Race_AFM_1_2_3

AFM Race 1: Buttonwillow March 21-23

For 2008, we got a new bike: the Ducati 1098 R! As with anything new, we wanted to do plenty of testing. Nevertheless, we were only able to get two days in before the race weekend so we had our work cut out for us. On the topic of cutting out, our introduction to the “R” was through two individual electronic issues which were difficult to tease apart. The 1098 “R” is the first production motorcycle to feature traction control (Ducati Traction Control, DTC) designed for the race track. This system is controlled by the ECU and utilizes several sensors to monitor available traction including ones for lean angle and wheel speed. Eight different profiles are available to the rider which can be adjusted for track conditions and tire wear (setting 1 for maximum wheel spin, setting 8 for minimum wheel spin). The DTC system was acting up while the quickshifter settings were off. Both resulted in the bike cutting out abruptly and losing power. We were able to set the quickshifter appropriately but had to ride the bike as-is with the DTC on setting “1”. By the time the weekend came around, we were finally seeing some speed. But along with the speed came other issues: now the bike was dragging the fairing around the long right-hander known as Riverside. The solution was simple – raise the ride height equally front and rear. Once that was resolved, we were ready to race.

Saturday’s F40 played out conservatively. We tried to ride around the problem of power loss exiting corners to the finish in 11^th. Not bad for the first time out. Unfortunately our weekend would be curtailed prematurely by a first turn crash in the first race on Sunday. Our third-row start ended in a red-flagged race with several riders being innocent victims of our crash. We are very grateful that they were able to avoid running us over. We came out with a concussion, severe contusions to one hand and a broken clavicle. “My only remembrance of the incident is getting a poor start with the bike stumbling into turn one before waking up on my back to medics asking if they should cut away my leathers.”

Open Twins: DNF

Formula 40: 11/34

Open Superbike: DNS

Fastest lap: 1:57.795, 91.7mph

The 1098 R was hardly ride-able

Dr. Ting performed his magic again, this time to the collarbone

AFM Race 2: Infineon April 26-27

We were back at Infineon barely recovered and rebuilt. The new quickshifter again was acting up – this time the bike would not run in gear so we simply disabled it. We thought the DTC issue would be resolved with a new full race exhaust which was intended for the system but it, in fact, made the symptoms worse. We were bogging out of turns 7 and 11, the slowest corners on the track and short-shifting only marginally helped. Even though we ran with the DTC off, the problem was still apparent and we limped home with results which belied our potential. The bike would spend the next three weeks at the dealer with Ducati North America and Ducati Motor Holding in Italy scratching their heads.

We would like to extend our sincere well wishes to fellow Open Twins racer Eddy Gonzales and his wife Cheryl Gorham who is going through some difficult times. Cheryl was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and a diary of her journey can be followed through her website.

Open Twins: 14/23

Formula 40: 14/47

Open Superbike: 22/30

Fastest lap: 1:47.101, 74.6mph

Pink ribbon in support of Cheryl in her fight against breast cancer

The “R” handles well

AFM Race 3: Infineon May 24-25

Ducati North America and Modesto Ducati were finally able to diagnose the problem and the result was nothing short of amazing (see dyno runs below). The issue was due to a “soft” rev limiter being activated in addition to incorrect mounting of the lean angle sensor. Now with full power, we re-entered the arena ready to race. Although Saturday would only allow us one practice session with the rest of the day cancelled due to rain, we quickened with each session and race. The weekend started off in the :52s, then dropped down to :49s by Sunday morning.

Open Superbike saw us in the :48s, Open Twins dropped down to :47s and for Formula 40, the last race of the weekend (moved from Saturday due to the rain), we recorded a 1:46.791 on the last lap! We ran with the DTC on level “5” and by the end of the weekend it was fully active as the tires turned greasy. Now with the bike finally working and a new quickshifter to be expected we should be ready for Thunderhill in July.

Open Twins: 11/21

Formula 40: 9/37

Open Superbike: 22/36

Fastest lap: 1:46.791, 74.8mph