Ducatisti.ca

Colin McRae

2007-09-16T17:43:00.000-06:00

I've just heard that Colin McRae has tragically passed after the helicopter he was piloting crashed. To compound the situation, McRaes five year old son, his friend and McRaes long-term friend all died in the crash as well. McRaes family posted the following statement. My thoughts are with them through this terrible time.

STATEMENT ISSUED ON BEHALF OF COLIN McRAE’S FAMILY

Speaking on behalf of the whole family, Colin’s father, Jim McRae, said today:

“It is with much sadness and regret that we have to make this statement.

It is unbelievable that Colin and Johnny’s lives have been taken so prematurely and in such a tragic manner.

Colin was a great son, a loving husband to Alison and a fantastic father to Johnny and his big sister Hollie. Johnny was a great wee guy, spending every spare minute with his dad, and even at this early stage it looked like he had the potential to carry on the family dynasty.

Our thoughts are also very much with the families of Ben Porcelli and Graeme Duncan. Ben was a great buddy of Johnny’s and they had always spent a lot of time together both in and out of school. Graeme, who now resides in France, had been a close friend of Colin’s since their schooldays and was back in Lanark on holiday.

We are thankful for the overwhelming number of messages of support we have received from all around the world. Colin was very much an inspiration and role model to motorsport fans the world over.

As you can imagine this is a very difficult time for the family and we would ask that our privacy be respected and we be allowed to grieve in private.”

Fernie and the Highwood Pass

2007-08-24T17:33:00.000-06:00

This trip had been planned for a little while - originally a four day trip out to Nelson but schedules and work conspired to make it a rushed attempt rather than a holiday. Instead, Nita and I decided to relax for one day in Calgary before heading out to BC. Ideas of heading south toward Going to the Sun highway loomed but in the end we decided we were in more need of good rides with plenty of relaxation time on either end.

Fernie seemed like an obvious choice - I knew that the roads leading to the resort town were lush with curves and the scenery was stunning. Since Nita hadn't been out that way after living in NY for so long I thought the mountains would be a welcome relief.

The first day was overcast but the temperature was a nice 18 degrees centigrade - good for the full leathers. After our normal route out of the city via Bragg Creek we hit the lovely HWY 762 and 549. We stopped in Longview for a cuppa joe then continued south on HWY22 until we hit HWY 3 - the Crowsnest Pass. Now if you've never done HWY 22 you should know that the valley is simply stunning - it's right out of a novel. The sun in that valley is like nothing I've ever seen and well worth the trip. Not to mention, the roads are made for bikes.

Heading west on HWY 3, we stopped at Frank Slide to take a closer look at the "mountain that moves". Basically the a third of the mountain came crashing down in the 1800's due to mining despite repeated warnings from the indigenous people. The carnage is unbelievable. Getting back onto the bikes we wrestled with the wasps that were enjoying the buffet on our fairings and headed back out on the highway. Looking forward we knew we were in for some weather as the nest valley over was completely black with heavy storm clouds blocking the sky.

About 30kms from Fernie we were engulfed in torrential rain with huge wind gusts - not the end of the ride we were hoping for! Still we pulled into Lizard Creek Lodge and called it a day. Luckily they had a sweet little loft for us and settled in for the night.

The next day the sky was moody so we stayed close to Fernie - riding in for coffee and a walk around the town with a little exploring but we were happy to take it easy. On Wednesday we started back to Calgary.

We took the same route back toward Longview but decided it would be a good time to hit the Highwood Pass to Canmore. The original idea was to spend the night in Canmore and head back to the city in the morning. However, places were full or expensive so we decided to skip Canmore and make our way back home. The Highwood Pass was nothing short of stellar. The road was ours alone for nearly 1.5 hours and the tarmac was in fantastic shape. The twisting roads through the pass saw cows and bighorn sheep roadside and spectacular valley views. This road is *highly* recommended.

After filling up in Canmore we headed back to city - tired and happy that we had spent 7 hours on the road. Simply fantastic.

