Moto-Brian

Video posted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYLURaXbI7A

Got the radiator mounted and TJ cleaned up the wiring to make it less like a tangled mess. Note the beautiful job of safety wiring. I couldn't have done it better and I am VERY particular on my wiring. There isn't going to be a race org that finds something missing in terms of wired. TJ is so thorough that I will probably be seen at tech and just waved to go on by.

So, you running supermoto now? Whatcha get?

I'll take that bet. Marquez will show brilliance, but he's gonna pop can that bitch a couple of times at least...

We should do a thread for each race and we pick the top 5. We all put in something or a dollar amount and have a pot at the end of the season and you gather your winnings...

Not sure where it is shown that Pedrosa ever sucked. He can't seem to put together a total package to win a championship, but to say he sucks is fairly off... I say Rossi has his moments, Pedrosa will contend at any time, Lorenzo wins the whole thing and Marquez has some starting pains, but will have signs of brilliance. Should be a good season.

What two things do you see in this pic? The standard steering damper will be replaced with an Ohlins unit...

TJ fired it up for the first time today!!! He popped in the Rexxer maps and gave her some fire. I will see if we can maybe get some video posted...

I was jokin with the gheying it up. Your gheyness is always welcome. Wait... That came out wrong... Yes, I will be shooting for May. I am looking at the April weekend with Ducati Indy to break it in. So, no fast laps, but just to get it where it needs to be for racing. I might be able to pull some serious laps at the end of the day, but it is just a break in and setup time...

Enough for today... Starting to look like a race bike.

So, the thread I started earlier was a long and winding road as we had parts we were waiting for and then Madcat got it all gay and then we had drama because Craig felt like he was excluded. OK, Craig didn't have any issues... Just sounded good. Also, my pics got all hosed up, etc. So, here goes... CLIFF NOTES and pics. Mods can delete the other one if they chose, but I will update this one as I get it closer and closer... Hoping to target next week!! So, as some may know, I decided to pick up a 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale. My intention was 100% full racebike from the start. Question was, what to do to the bike and what direction to take? Enter TJ from Motounion or Ducati Milwaukee. I decided to go with TJ as I was told by every single Ducati Service Area Manager as well as several dealers and Ducati racers that he was the man. I hadn't met TJ but maybe twice and had at that point really liked the fact that he was not only well versed, had been involved with the top Ducati racing guys here in the States, that he has connections that most do not, but also that he is one of the most passionate Ducati owners I've met thus far. The stories, the passion, the enthusiasm all equal he's the right guy. So, I had the bike shipped to Motounion and let TJ crack the crate open and dive right in. WE NEVER EVEN TURNED THE KEY ON!!! So, as she was in the crate: Out of the seasoning bag: Staring down the camera man wondering why she was still dressed and not prepped for her transformation: 1199 Standard NON ABS 2012... Cover the eyes of small children - SHE'S NAKED!! Front end, please let me introduce you to... Your back end: Rolling chassis... Get it? The bike was then a bit on hold as we needed some build parts of course and in the meantime, TJ and the crew at Motounion placed the bike torn down and motor opened up, on display so people could take a look and understand just how amazing the technology is and the little things like micro polishing and DLC coating to components that Ducati does that is not seen on most other brands. They also used this as a Q&A for customers so they could ask TJ directly and get answers from things they had on their minds to what they saw in the breakdown that maybe could better educate the customer. Motor on display in full stock form for customers to see: Heads, valves, rods, pistons - all so someone can see what makes their 1199 tick. Not often do customers get to see the working parts inside the motor to the bike they are buying and get a Master Ducati Tech to explain those parts... Look at the chain guides - they incorporate galleries to pump oil directly on to the chain... Things like that go unnoticed... Pistons - notice the DLC coated pin: Quarters for size. Well, maybe I just made $.50!! Cut view of the motor. This was left out once the parts started to show and they used the display a little differently. Still allowed a look into the motor... Rods. What's missing that you usually see? Crank assembly with rods: DLC coated shifter forks: The starter is similar to the size of a KTM MX/Off Road bike's starter. Amazingly small: The little touches that TJ provides... The OEM tank comes with a plastic disconnect. He didn't like the idea of the tank off and on and plastic so, he added a nicer one of course... And not plastic! So, had to decide on suspension. The front forks on the 1199 Standard are Marzocchi pressurized forks. Pretty neat, but we needed more for race use. Had two options. Ohlins 30mm kit of the 25mm Gas Cartridges. Although I would have liked to do the gas, I had an overall budget and went with the 30mm stuff. Had Matt Carr at Ducati Indianapolis do the forks and prep them with the latest stack and setup. We had to do some additional springs as we are not 100% where I will land and having them only helps. We did a TTX rear to replace the Sachs unit on the Standard. The 1199S model comes with Ohlins front and rear, but the internals are not the same in the front forks, but the rear is the TTX unit just with electronically controlled rebound and compression. We ended up saving money vs buying an 1199S. The Carr family in Indy are obviously well know for their work on Ducatis. Especially Matt and the suspension side of things. I would also recommend Matt for any Ducati performance work. We in the Midwest are blessed with some of the best techs in the country in TJ and Matt. I would highly recommend ANYONE with anything Ducati or racing to check these guys out. On to the build... So, we had suspension, had the motor awaiting parts. What parts you ask? The motor is going to be a Superstock build. In Ducati land, they recommend what they call "Blue Printing". Kind of an old school hot rod terminology, but the idea is to get the motor to spec and at the same time, deliver longevity when ringing it's neck at the track. Street riding, the bike is fine and amazing. Race form, it needs the Blue Printing to avoid terminal results. So, there will be that and it falls into Superstock areas when talking numbers and what he does. To ask him would be best as I handed him the rulebook and he worked on it from there. He surely adds his own special flavors in the mix. The great thing about TJ and now at this point, I feel I know him as a friend - he is VERY picky, VERY particular and VERY pointed in his tasks. This thing is going to be VERY well done and top shelf results. I am almost embarrassed to say I am getting a quality build more suitable for a professional factory rider than an old, fat, club racer like myself. But, he is that good and is EASILY evident not only by physically seeing the results, but by the way he describes what he is doing and what he wants to do. So, we got the following items that will be going on the bike in addition to the motor build and the Ohlins. -Term full race exhaust D2 -Woodcraft Case Cover -Woodcraft Rearsets -Woodcraft Clip-ons -Woodcraft Brake guard -Ducati Race GPS unit -Ducati Race seat -Ducati Folding Levers -Ducati Quick Turn Cap -Ducati High Race Screen -Ducati Race Plastics Motor back together! Note the way he assembled this thing. The bolts have been torqued and marked, etc... Swingarm and shock attached: I will keep updating the posts as we get closer. Paint will get the plastics hopefully this coming week and we can have this prepared for the Putnam track day with Ducati Indianapolis in April.

