Warning - Non Ducati content but at least the bike is red! Feeling it from an epic weekend at the NoLimits Donnington 6hr Endurance on saturday and the Sprints on Sunday! The test day was on Thursday instead of Friday so I wasn't able to get to that so it was straight into it for the Endurance race. A last minute mechanical issue after a gearing change caught me out for qualifying but luckily this isn't such a big deal in Endurance as in the sprints and you can get back to your natural position easier. The plan was for the three of us in the team to do three 45 minute sessions each and whilst the first two were fun once the fuel level reduced a bit, the third session was a mission to stay focused over the pain of cramping muscles. You learn a lot about the bike and your riding being on for such an intense period of time. I must admit having the genius idea of giving the lady some good time in between the second and third 45minute stints was probably not the best choice despite how heroic (and romantic) I was feeling at the time! The plan was for me to do an extra long third session to finish the race since it had been red flagged for a time due to a massive oil spill earlier, but I was getting such bad cramps in my neck that I came back in only a lap or two from the end and swapped rider. Vale was there for her first race weekend and it went really well. She's out in the newcomer 1000cc class and like the newcomer 600 there are some very fast guys doing close to top clubman speeds; 1'37'' around Donnington is not novice!
Yeah its a lot of fun having the team and friends there especially. Few drinks on Saturday night to wind down after a hard six hours and drag yourself up for the sprints on the sunday Here's a little 2 min edit of the Endurance Race:
Good work Dave. I love that you had the energy to smash the mrs between sessions . I'm normally slumped in a deck chair feeling sorry for myself and trying to stuff my face with something to get energy for the next stint You're right about the pace in Novice. There's some properly fast guys there, who I guess want the glory of winning, rather then coming near the top in Club or even SS classes. Are you doing the 8hr in July ? We've got a team in, and along with the NG Oulton Round, that's possibly the only racing I'll get to do this year
It’s true mate, I missed the test day as it was a Wednesday this time and wasn’t really up to speed in the Endurance race. It was only by the next day sprints after some advice from the team that I sussed out that the new Metzeller and Pirelli slicks need running up at 35psi st the front and I knocked two seconds off the laptime.
Haha I couldn’t refuse and felt like a hero. Right up until I had to come in two laps from the end of the race because I was so broken haha
I plan on doing the 8hr although havnt got commitment from the other team members yet. We will get a team together either way between the different Army teams I reckon.
This was the first time I’ve actually felt like I couldn’t carry on due to the cramps in my neck. I’d been climbing most days during the week for the first time in a few years and had some pulled muscles in my shoulder that were bothering me all through. (One to add to the big book of racing excuses - sore muscles and boned the girlfriend between sessions)
Just been watching a vid I did at snetterton last year on the 750, and on the straights I hit the red but corners the same: about 6-7k where I should be 10k. Reminded me I need to sort my speedo out too: almost flat in 6th and 134mph on the readout lol