* Ride duration: 11 hours (best as a 2 day)
* The route

From street to track

2007-08-24T15:48:00.000-06:00

In a previous post I mentioned that I was selling my Ducati Supersport 800. Somewhere between taking the 749s on the track last week and Highwood Pass I decided that this particular bike is no longer for sale. Rather, I'm going to build out a nice little track bike with it instead. I figure it's paid for and has *some* of the same characteristics as my street ride so why not? Currently the kids at Revoluzione have the engine out for some warranty work but as soon as I get it back it'll be time to start tearing that thing down.

I'll keep this little section updated as per the progress and I'll be sure to take lots of pics as I go. The list of parts is growing though I'm going to keep it pretty simple to get going over winter. The list is for me and those who may be interested:

Sharkskinz Bodywork
Slipper clutch
Slave cyclinder
Race tires
2-into-1 exhaust
Adjustable steering damper

If you see a good deal on any of these parts send the info my way!

MotoGP on Facebook

2007-08-18T16:23:00.000-06:00

So the geek in me can't get enough of Facebook - especially now that you can take your best guess at who's going to win the next round in addition to an overall championship challenge. Get a Facebook account if you don't already have one and add the MotoGP Picks application.

Capirossi looking to different teams in '08 & '09

2007-08-08T12:58:00.000-06:00

Further to my previous post it looks as though Capirossi has gone public about his rather disingenuous release from the Ducati MotoGP project. It really is too bad for everyone involved - if it weren't for Gibernau's untimely collision with him in Catalunya last season perhaps he'd have ended the year on the same tear he started with.

The release (view original website):

CAPIROSSI UNCONVINCED BY DUCATI SWANSONG OFFER

Aiming to compete for at least one more season in MotoGP, recent declarations in the Italian press suggest that Loris Capirossi will be not be riding for another year under the Ducati factory team banner.

Shocked not by the signing of Marco Melandri for 2008 but the manner in which it was announced to the press- Capirossi claims to have only been informed about the deal having been made public upon seeing a copy of a press release- the Italian veteran has spoken out to journalists in his homeland about what he feels has been unfair treatment from his team.

"I wasn't expecting it, really", commented the 34 year-old to 'La Stampa'. "I don't think that they have treated me well, and all that has happened has disgusted me."

Talk of a third factory bike to accommodate Capirossi appear to be more complicated than simply adding Melandri to the mix, with the current Ducati rider confirming that the setup would be somewhat different.

"Livio Suppo offered me a third bike identical to the factory team's machines, but my engineer Christian Populin would be moved to work with Melandri and I would be part of the d'Antin satellite team. I have nothing against Luis, who is a great Team Manager but the truth is that I was expecting something different. "

Offers from Suzuki and Kawasaki remain on the table, and it seems that the smart money would be on Capirossi and Ducati severing ties for 2008. "Ducati have given me a lot, I can't deny that, but I've also offered them a lot in return. I developed the bike and saw that it moved forward with its evolution. I will be riding next year if all goes well, and possibly even in 2009", concluded the popular Italian.

Out with the old...

2007-07-30T16:35:00.000-06:00

It seems to be getting harder for the old guard of MotoGP to keep a team as is evidenced by the recent announcement of Marco Melandri as the new Ducati rider for the 2008-09 season. While the release doesn't "say" that he's replacing Capirossi it also doesn't say that Caper retired. In fact it says that Capirossi and his management are discussing a deal that would see a third factory Duc on the track for next season. Very interesting stuff indeed. Regardless, Melandri is an exciting addition to the line-up and I hope that Capirossi gets all that he deserves - which, in my mind, is a lot.

The release (view original website):

DUCATI TEAM ANNOUNCES 2008 AND 2009
MOTOGP LINE-UP

"The Ducati Team announces that Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri will be its riders for the next two seasons of the MotoGP World Championship.

