I’m guessing the Ducati trackday will happen at Donnington at some point in 26. Having never ridden there or done one of the Ducati only days is it worth booking onto it when it gets announced? Is it run pretty much like a normal trackday with groups? Are garages to be booked/paid for or is it a free for all? Is there camping or overnight kipping in vans allowed the night before rather than trudging up early o’clock on the day?
i personally enjoy them, they arent as quick as normal track days, and i do alot of them, if you have a ducati they are a good way of getting on track, garages are usually booked though dealers but i usually sneak into one.
I’m not quick like I used to be so normally trundle about in inters so not fussed if the pace isn’t at sbk levels. Are they normally noisy days as my bike’s not keen on running so good with the baffles in. I don’t normally frequent dealers do guessing a garage place would be a remote possibility then!
I also enjoy them, they are a fair bit more expensive than a normal TD, but if you've a very loud bike they are good as they are run as an "un-silenced" day, so no noise limit. Loud days are pretty dear at Donny anyway, and I still think they are 108db but I may be wrong. There is always the few that seem to struggle staying on track for more than a few corners, but that's no different to normal!
@doogalman, at the risk of being shot down, discipline is usually poor, no-one listens to or takes notice of the briefing. You’ll be overtaken inside, outside, under braking, lunging and in the bend, 6ft of room actually measures about 3”. That said, the majority are there for a good day and are no problem, it’s just the few muppets. Staying out of the fast group should mean you avoid the racers getting a bit of free practice on the sly. As for exhausts, it should be a loud day, 108db but that is always under pressure from the do-gooders and could change. No overnight camping but there’s a selection of local hotels, I use the Premier about 3 miles away. I've never paid for a garage and there are usually more garages than dealers, on a first come, first grabbed basis. 3 groups, upwards of 80 bikes per group. Fun days, if you can avoid the idiots, I only missed last year because I was touring with friends on both dates. If Ducati use Silverstone next year, I’ll drag the old girl out and blow the cobwebs off maybe one last time. Andy
That’s good to hear about noise. I see other dates at Donny but don’t fancy the trip from Dover for a normal day due to closures.
Didn’t realise there are days at Sillystone. Been out of the trackday loop for yonks. I thought all bike stuff stopped there?
If you want a “track day”, don’t bother with a Ducati day as their purpose is for anyone on a Ducati to have a lovely day out pottering around being terrorised by the “I can’t do corners, but I am hell-fast down the straights with my 225 horse power”. A “normal” MSV day will be cheaper and probably populated with more riders who have a clue.
It’s a good day out. Yeah, it’s a bit slower than ‘normal’ track days but so long as you’re not there with PB lap times in mind, it doesn’t matter. All groups are rammed IIRC so bang goes any clean laps. Groups are a bit of a mismatch. I’m not a particularly fast rider but go fast group because I know Donington well. But I’ve encountered very slow riders in the fast group. Likewise in the novice group you’ll have Marquez wannabes buzzing everyone they can. But all in all it’s a great day with some amazing bikes knocking about and loads of friendly Ducati wankers, like me.
I have done a few Ducati days and tried all three groups. Novice on my 996, inters on 959 mainly and fast on my V2. By far the safest group in my experience was Fast. Inters has become plain dangerous imho with total mismatch of abilities and machinery leading to dangerous closing speeds on straights. It’s a good day out as previously mentioned having said that. Especially after lunch when a lot pack up due to machine failure, fatigue or crash.
It did for about 18 months, in part to film the recent Brad Pit F1 film. Back open for business now but not sure if Ducati will go back there. Andy
I told DuUK two years ago a responsibility on the organisers is that it should be timed with four groups, to spread and manage the abilities. The mismatch of ego and ability, people who are on track regularly versus those whose one day a year is this event. The above measures would provide an element of control, but you can't control stupid. I came up behind a early V4 at coppice. It was smoking getting increasingly worse the nearer I got, There was a loud bang and intense puff of smoke, you couldn't not hear or feel it if you were the rider, yet he carried on. I moved completely away from it expecting it to pour out oil and crash...... he didn't make it through Melbourne crashing. I am also not interested in a breakfast and lunch voucher, id rather have taken the opportunity of a Pirro explaining some of the ever increasing complicated electronics and how to get the best of them
https://slickmotoevents.co.uk/events/ Could always try one of these done in partnership with Ducati UK. If i was still doing trackdays, Red Bull Ring would be high on the list.
I did Mugello with another organiser at the same time Slick were there. The contrast in service, information, planning, general attitude and a feeling of honesty was immense. Although I haven't experienced them personally, I have witnessed their processes. I would definitely consider using them.
