Ducati Monster Forum

Just asking for a hands up of who is traveling down to PI for the GP in a week or so? I'm going so I'm happy to catch up and say Hi with anyone else who is going.

I will be in the campground (trackside) from thursday afternoon.

Probably sitting down with a mug of tea, a big fat cigar, and not a care in the world.
When track is busy i will be down near siberia

Oh, my duc will be nearby, a red m1100 evo.

Welcome for a brew anytime, or after hours, i will have a few bottles of jamiesons i am happy to share. Byo mug

Marked in to my diary, Jammo is my poison of choice luckily [wine]. I'm riding down on my 1100 but leaving the bike at a mate's place in Cowes where I'm crashing for the weekend. I'll look out for you.

And bringing a portable espresso machine (mocha).

One cup at a time.

Yerp I will be there - but caging it with the bro in law as he is driving over.  Wouldn't miss this for the world!  ;D

I'm in, leaving Tuesday with my brother and a few mates

Someone from my work is going, so I will never speak to him again.  I already feel the urge to grab him by the lapels, shake him violently, while shouting "why you!!!  Why you!!!".  But he's South African, so I have taken the less brave high road and just mutter "stupid f*cker" under my breath a lot.  His girlfriend bought him paddock tickets.  GIRLFRIEND!  Not wife, GIRLFRIEND!!

<sigh>.  Stupid f*cker.

Ill be in the high octane club marquee , at the bottom of MG corner guzzling beer with my mates wondering what the peasants are doing at work [drink]

I'll spend it cursing your name, sir.   [thumbsup]  Can I send you some of my underwear to throw to Rossi?

I'll be there, tickets in the Stoner Grandstand at turn 12. [thumbsup]

Mr and Mrs Dogs will be in Bass straight cheering on Casey and any Ducati that rides past  [thumbsup]
Doing an alternate route from the usual Adaminaby /Alpine Murry river stuff
Riding down Thursday morning early start on to
Bilpin  [Dolph]
Hartly  [Dolph]
Oberon  [Dolph]
Taralga  [Dolph]
Goulburn to meet up with another group
Tarago  [Dolph]
Cooma  [Dolph]
Bombala  [Dolph]
Delegate pub for the night  [drink]  [drink]  [beer]  [puke]  [puke]  [bang]  [laugh]
 [coffee]  [coffee] Bit of dirt riding  [puke]
Orbust  [Dolph]
Sale  [Dolph]
Morwell  [Dolph]
Leongatha   [Dolph]
Wonthaggi  [Dolph]
San Remo =1153 kms over two days and several beers  [drink] and a good pub meal at Delegate
P.I.  [thumbsup] 8)

hey im not busy .....i will join you

That Frenchman in Moto3??   [laugh]

Surely you cant mean the Mr "Let's Stick Together" -  [bang]

[laugh]

Soon to be wife I'd reckon. If not, the dude's crazy!

GK

Yeah, I hear you, but I still say there is something drastically wrong with the bike.  Somebody at Ducati doesn't want to admit it and start over.  I suspect all the paddock rumours about everybody not getting along must have been rooted in some of those discussions.

I dont think there was anything radically wrong with the bike Stoner rode!  Unfortunately Rossi has been spoilt with Japanese efficiency as opposed to Italian artistry!  [cheeky]  Because Rossi wanted a Yamcati they had to put the bike back to square one.  That was Preziosi's baby!! Thus the when you get two head strong Italians together...

Anyway is Melbourne actually going to give us decent weather for Casey's send off??  Last year was unbelievable - half the track in rain and the other in sunshine!!  :o

I disagree.  Stoner's health problems aside, he had a lot of crashing issues, complaints about getting traction, and complaints about suspension unloading.  I think Ducati is aware they have a problem, which explains Dovisioso and the factory support of a satellite team.  I think that Stoner was able to be successful on it because he's an under appreciated mad bastard on two wheels.  Certainly no one else has been able to ride the damn thing with any success...

Well that is one thing I will agree with you!!  ;D

As for Dovi - we will see how German engineering goes with Italian design...  [laugh]

Desperate times ;)

I'm there, even better was invited by like minded (bike nut) consultant we sometimes use. See you all there. I'll be on Lukey Heights

It looks like I'm no longer going now :-[ My accommodation fell through. Maybe next year.

Someone in DOCVic posted some accommodation yesterday.  Don't know if it's still vacant.  Should I ask?

I did ask:
Yes, we still have beds available for all nights (Thurs-Sun) @ $100 per bed per night.

Regards
Peter

(let me (heatherp) know if you want the phone contact)

Passing it on...... (in relation to patching the potholes - be wary of the loose gravel that now covers the potholes  [bang])

Good morning all.