World Championship leader Casey Stoner has renewed his agreement with the Borgo Panigale-based factory for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, with an option for the 2010 championship. 24-year old Italian Melandri will join the Australian with a two-year contract.

Next week Loris Capirossi and his manager will meet with Ducati representatives to evaluate the possibility of preparing a third official Desmosedici MotoGP bike for the Italian rider to use in the 2008 World Championship."

Image: Copyright © Ducati

Lost in translation?

2007-07-30T09:51:00.001-06:00

From the "it seemed like a good idea at the time" files... Forget all about the MotoGP '06 on your console - gather the family around the dinner table, roll the die and start making engine sounds like Randy Mamola! Introducing Table MotoGP. Oh, the excitement.

A romp at Laguna

2007-07-23T16:48:00.000-06:00

This years MotoGP at Laguna Seca was everything I hoped for - except for Capirossi DNF'ing of course ;) Stoner was once again incredibly strong on the Desmosedici GP7 bike, masterfully navigating the course as if it was his home track. 6 wins in 11 starts have him leading Rossi in the championship by 44 points. Of course no one can count Rossi out yet. Vermulen put in a great showing and Melandri rode an amazing race considering the intensity of his crash in qualifying the day before.

Roger Lee Hayden also put in a great wildcard ride finishing 10th. Perhaps a future in the premier class is looking more and more like a reality. The same can't be said for Duhamel who dropped out of the race because he "...just wasn't feeling it." Too bad the opportunity to ride the Gresini Honda was used up by someone didn't really seem to show up.

Image: Copyright © Ducati

Coffee in Lake Louise

2007-07-14T15:16:00.000-06:00

Last weeks jaunt out to Lake Louise via HWY 1A was a blast. Nita and I headed out at about 7am and basically had the roads to ourselves. Crowchild out of Calgary to Cochrane was fast and empty and HWY 1A from Cochrane to Canmore was in poor to reasonable condition. There were lots of small potholes and couple of large ones. Also there were a few hazards on the way including bulls on the road, some drunks by Seebe walking in the road and a small section of the road that was covered in gravel. So the moral is - take it easy on the first part.

After a brief ride on HWY 1 past Banff we got back onto HWY 1A (which is posted as Bow Valley Parkway). The ride from here to Lake Louise was a dream - treed, nice asphalt and lots of twisty sections. We stopped for a sip of water on one of the many turn-outs and just enjoyed the fresh air and quiet. Once in Lake Louise we sat by the lake (in the shade!) and people watched for and hour or so before heading back.

All in all it was an awesome way to start the day!

* Ride duration: 4.5 - 5 hours
* The route

It's been a while...

2007-07-07T15:30:00.000-06:00

Well I should really apologize for my absence - but hey, it happens :) It's been a busy summer with lots of weekend rides. I'll put some maps and route information up here soon in addition to some upcoming rides I'm up for doing if you'd like to come along.

In other news - did I mention Casey Stoner in an earlier post? Pretty sure I did. So far he's won 5 of the first 9 races and is leading the championship by a good margin with Rossi right behind him. It looks like Capirossi is struggling this year with the new 800cc displacement rules but we're only half-way through the season. It's too bad that he was taken out by Gibernau in the '06 MotoGP season - he was on the charge until he was badly injured in the Catalunya crash with his team-mate and never seemed to really recover from it. On top of that there are rumors of his retirement at the end of the '07 season. Either way, he's been a class act the whole way.

Image: Copyright © Casey Stoner

Elbow Falls rip!

2007-07-07T10:36:00.000-06:00

Good friend (and excellent ride partner) Brian Feick and I often go out for short rips since he and his wife just had a little addition to their family. Since his limit is usually 2 - 3 hours we like to hit the standard roads like HWY 762 and 549. On this ride out though we decided to head down to Elbow Falls via HWY 66 for a change.

The road down to the falls has some pretty nice sweepers and is a pretty fast road all around. There are 3 texas gates on the way so keep that in mind - no winding on the throttle as you head over them. As we got closer to the falls the weather started rolling in so we turned around in the parking lot and headed back to HWY 22X via the 762, 549 and 22 by Millarville. All in all this is a great ride when time is an issue.

