Ducati Monster Forum

The Novice school I did with Keigwins in April was a lot of fun and I wanted to try out the intermediate school, but was a bit intimidated as my lap times were still somewhere in B- group and not in B+, the best I did at novice school was a 2:30. Its not fun being passed by fast guys on bigger bikes and I was expecting to see a lot of fast guys on the intermediate school. I tried to get a couple track days to prepare for the school, did a day at Infineon in May and another at Laguna on June 5th. I was trying to practice whatever I learnt at the novice school and things did seem to work for me.

On track day, I was nervous, the feeling you get on your first track day. After about 8-10 track days I did in the last 9 months, track days used to be very regular, but the 'intermediate' name made it somewhat scary for me and the mention about race starts and a race .. errr sprint :) and to add to all that it was way too windy and I felt like I was being thrown all over the track, specially on turns 1 and 2.

But as the day progressed everything seemed normal and I felt like I was getting faster, but the lack of power on my standard sv-650 was obvious on the back and front straights. I was all pinned only to see the 600s and 1000s pass by me as if I wasn't even trying to go fast. I did pick up a few tips from Gary and Ernie ( also on a sv-650) on the first day and I was getting more comfortable on the track...

on the second day, I had an 1-on-1 with Adrian and he helped me find the mistakes and we worked on body position and preparing for the turn... I realized I was doing quite a few things wrong! I still need to get everything right, I end up missing one or the other...hmm more track days  to practice  ;D

After watching the A group race starts, I knew I have to be close to the last with the least powerful bike in the group. did the first race start from the second last row I believe and then mustered some courage to go up a few more rows for the actual race. The race was an awesome experience.. it did seem quiet scary watching the A group race from side but it wasn't as bad when I was on the track, looked like enough space around me. Also the race did make me go faster.. i probably did the fastest lap times on the race, but I will never know  :(, I was able to pass guys during the race who used to pass me before the race. On the race I did a small wheelie on top of T9, probably because I was shifting gears on the top of the hilll, but it did scare me and then before T10 my rear was up hard on brakes!  I was happy to come back, checked the lap timer and it was off, i thought the battery was out but then it turned on and it did reset itself to factory defaults.... no lap times !!

the rest of the day went on fine, had a fun day and I think i did improve a lot, now I am much more comfortable on the track and with passing or being passed ;D

the fastest recorded lap time was 2:22.5   The race might have been faster, but I am happy with this ;)

..some pictures

Turn1:
(http://random.gaurawa.net/bike/THill_080610_MF1A2986.JPG)

turn2:
(http://random.gaurawa.net/bike/THill_080610_MF1A3327.JPG)

turn10:
(http://random.gaurawa.net/bike/Thill_080610_MF1A2751.JPG)

turn11:
(http://random.gaurawa.net/bike/Thill_080611_MF1A5280.JPG)

Way Cool! Great job, awesome pics  [thumbsup]

Nice Job Guarawa!  it's great seeing the progression you've made over the last year!!  Well done!

Wow, I am so impressed!  Thanks for the great report and pictures! [thumbsup]

That's a great write up and cool pics man...seems like you've really got 'the bug' [moto].  that's awesome.

Looking good!   [clap]

BK

 [clap] [clap]  Noice!!!!

How come I can do those lap times but I look like I'm riding to a Sunday picnic in my pictures, whereas you look like a menace--and I mean that in a badass kinda way.  Srsly... if nothing else I'd like to look  fast.   [laugh]  Perhaps that's too much to ask of me and the li'l fizzer.  How do you like that SV?  Is it fun?  I've recently had two offers on my old bike and if I can gather a few bucks together I might take the plunge on something that's doesn't belong in a museum. 

Sweet!
I'm so jealous of how you long legged boys look in the pics.
Nicely done.

Thanks Adrian. Its always good to see you and Steve at the track. I will keep bugging you for more help :)

thanks Paula. I think we did the first novice school the same time last year on the monster and then I got addicted  ;D


Definitely. In the last one month, I have done more track miles than street miles..to think about it, it may be true for the last 3 months... I need to ride the Monster too :)

Yep, that's right...you've gone way beyond my level. [beer]

thanks 'belle  :)
May be after being behind the camera for a while now I know how to do when I am in front  ;D
I think its the long legs that I am able to put the knee down even with not so much lean angle and since these are the first few days when I was finally able to get my knee down, I am very camera happy these days, on my first warm-up lap every session I make sure I spot Dito  :)

I like the SV, but I don't have experience riding any other bike on the track except the Monster.
- I like the power delivery. Its feels smooth. I can get good torque at 4K rpm
- I have the standard forks and bars, the bike feels quiet nimble. I have tried clip-ons and they don't feel so nimble on SV and may be I get tired with the different body position and end up not liking it ?
- It doesn't have much power, I feel the torque goes down after 8-9K and it doesn't pull anymore. I am close to the max speed much before the tower on the front straight at THill, waiting for T1 and being passed by 600s.
- the stock socks are no good, you need better suspension. I picked up the Penske and they made a huge difference going from the stock.

Overall its a fun bike to ride, not the fastest on tracks like THill or Laguna,  but a lot of fun when you go to Infineon. I like it a lot and thats the reason I still have it even when I had good opportunities to pick up a 600cc.

 :D long legs really do help!

pick your knee up its only slowing you down  :P

Is that a 2 piece suit your wearing?

I plan on wearing my 2 piece for the Novice school on the 30th & 1st.

 ;D I do know that I need new pucks now. I am done with my first set :)

Yes its a 2-piece suit that zip together.