Please  pass  the October 29 protest ride assembly areas on to as many
riders as you can.

More information at www.damiencodognottooam.blogspot.com (http://) (http://)

Three things.

1. The Melbourne Age ran the pothole story.

www.theage.com.au/victoria/grand-prix-fans-at-risk-on-damaged-roads-motorcyclists-warn-20121023-283l2.html (http://) (http://)

The  Independent  Riders'  Group's  Dale  Maggs was interviewed by Red
Simons  on  ABC  Radio 774. He also did interviews on 3AW News and 3YB
which covers the south west of the state. Dale raised the "Bracks tax"
too.

2.  Since  the IRG route survey of the main route to Phillip Island on
Thursday,  October  18, and the following media exposure, VicRoads has
made an astonishing effort to patch the long-offending potholes on the
Bass Highway.

The  IRG did another route survey on Tuesday, October 24. In just five
days,  over  a weekend, VicRoads has patched the worst potholes on the
road.  The  Bass  Highway is safer than it was a week ago but it's not
pretty and not smooth and the work does not look permanent.

And  the  fact  that the work was done makes Minister Mulder's excuses
about  the  poor  condition  of too many roads across Victoria's a bit
thin. The IRG maintains that if VicRoads cut a lot of the waste in the
areas of road barriers and signage there would be a lot more money for
road surface maintenance and repairs.

3.  Responses  to  the October 29 protest rally in Melbourne have been
very  positive.  Three  groups will ride to the city for the rally the
day after the GP. The rally, among other things, is protesting against
recent  moves  to  force  motorcycle  &  scooter  riders  to wear high
visibility  vests, make government approved protective gear compulsory
and bring back front number plates.

Three  groups  will  ride to the city. All motorcycle & scooter riders
are invited to join them at the assembly areas or en route.

CRANBOURNE:  The  ride  will  be  led  by  Johnny  Gee  in the Antique
Motorcycles  truck - 0439 393 912. www.antiquemotorcycle.com.au (http://) (http://) Riders
will  assemble  in the car park next to the BP service station. As you
come  through  Cranbourne  heading  for  Melbourne you pass the Centro
shopping centre on the left, then the car park, then the BP. The route
will be up the Monash Freeway. The ride departs at 11am.

CAMPBELLFIELD:  The  ride  will be led by Anthony. Contact Leah - 0433
908  545.  The  assembly  area is in the Kmart car park at 1434 Sydney
Road,  Campbellfield.  The route will be down Sydney Road past Highway
31  and Harley City to Royal Parade. There will be a short stop by the
park  to  regroup.  Thyen  on to the Haymarket roundabout, Peel Street
past  Garner's  Hire  Bikes  then left into A'beckett Street. The ride
departs the Kmart car park at 11am.

HEALESVILLE:  The  ride  will  be  led  by Heather - 0425 720 193. The
assembly  area  is  at AJs Cafe - 5962 2662. www.ajsmotocafe.com.au (http://) (http://)
335  Maroondah  Highway,  Healesville.  The  route  will  be  down the
Maroondah  Highway  through Lilydale to Springvale Road. Turn right on
Springvale then left onto the Eastern Freeway. The ride departs AJs at
10am. There will be a short stop in Lilydale opposite the Olinda Hotel
to pick up riders.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

Had no issues with potholes on the roads we traveled down to PI
Mind you one had 10 k of twisty dirt and gravel but was well worth it for the other 100 k of amazing empty
corners that is the Bonang from Delegate to Orbost.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8133985920_e941594908_h.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8133953103_0a8b6967f7_b.jpg)
Mrs Dogs met some bloke from Italy and was so impressed she let him scribble all over my bloody shirt she borrowed

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8133974512_b790bc4f80_h.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8133945049_116bb3d58a_b.jpg)

Seems this little race is a wee bit popular with the odd motorcycle enthusiast
a few turned up
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8474/8133964350_e8b6c6dabb_k.jpg)

Wow great photos. what an awesome weekend.

Make sure you all catch Casey Stoner: the final lap tonight on channel 10

More of the journey to PI GP 2012
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8193/8133999404_d0823cae78_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8134373192_6228c65b59_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8333/8133964159_6fd80c88f9_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8133962171_e54e735fd7_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8133955191_7120bd1a10_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8134403754_11ce936a0b_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8133976716_65e4ecb5a6_h.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8474/8133934411_498c2126ab_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8185/8134359663_17c6bfdc20_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8133958538_947b58bd94_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8133956574_21fbd14666_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8133954590_f0ef0e1171_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8133925307_1fb58039ba_b.jpg)

Dez, thanks for the photos and the audio grabs over the weekend.. spectacular!
Looks like you guys had an awesome time!