* Ride duration: 2.5 - 3 hours
* The route

The long way to Lethbridge

2007-07-01T17:13:00.000-06:00

My brother lives in Lethbridge and there was rumor of a familial BBQ going on down there so Nita and I decided it was time to ride down and let her break in her own bike - a Honda CBR600RR - which I have to say is a blast to ride. Since taking HWY 2 all the way from Calgary seem like a bit of a bore we decided to tackle some of the twisties on alternate routes and extending the normally 2 hour ride.

Heading out to Bragg Creek on HWY 8 is always a nice start and is a great spot to stop for a cuppa joe. From there the twisting HWY 762 and 549 past Millarville which are always a blast to ride. It should be noted though that some of the locals are sick of the bikers hitting these roads - as we noted when we got the finger while riding the speed limit from an hornary hick. Still, there's no way it would ruin the ride.

On through Black Diamond and Turner Valley to Longview where we stop for some gas-stop coffee and a wrist-break. Now, for some reason we decided *not* to fill with gas which we usually do. Heading down to the Chain Lakes road off of HWY22 the fuel light came on and it was a race to beat the emptying tank. For future reference we should always fill up in Longview - we were running on fumes by the time we hit Nanton. From Nanton its a pretty straight ride to Lethbridge. All in all it took 3.5 hours over the normal 2 hours to get to Lethbridge on this route but it is *infinitely* more interesting.

Once in Lethbridge we had a cool drink, some food then hopped on the bikes and headed back - taking the 2 all the way back to Calgary in an effort to beat the failing light. It was a long day but well worth it!

* Ride Duration: 5.5 - 6 hours
* The route

Breaking in Nita's bike

2007-06-03T11:47:00.000-06:00

For the inaugural break-in ride of Nita's new Honda CBR600RR we decided to head down to Nanton to hook up with my brother Wade at the halfway point between Lethbridge and Calgary. After a rip down HWY 2 we hooked up at the Humpty's for some eats and then headed out on HWY 533 - the Chain Lakes road. The road has plenty of long sweepers and is just beautiful to behold. Having Nita on the back of her bike was pretty sweet - I had to ride the bike since her lowering kit hadn't come in yet.

On to HWY 22 we turned at Millarville and headed up HWY 549 and the 762 into Bragg Creek to enjoy the last of the twisties until we got back onto HWY 22 and 8 back into calgary. All in all, a fun way to break in the new bike.

* Ride duration: 3.5 - 4 hours
* The route

New goodies

2007-05-29T15:14:00.000-06:00

So, the kids at Revolzione managed to snag a new one-piece for me - a Suomy XECT01 - and I have to admit it feels unreal. The overall weight of the suit is a little more than the *JACKET* from my Alpinestars two piece. The kangaroo leather, ample padding and protection, and the perforated main panels proved a huge amount of security and comfort on the road. Of course, because it's meant for the track it also has no pockets which can make a weekend rip difficult without a tank bag - or a friend with a Multistrada :)

Loving the Chain Lakes road

2007-05-27T21:21:00.000-06:00

For dad's first ride on his Multistrada 1000S DS I thought a nice meandering ride through the twisties of HWY 762 through to the 549 and down HWY 22 before finally turning onto the Chain Lakes road (HWY 533) would be a great ride to break his new beastie in.

The 762 and 549 to Millarville via Bragg Creek is a local fav - it's not a long road but it's great condition and beautiful valley view make it well worth the trip. The Chain Lakes road is loaded with fast sweepers and always brings a smile to my face. Dad was easily following though being more upright on the Multi he seemed to be feeling HWY 22's infamous crosswinds a little more than I was.

After a quick lunch in Nanton we turned around and headed back the same way we came. It's a great day trip but plan on being pretty tired after. Of course we had some champers to celebrate the break-in ride!

