Mrs Ex says it was on the News in Czech early this month that financial troubles have reared up again - it was said the circuit could close Had a quick look on Google but only found 2016 reports in English... lets hope they get it sorted!
January we joined the NoLimits trip to Phillip Island along with @J0n3s and some other Ducatistis! It was a big expensive undertaking and the bikes took two and a half months to ship each way but it was honestly the best thing we have done so far; as good as or better than Mugello and Imola the previous best trip by a long way. There are threads elsewhere so I'll not repeat things but I just wanted to get some content on here to keep the story going. We booked up on both of the three day trips a week after each other. It seemed like a no brainer after all the effort to get there but to be honest with my fitness and strength being low from still recovering after the Cadwell crash last September the first three days were enough. I would do both again if I was conditioned properly for sure all the same. The track is hands down THE BEST TRACK IN THE WORLD once you get it all sussed out. Like Mugello and Brno it's immensely fast and almost cartoon like but its actually narrower than those circuits. This adds to the atmosphere as it flows through the rises and dips next to the sea. Anglesey is a bit like a little brother although it doesn't come remotely close despite being one of the best in the UK! The famous Lukey Heights is as good as you'd imagine. I wish I was a little stronger and more exciting looking for the classic photo but the last thing I wanted was to send the bike off the top! I did however manage to run a bit two much speed on the third day before lunch and take a fall after going onto the grass. The video looked dramatic due to the camera going flying but it was only a few mph and the only damage was a crack in the nose fairing which a super kind Marshall fibre-glassed up for me before the next weekend! I rode it back to the pits and had it cleaned up and back out after lunch. We spent the week visiting Port Douglas in the tropical North East, going to the Jungle and Barrier Reef as you can't go to the other side of the world and miss the big attractions! It was only a four hour flight but it was tiring after three days on the fastest racetrack in the world! Back at the track for the next weekend we were both still very tired and knew we were not going to improve on lap times so we just enjoyed going around. I did manage to match my personal best in a much more relaxed manner on the fifth day which was great to show the progress both at the track and with my recovery. Unfortunately the day didn't end well; heading down the main straight at near 170mph and I felt a loss of power and something on my foot. Looking down there was a hole in the clutch case! Luckily no oil was coming out and myself and others were safe as it was a bad place for someone to go down. I pulled off the track gingerly and once stopped the bike dropped its oil along with my heart!
Some shots from Port Douglas The great job the Marshall did for me during the week: View attachment 153719 I don’t like to post the negative side of things as failures are part and parcel of our sport and until now Ducati have been very supportive of me and my antics. The exhaust issue at Brno was 100% a known design fault so whilst a 'goodwill gesture' out of warranty was very appreciated it was also expected after I'd spent £50k on Panigales in the last four years. This clutch basket exploding is also a know weak point with the race teams and I was hoping Ducati would at least be a bit more supportive in helping me when it turned out the damage was as bad as it was. I can see their position especially as I crashed a few days before albeit very slow but at the same time it leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth. Anyhow I'm posting all this since I've had to bite the bullet and have some very cool things on the go!
Ok so now onto the next chapter! A big incoming finance payment meant I had to do something with my poor bike with it's hole in the engine. I was torn between selling it off cheap or investing in an engine and getting it sorted out again. I love riding and owning the Panigale R as it's very special to me and I have pretty much done my whole bike career on Panigales having learnt to ride on the 1199S four or so months after getting my licence. Ben at @CodexMotorsport to the rescue and we have now started putting it back together with a 900km F16 RS superbike engine with all its uprated goodness!
My bike on the ramp ready for surgery! Once my bike was stripped down we started with the engine! I love the way the Pani goes together. It’s alien to people who know jap bikes but once you are used to it there’s a beautiful simplicity to having no frame to get around. The build and design quality is outstanding and on another level to the usual Jap bikes. @CodexMotorsport has so much shiny stuff in the workshop it’s hard not to add little things like these hoses for a bit of bling! Bottom part of the stunning superstock exhaust going on. Ben has more of these in stock of various conditions including nearly new. I choose the cheapest as I have ideas about racing the bike and need to keep costs down but it’s still so sexy. She’s starting to look like a bike now! Being a charitable type I even made Ben some baked beans! #ratemyplate Still plenty for me to do this week but I’m very excited!!
Great read. Whilst your riding is way outside of my personal finances, i do love to read about you using the bikes as they were intended and not treating them like a garage queen. Keep it coming. Are there any issues with fitting the RS engine when it comes to it working with the standard electrics, or are they being upgraded too?
No one really races the Pani at Clubman level due to noise and cost and so on so I decided last year not to risk trying it and converted the BMW. So much money goes into racing that I cant go completely crazy with the R so the plan is to remap and use something like a power commander to sort the fuelling. Some of the BSB teams have done this with the V2 this year so should work well. If I didn’t have the BMW i would probably look at getting the Storm exhaust system so I could be more confident of passing noise tests.
[QUOTE="Monners, post: 774586, The engine feels incredible. Race cams. The titanium exhaust has already gone a beautiful purple blue colour. [/QUOTE] Sexual. Edit: replies to page 1 of an old post (because it was in recent section) Was started in 2016, then cocks up the quote.... can I blame the phone? operator error! I am simple.
@Monners - totally agree with on Phillip Island. Mugello is very close, as is Brno, Phillip Island just pips them. The Mrs wants to move back there, half our trip was scouting properties. Your new builds looks epic, a Ducatisti’s pickers dream that garage. The final article is going to scare a few V4’s - can’t wait to see and hear it run at full throttle.
Have you thought about CJS racing to set the ECU for your engine? http://www.cjsracing.co.uk/news.htm
Great read @Monners Inspiring stuff. Phoenix from the ashes! I think my 1098R might have shat itself again. Bugger! List of upgrades.... Get in!! That’s the new kitchen on hold. Again. Just need to get the timing right now as to when I drop it into the conversation. Gulp! Anyone got any brave pills....??
On that note yes mate, I haven’t spoke with Chris but he is certainly an option that I’ll follow up before deciding.
Love it, proper interesting thread, any plans on the cooling side of things, as another weak link of the Panigale was wondering how you plan to address this issue.