The new Moto3 bikes are amazing so small and light I saw two mechanics pick one up at each end and spin it around like it weighed
nothing  :o  8)

Moto 2 start up in the pit box

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87335386@N02/8136518667/in/photostream#

I have to relate a story that had it's beginnings at this years GP, sorry for all the text but it's hard to abbreviate it and get the points across.

I didn't make it in the end to the GP for reasons stated below but some mates of mine did, in particular one of them took his 19 yo son along. He rides a pristine Blackbird and his son on P's has a brand spanking new LAMS Ninja. They'd rocked up at the GP, parked their bikes and headed trackside, having a blast after the Moto3 race they went back to the bikes to grab some sunscreen only to find someone had played bike dominoes and their bikes were on the ground, both had fairing and levers damaged badly enough to require eventual replacement but neither bike was incapacitated. A bunch of really pissed off blokes were having a go at a young woman who had dropped her bike and then watched with horror as 5 or 6 bikes next to hers fell over one after the other. She was insured so I'm told but I think it will be a long time getting processed, most of the affected had the opinion that the insurer will try to apportion blame elsewhere in their tricksy ways.

But, that's not the complete saga.

My mate and his son were able to ride their bikes home and went home via Arthur's Seat, which for the non-Melbourne riders is a steep and very windy hill climb, most curves are 15 or 25km hairpins. It's a fun place to time trial yourself and learn to take corners well. As they rounded the first blind hairpin at the base of the hill they had no way of knowing that coming down the hill was another young woman, riding a new Monster. Witnesses said that she took one of the tight corners to fast and went wide, tried to pull it back but got fixated on the Armco railing that runs all the way down the outside of the road, she hit it at speed but at an angle and went OVER the railing and tumbled down the hill, eventually needing an air-ambulance to the city and intensive care, last heard to be in critical condition, name unknown. However, it gets more interesting in that her bike, after hitting the Armco did not fall over but slid along the barrier at speed until it slid off the barrier and carried on in a straight line, upright & riderless, going down the steep road!! My mate's son had just turned the corner on the hairpin, his dad following to assess his cornering skills, and got T-Boned by the riderless Monster which knocked him off his bike and pushed his already damaged Ninja into the hill, writing it off completely this time. He wasn't injured because it was at a slow speed and the Monster Missile hit the front of his bike and not him.

That Ninja was just not meant to be, it seemed almost pre-ordained to go to the scrap heap, two accidents in one day and neither his fault. Thankfully the biggest of the two was just a scape for the rider and nothing broken, but you gotta say, his luck just wasn't there that day.

 :o
That is so lucky the young fella didn't get hurt.
I made sure when parking my bike it had enough room in case of the domino effect.
It was very windy Friday and Saturday , the bloke who parked next to me had his bike the wrong way round so it was standing straight up
just ready for a fail with the wind not in his favour.

I had a close call going up Brown mountain (appropriately named  [laugh] ), I was already a bit spooked as the group I was with had an off there last year.
It is comparable to Macquary pass.
I was setting up for a tight uphill hairpin and just starting to tip in when a Linfox full size Woolworth's truck coming down hill arrived on my side of the road , he didn't brake or back off forcing me to go so wide I was looking at the drainage culvert below my bars and had to pull my head to the side so the corner of his trailer didn't take my head off.
The rest of the mountain climb was at a very sedate pace after that.

On the Bonang Hwy out of Delegate I stopped to get my breath back and for the group to catch up and talk before we hit the next 80 k of twisties
I was pretty excited and took off making the most of the 100 k limit with no cars on the road the only moving things I saw was a Roo and a Dingo.
Second sweeping left I'm cranked over and what is in the middle of the corner coming the other way  [leo] Bright blue Vic SS officer.
I bolted on knowing he would have to get past the other six riders to get to me.
When we stopped again to re group, one of us was missing.
We started to get worried after 15 minutes waiting and were about to turn around to find him when Pete showed up.
Mr  [leo] had pulled him over and warned him that two riders had been killed on this stretch the day before and a girl also on a bike had been crippled running off and into a tree.
The first two both had hit logging trucks . [puke]
This was quite sobering so we all decided to slow down ................ well I did the others promptly forgot within the first few corners   [bang]  [evil]

Hmn one would think this spate of serious motorcycle carnage would rate a mention in the media.  Can't seem to find anything on a quick web search or on the VicPol media site.

Heather
We took it on face value at the time , most likely just a scare tactic but it worked on me  [roll].