Getting in a bit of practice at Donington for the Ducati UK day I haven’t booked and is sold out (if anyone is thinking of dropping out of an Advanced spot let me know!). in short, this bike is a missile and so easy to ride! I loved how easy my Gen4 S1000RR was, however this is almost as easy and showing better laptimes already on both tracks I’ve visited and is almost completely standard. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8jcL1ZICF5/?igsh=aHN2c2JjYm15dzl1
I can’t believe how my V4 makes me seconds faster at each track I re-visit. It’s as if someone sprinkled talent dust on me. Mugello next week is the big test. Hoping to improve on a 2:11 from four years ago.
Absolutely. I had a Ducati 959 that was essentially a race bike and at the tracks I have checked I was 2-3secs slower per lap on the Gen4 BMW S1000RR than on the 959. I took 18 months off of riding (which should immediately make me a bit slower) before jumping on the V4S, and at the 2 tracks visited so far (Portimao and Donington) I am around 5secs per lap faster than on the 959 (7-8 secs quicker than the BMW). Yet somehow it feels pretty comfortable and easy..... they are not forced laptimes, they are just out having fun. Couple of laps on the V4S at Donington for anyone interested. Not crazy fast, but decent enough.....
Are you running standard gearing? I think I’m one down on the front and two up on the rear. The reason I ask is because you seem to be a gear lower than me in certain corners. Not saying you’re wrong, it’s probably me that’s wrong…
I’m one tooth less on the front (15/41), so if you’re 15/43 then it makes sense you might need another gear in some places. That, and I’m probably going too slowly!
Ha, you weren’t going too slowly into Goddards … nearly hit chummy boy up the backside… and due to the ‘shiiiit’ moment- forgot to knock it down a cog?? I did smile at that bit… nice riding
It was a strange one. I think he braked earlier than usual or I accelerated further up the hill than usual. I had plenty of space, but it did catch me by surprise! What made me laugh was that pulling out of that corner in 3rd I still gained on him down the start/finish
Dunno about you but I find 2nd a bit stymied with the electronics. I’ve knocked down to 2nd thinking it’ll pull like a train and nowt happens!! But 3rd and 4th on the boil is nuts!!
I came from the S1000RR which was even more muted, so this feels pretty good in 1st/2nd by comparison, and that is on old tyres with a pretty high traction setting.
Sneaky one from Snetterton last week showing off the new wrap….. https://www.instagram.com/p/C-rxByno52r/?igsh=am9hODE0eDBvZWQ=
