Woohoo.

[duke63]

I'm going to Snetterton on Friday. Not yet decided whether to go Thursday night or get up at silly o'clock Friday morning.

[Kwacky]

I would stop over. It's a long and very boring journey.

[Kwacky]

Enjoy your day.

[duke63]

Had some great days out on bikes but this ranks right up there. 1299S what a phenomenal machine. Never felt anything quite like it. On the way home now but more later.

[duke63]

Just got home. I owe you a few drinks for the link ,Kwacky.

I'll put some photos up later. All I can say is i have never ridden anything with such brutal power but equally it all feels totally under control due to the electronics.

3rd & 4th gear power wheelies on the straight at 120mph+

My biking skills are limited compared to most but this bike makes you feel like a riding god.

[Perkles]

buy one quickly

[Kwacky]

Take Perkles advice, he's very wise about these things.

[duke63]

Just a few piccies.

[D41]

Very nice! The front end of those bikes on super-duper-zoom-feature looks nothing less than menacing,

[Kwacky]

Fantastic. Shame I was asked so late in the day. Was it full?

[duke63]

I rode over to Norfolk last night mostly in the damp and much of it in the drak. Good job i know that route like the back of my hand.

Stopped at a small pub/ B&B called the Angel Inn just down the road from Snetterton. Didn't arrive to past 11pm but was shown to my room complete with whiskey and coke. Ironically I found out the landlord's wife used to live 5 miles down the road from Cannock.

Up early and at the circuit for just after 7am. Had the usual registration, briefings etc. there were road bike tests to book but by the time i got there most had been booked for the whole day. Bit naughty that some were booking 4 demos whilst many got none. Ducati were made aware of the problem and said it will be changed in future,

i was in the morning sessions - first session on your own bike and then two on a Panigale either 1299S or 959.

Snetterton is actually a really decent circuit now. Has two long straights and plenty of more challenging turns in between in the infield.

Took the Multi out and was a bit wary as its a big old beast. Handled it surprisingly well but was quite tiring towards the end. Got it up tp 130 down the back straight.

After a Q&A with Matt Roberts we were taken out for the first Panigale session. I had assumed we would have one session on a 959 and one on a 1299. However we were told it was entirely up to us. The day was run by CSB and the 959s were their bikes but the 1299s were brought over from Italy from the DRE Experience days complete with Italian mechanics.

Since we had a choice i decided it was a 1299 for me. All the bikes were 1299S with electronic suspension.

We were split into 3 groups with a CSB instructor at the head of each. We went out last but soon caught up the group in front as two or three riders in there looked as though they had never been on track before. Bit naughty really and one guy was complaining about it afterwards.

Anyway i was at the back of our group and probably the slowest in it but still enjoyed it immensesly as i prefer to ride on track with faster riders as it helps pull me along a bit. That said, i know half of our group were more than capable of pissing off into the distance.

Now the bike - I have never in all my days of riding bikes ever ridden anything quite so brutally fast as this. Yet those electronics keep it all under a decent amount of control so it never feels like its too much. It will pull wheelies half way down the straight even when in 3 figures but the wheelie control never lets it get out of control. It only lets the front rise so far but it doesn't come down with a thump when the limit is reached. It just gently brings the wheel back to the floor. The quickshifter works really well but the thing that impressed me most was the downshift autoblipper as you can change down through the gears for corners without having to think about the clutch and nor does it upset the bike in anyway at all. Smooth as.
It took me a few laps to get back into track riding as I have not done any since the day i broke my wrist 4 years ago. Have to say though that the bug has bitten me again today and i would love a bike i could ride to the track and then ride on track. Quite tempted to look at 1199s next year or even a 1098/1198.
Remember i mentioned i got the Multi up to 130 down the back straight? The Panigale's were all reading kmph on the speedo but i did see 265kph at the end of the straight a couple of times. 165mph. Its so easy with the quickshifter to just cane it through the gears and the bike just keeps on pulling.

I've never got close to that before on a bike and feck does it feel fast but the Brembo M50s haul the bike down so quickly. Made the mistake over trying to adjust my foot position on the straight once and it nearly ripped my leg off at the thigh.

2nd session we were again given a choice but after the first time, there was no way i was giving up the opportunity to use some one elses £21k 200bhp superbike for free. I would have loved another couple of sessions as i was really starting to get a bit of track riding mojo back but sadly it was all over.

Afterwards were were given stone baked pizzas and ice cream for lunch and asked to fill in a questionaire for Ducati Italy. We were all given a £100 Ducati dealer voucher t use as we wish plus either £750 off a 959 or £1000 off a 1299.

As much as i would love to own a 1299 i don't think it would get as much use as a Multi. I did enjoy the day massively though. Just the chance to ride a 1299 as it was designed for ( even in my own limited way) was too good not to take up.

Thanks Kwacky for the heads up when the link came about.

[duke63]

Yes it was full but quite a few said they had only been asked this week.

Not sure if i mentioned by my Multi would not pass a normal track noise test even in its standard form. Measured at 104db. The limit today was 102 but they let most through. Can't imagine any Panigale makes it under 102.

[kiwikrasher]

Awesome write up Duke, sounds friggin' amazing!

[Blade]

Awesome write up Duke

I'll take one in Red please

[duke63]

Buy one, Blade. You would not regret it, mate.

It does need to be used on track though to get the best from it. It took me about 20 mins to calm down after each session.

[C00kiemonster]

Great writeup. Not jealous at all.

I'd love a 959 tbh but the 1299s is a track monster. I can't see me needing one for the road.

Great opportunity.

[Perkles]

Wow that sounded like biking nirvana ,great write up glad you enjoyed it

[Kwacky]

I bet you're still grinning like a loon. What an experience.

[StMarks]

That sounds like one hell of an opportunity you had there Duke, & I'm really pleased it lived up to expectations mate.



Although I have to say that looking at those trackday pictures, I'm a little disappointed at the flagrant lack of cable ties & duct tape,!

[Kwacky]

Looks like you've got a fan.