* Ride Duration: 5 - 5.5 hours
* The route

Anticipating Stoner

2007-03-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

One of the things I'm most excited about for the 2007 MotoGP season is the addition of Casey Stoner to the Ducati Corse team. Last year he was an exciting rider to watch - though his frequent crashing was, at times, frustrating (probably more-so for him). If he can ride consistently and Ducati can get the Desmosedici GP7 performing as well as the GP6 did last year with Capirossi on board (my personal fav), then I think we're going to be set for an exciting time.

Image: Copyright © Casey Stoner

Help pick this seasons rides!

2007-02-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

True to the original reason for this sites existence, I'm actively soliciting feedback on what rides you'd like to go on this season. If you have a suggestion for a single day or weekend ride (typically a single overnight stay) then add a comment to this post with your suggested route and sleeping spot (for weekenders).

I'll keep a running tally of upcoming and suggested rides in the "Upcoming one-day and weekenders" section of the menu on the right-hand side of this page. Alright - let's get started.

Lusting after the Cycle Cat DRS21 rearset

2007-02-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

One of the first upgrades I made to my 749s was a titanium Speedy Moto Pro Protection clutch cover and a Gold Kukri Pro pressure plate. Since then I've been lusting (and I *mean* lusting) after the Cycle Cat DRS21 multi-adjustable rearset system. It's billet aluminum at it's finest and at a reasonable $580USD I'm beginning to think that this is a pet project that *will* happen this riding season. Even the way they write about their products is lovely:

“ Even the brake lever... has been carved into a smooth flowing element of extraordinary rigidity and strength. ”

Where's my credit card?

Biaggi & Toseland put on a show in Losail

2007-02-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

Somehow, I actually missed the start of the WSBK season over the weekend. Not to worry, I took the day off from work to check it out on Speed today. What a race! In race 1, the MotoGP veteran Biaggi went toe to toe with Toseland and put on a hell of a show. Trading first spot over and over, the race kept me on the edge of my seat for the last 5 laps. It would have been nice to see Bayliss on the podium but it was great to see Lanzi on his Ducati 999 F07 finish in a solid 3rd.

Race 2 also showed a great battle between Biaggi and Toseland with Toseland beating out his rival in a convincing manner. Unfortunately, the Ducs finished with poor position in race 2. It's a long season and I'm looking forward to seeing what Bayliss and Lanzi can pull out...

Image: Copyright © Ducati

New packages available on MotoGP.com

2007-02-26T23:44:00.000-07:00

It looks like the kids over at MotoGP.com have some new subscriptions available to rabid race fans - like me. A new format is the high-res premium option which seems to allow high-res viewing of live races plus a single replay.

It's a great option if you don't get live viewing options through cable though I'd personally like to see *much* better prices for previous subscribers. A 5 Euro break on regular premium subscriptions simply doesn't seem like a hige incentive. Also, it would be great to see the site team pick a lane on the video playback format. I don't care which (i'd rather it was quicktime) but a single format would be great.

I will, of course, be subscribing again once the season starts - though probably just the premium format. I can't wait for the season to start!!!

Image: Copyright © Ducati

For sale: 2004 Ducati Supersport 800, red

2007-02-26T23:01:00.000-07:00

While I'm at it, I might as well pimp a bike I have for sale. This little puppy is a 2004 Supersport 800 and comes with a Sil-motor slip-on exhaust system to make this baby roar. As well, this particular motorcycle is equiped with a top of the line Scorpio alarm system to protect this beast when not being ridden. Call Revoluzione Cycle Imports to make an offer today!

Asking price: $10,995.95 cdn
Kilometers: 3,700

Image: Copyright © Ducati

A work in progress...

2007-02-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

So I had purchased this domain some time ago and I'd done little with it when I got together with a number of other riders at a dinner here in Calgary. The idea came up to use this site as a launching pad for small multi-day group rides with other ducatisti - a method of planning, discussing and connecting with other riders. We'll see what happens...