Agreed, it was a pain in the backside. I just couldn't get comfortable with the long right out of the chicane.
Unfortunately , superficial can still end up being quite expensive. I am guessing it broke the lockstops on the bottom triple clamp. A friend has the same issue on his Pani, after a low speed get off on a Spanish track day. He said there are a few on e-bay for sale , but all with the same problem - broken lockstop. The price for a bottom triple clamp assy from Ducati is about £380
You should ask an instructor to show you some turning in points and apexes first before going up a group. It seems that you can overtake with the oomph of a pani but seem to be lost through the turns. If you go up a group with those lines, there will be a collision.
I was polishing the award trophy for most condescending post of the year to be fair. I agree with the instructor bit though.
Yes it's good, but I couldn't get a good rhythm. Take a choice of sprockets as I think if you can get the gearing right I suspect it will feel a lot better.
Not really being harsh Paul, just saying how I see it. As you know, it's serious stuff and not to be taken lightly. Done all groups tbf. Erratic lines are present in all groups but they are more often consistent and faster. With the corner speed shown and differing journey's around corners could see trouble for all, if he were to move up a group. I feel more track time to learn track craft and to build confidence on the bike would benefit Horaco. Best to get the foundations right before advancing. It's the vanity riders, who think they are Rossi, who go in groups beyond their capability that cause chaos and carnage for themselves and others. That's not to say big fish in little ponds are not a nightmare either.
As most new tracks I usually hate them for the first session, turn 7 seemed to be my Achilles heal and I seemed to like the scenery around there. But by the end of the day one turn 7 was a favourite and I really enjoyed the track. Final turn goes on for ever, I was flat out on the Pani (none std gearing) down the straight GPS showed 180 MPH. Free wifi at the circuit which is nice. Some good bars and restaurants in Cascais.
Got a couple of cool shots from Cartegena with Pacedayz this weekend. Definitely my favourite organisers. The lady looking great on her Triumph:
Ahh I saw that bike tucked away in one of the garages didn't realise you were on here, should have popped over and said hello. As has been said Estoril is a cracking track fast and flowing with the odd little PITA corner to unsettle you (turn 3 did me every time). The chicane was probably my favourite passing place and you just never knew how fast you could go on that last right hander onto the straight... thus the tyre wear! Portimao, well I went there when it first opened and surprisingly I was one of a handfful of people on this trip that had done it before so for 1/2 day I was the fastest guy in the fast group... then normality returned and I slipped back down the order swiftly I might add LOL!! I'd warned MrC that Portimao would properly mess with his head and I know he struggled for over a day before it clicked, similar to my previous experience.
Must have one on his elbow, trying his best to scrape it off. Not to sound too much like the yoot of today but... sick pic
It's just the bike making me fast! Only joking, thanks buddy. I'll start in novice at Bedford next month and see if I feel up for a move to interns during the day. I've got some credit so will use that for a bit of instruction too. At the point you mention the bike got a false neutral going down - you can see the gear indicator all over the place. I just slowed it and stuck it in 2nd for the left. I have a problem dorsiflexing my left ankle so sometimes I don't get enough lateral movement of my toe to move over and across the lever. I'll be having an op this year to sort it but it will mean no riding for a while!
Some Panigale fun chasing my mate on his 1299. In case anyone notices I have no electronics on the R due to the IMU and speed sensor not working. Not sure why but it's probably a plug on the loom of something like that. The bike was a bit savage for the first few days and I was not able to push on the Bridgestone V02 that I was trying out but extending the shock helped massively to sort the bike out. I also found out later that the Bridgestones work better at 22psi instead of the 22-24 I was running them at. I put a Dunlop on for the final day and immediately dropped two and half seconds off of my lap time! It was satisfying making such good progress without having the helping hand of electronics to smooth everything off. I got into the 1'47'' but felt like there was plenty more time to be made up with a bit more time to learn the circuit better once the bike was sorted.
