CrookedRiver_Todd
04-12-2004, 12:02 PM
For Those that are interested (and asked about the crash pics):
Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to do a Race School with Ducati at the famed Imola Circuit in Italy. Overall it was a great experience, and if you ever have the opportunity to do something like that - TAKE IT!
The weather (mid 70's), the track Imola Circuit (http://www.autodromoimola.com/) , and the bikes (Euro Spec Ducati 999S's) were all perfect. My instructor for the day was Marco Lucchinelli, 500cc MotoGP Champion in the early 80's. So far so good - right?
The day was divided into a total of 12 40 minute sessions (40 minutes on the track followed by 40 minutes of discussion, with a 1 hour break for lunch) There were a total of 6 groups, each with 3 to 5 students per instructor, and you pretty much remained with your group all day long. There were never more than 15 people on the track at a time, and as big as that place is, you never really saw the other groups.
The first session was very tame, as it was the first time for most of us on the track. We pretty much followed behind Marco, learing the line, and trying to pick up markers, shift points etc. The track is VERY technical with most of the turns being chicanes connected by short straights that seemed to go by quickly on the 999S's we were riding. I certainly felt comfortable enough after the first session to pick up the pace.
During our briefing before the second track session, Marco informed us that the next session would be "a little quicker" the first 3 or 4 laps, then "we gonna go like hell - ok?". He wasn't kidding! I followed directly behind him the first few laps and was amazed what that place was like at that speed! The Line that seemed comfortable before was suddenly hard to stay on, and the chicanes seemed MUCH closer together! I did my best, put my head down, and went for it. All went well until the 5th or 6th lap - well into the "goin' like hell" portion of our session. I followed Marco into the turn called "Tosa", one of the slowest "single" corners on the track - a second gear, hard left hander with an up-hill exit. Upon entry, I was approximately 3 bike lengths behind him, but by the time I hit the apex, he was already halfway up the hill (10 or so bike lengths away). Naturally, I wanted to catch up, so I opened the go-fast knob and that was where the problems started. I guess I was still too far over to bang the gas that hard, and spun the rear tire. Not wanting to high-side, I stayed on the gas hoping that I could get the bike up and continue on my way. Unfortunately, this was not to be as the rear of the bike came around, and down I went.
Its hard to explain the feeling of sliding down the track underneath a bike that doesn't belong to you, hoping that the guys who were right on your a$$ aren't about to run you down, so I won't even try, but it was nice to know that I didnt have to pay for or fix the damage. I got a ride back to the paddock in a slick Porsche Cayenne, and after about 20 minutes of icing my still very sore left foot and ankle, the School Coordinator Dario Marchetti, asked me if I was ready to go back out, and when I answered yes, had them wheel me over another nice new 999S. How cool is that? Wad one up, we get you another...no problem!
By the afternoon sessions, even walking was becoming very painful, so once again, Ducati accomodated me by having two guys practically carry me to the bike. The pain wasnt bad once I was on the track, but the chicanes and the shifting of weight from right to left became increasingly slower. I wasn't about to quit though, and did manage to finish the day...
I won't go into my experience at the Italian Hospital, or what it was like getting back to the states - I could write a book on that! I do have an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon on Tuesday, and while it appears there are no broken bones there is significant "soft tissue" damage as the ER doctors over here put it. Hopefully, all will be well in time for the first Fasttrax event May 1st.
All things considered, it was a great experience, and if I'm ever over there again when something like this is going on, I'll be signing up! :D
Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to do a Race School with Ducati at the famed Imola Circuit in Italy. Overall it was a great experience, and if you ever have the opportunity to do something like that - TAKE IT!
The weather (mid 70's), the track Imola Circuit (http://www.autodromoimola.com/) , and the bikes (Euro Spec Ducati 999S's) were all perfect. My instructor for the day was Marco Lucchinelli, 500cc MotoGP Champion in the early 80's. So far so good - right?
The day was divided into a total of 12 40 minute sessions (40 minutes on the track followed by 40 minutes of discussion, with a 1 hour break for lunch) There were a total of 6 groups, each with 3 to 5 students per instructor, and you pretty much remained with your group all day long. There were never more than 15 people on the track at a time, and as big as that place is, you never really saw the other groups.
The first session was very tame, as it was the first time for most of us on the track. We pretty much followed behind Marco, learing the line, and trying to pick up markers, shift points etc. The track is VERY technical with most of the turns being chicanes connected by short straights that seemed to go by quickly on the 999S's we were riding. I certainly felt comfortable enough after the first session to pick up the pace.
During our briefing before the second track session, Marco informed us that the next session would be "a little quicker" the first 3 or 4 laps, then "we gonna go like hell - ok?". He wasn't kidding! I followed directly behind him the first few laps and was amazed what that place was like at that speed! The Line that seemed comfortable before was suddenly hard to stay on, and the chicanes seemed MUCH closer together! I did my best, put my head down, and went for it. All went well until the 5th or 6th lap - well into the "goin' like hell" portion of our session. I followed Marco into the turn called "Tosa", one of the slowest "single" corners on the track - a second gear, hard left hander with an up-hill exit. Upon entry, I was approximately 3 bike lengths behind him, but by the time I hit the apex, he was already halfway up the hill (10 or so bike lengths away). Naturally, I wanted to catch up, so I opened the go-fast knob and that was where the problems started. I guess I was still too far over to bang the gas that hard, and spun the rear tire. Not wanting to high-side, I stayed on the gas hoping that I could get the bike up and continue on my way. Unfortunately, this was not to be as the rear of the bike came around, and down I went.
Its hard to explain the feeling of sliding down the track underneath a bike that doesn't belong to you, hoping that the guys who were right on your a$$ aren't about to run you down, so I won't even try, but it was nice to know that I didnt have to pay for or fix the damage. I got a ride back to the paddock in a slick Porsche Cayenne, and after about 20 minutes of icing my still very sore left foot and ankle, the School Coordinator Dario Marchetti, asked me if I was ready to go back out, and when I answered yes, had them wheel me over another nice new 999S. How cool is that? Wad one up, we get you another...no problem!
By the afternoon sessions, even walking was becoming very painful, so once again, Ducati accomodated me by having two guys practically carry me to the bike. The pain wasnt bad once I was on the track, but the chicanes and the shifting of weight from right to left became increasingly slower. I wasn't about to quit though, and did manage to finish the day...
I won't go into my experience at the Italian Hospital, or what it was like getting back to the states - I could write a book on that! I do have an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon on Tuesday, and while it appears there are no broken bones there is significant "soft tissue" damage as the ER doctors over here put it. Hopefully, all will be well in time for the first Fasttrax event May 1st.
All things considered, it was a great experience, and if I'm ever over there again when something like this is going on, I'll be signing up! :D