I came together.. My neck is sore and my back is stiff, but it could have been a lot worse. One rider had to be taken away in the air ambulance after loosing it on the same corner today. My pride and joy is sitting locked up in the garage as banged up as her rider. Elvis Costello sang 'Accidents will happen' and that's the only way I can look at it. I'm sore, but I'm not dead and thats the main thing. So what next for the bike? I could take it to the dealer and ask them to fix it, not sparing the cost, but Mike at Metropolis is a wise man. He suggests taking my time over the repair and have a think about what I want to do. I have another bike to use and there may be alternatives such as a respray. I know for sure that I will have to get some replacement bits, but I will get the bike looking her best. I just know that it won't be tomorrow. So, does anybody know anybody good in North London or Hertfordshire who may able to help with a respray, or a good supplier of good aftermarket fairings.
Sorry mate this is exactly what I was saying on another thread and chastised for, slower riders are unpredictable , he should never have slowed up mid corner, but it takes a racer to know where it's safe to get off the gas, failing that the only safe way is to follow my leader and only pass on straights, and how boring is that. The bike is only cosmetically damaged so I would have thought you'll have it better than before.
Ouch Matt, glad you're not too badly hurt but sorry to see the state of your bike :frown: maybe some track day bodywork would be advisable and then see about getting some normal stuff as funds allow.
I know how you feel, a few years ago I went into the back of a guy at Mallory hairpin, I'd been racing for 10 years and never so much as scratched someone else. The guy was 20 yds in front of me and almost stopped before turning in, I went and apologised in the paddock and he said to me "slow in fast out", I almost lost it! But simple fact is both you and I were behind so it was our fault. It's cosmetic so it'll be as good as new in no time and while you're sorting it you can still ride, don't dwell on it, don't beat yourself, you do this stuff long enough it was going to happen.
Matt, Sorry to hear of your crash - nasty place to go down. The main thing is you are ok- bikes can be mended easily but bodies are more tricky! Take care and don't rush into a decision (nice platform for a track bike!). RX
Sorry to read this. No body's fault really. Not writing any more as I don't want to sound condescending. Get on eBay and search. You can pick most of what you need off there. As for aftermarket fairings, same place. £230 gets you some xerox ones the same as Phoenix which look good and need minor adjustments to fit. What ever you do don't go to altamura. I laughed in their face when they quoted to spray one of my fairings. It was nearly the price of a new OEM. I'd get some cheap fairings for the mean time and fix it bit by bit.( well I did, only hrs fairing to do now.)
Unlucky mate, I binned mine due to someone cutting me up at the bus stop at Mallory last year....couldn't speak to the guy after I was so angry... Bide your time and buy bits as you see them. All the fairings look very repairable and it could be worse.
Bad luck Matt but you had already noticed the other riders inability.........and then decided to overtake him on the scariest part of the track.
You're ok and you walked away from it, that's the most important thing. Glad you'll be able to sort it so you can do more tracks days. It's all fixable, shame it had to happen!
Did you go to the track day briefing.............something about overtaking before the bend or after the bend....... Illusion paint Northamptonshire.........Larry there is pretty nifty!
Shame fella but these things happen. What group were you running in, fast? Round the outside at Paddock is aways going to be high risk manoeuvre, any outside is really, and if you were doing 90 you weren't taking it easy, the pros aren't going that much quicker hope you get it sorted
Yep and thanks for the suggestion. I wasnt trying the dive down the inside and I was at four to five bike lengths behind him. Moved to sitting at the side of the track :wink:
Sorry to hear about your misfortune, Matt. Actually it was going to happen sooner or later if you do a lot of trackdays. And I'm afraid it has to be mainly the fault of the following rider doing the overtake - the one in front doesn't know you're there, and may slow down at any time for any reason. Sorry about that. What I wanted to ask is - how did the adrenaline rush feel while you were actually leaving the track and crashing? And did it compensate in part for the wallet-hit?
Back luck, Matt. You'll be fine and the bike will come back together - but definitely get TD fairings for next time. Glad you're relatively uninjured and the bike, repairable
Sorry to see that Matt, you must be well pissed off, hope you get her fixed soon, just to make you aware there is a brand new Black 1198s R/H fairing on Ebay, make them an offer? DUCATI RH RIGHT HAND UPPER BLACK FAIRING PANEL 1198S NEW
Not good news Matt. If it was me I'd take my time buying decent OEM panels off ebay/forums and use the scuffed ones as your track day stuff