That;s the plan. I will be focused on local events as work is consuming to the point I cannot get a lot of bigger events in due to work needing to be taken off for the travel to and from...

Alright, since you all are going straight tangent on me, we FINALLY got the head gaskets!!! TJ busted nuts and got the motor measured and assembled: With a dash of Woodcraft lovin': He's going to start the assembly process of the chassis and everything else... WE ARE CLOSE!!! Target is to be ready for the Putnam MCRA event in April.

Trying to not be too aggressive with what I post to make sure I don't come across as selling it (Which everyone should buy at least one - ), but Ducati did the world wide press launch of the 2013 1199R at Circuit Of The Americas (COTA). Pretty damn cool even if I couldn't be there (I was riding the new Multistrada and new Hypermotard bikes in Palm Springs). The bike is really awesome and I can share some details if you all have questions, but I will just leave you with some really awesome pics. These are all public so, nothing special... Fast standing still: Track colors are beautiful and look amazing in the backdrop: These two punk kids were given a stern warning followed by a high five and a smack on the ass for a good game: Not sure what magazine this guy works for... This is our factory test rider/development rider. His lap times were astounding on DOT Pirellis. I cannot state what they are until corporate says so, but let's just say that it was a shocker and had people wide eyed.

How much for how many laps? I'd be open to that!!

Dude, I wanted the gas cartridges, but honestly, this engine build and build of this bike is really killing the budget and I have a set amount. That little difference is minimal, but I am strapped. Unless anyone wants to donate to my retirement race program!

Dude, the photographer you guys use is amazing. The lighting, detail and everything. Really nice stuff. I also saw a sneak peek of the race colors somewhere and they are really cool.

Oh, and I am not the know it all guy. I am probably just one of several guys that know a few things, but I am the one that posts more. Makes me look that way, maybe. Again, don't know. I know a few buddies that are racing or have been racers at a SUPER top level. I know Reuben hardly ever posts, but has more experience than most people I know in terms of all aspects of the racing side of things. Ryan Kerr's dad has assisted Ryan for a few years racing in AMA and they have had some great results and I was happy to see he is riding a liter bike. Weird he went the way of a GSXR, but in any case, the kid is stupid fast and I was actually proud of him the way he was tearing it up on his ZX10. I also know Brandon from Junkies took a lot of heat indirectly from me after his AMA efforts, but realize he is a guy that is trying hard and does have passion. It takes all kinds. Livin sounds like he knows some stuff and if he says he is still learning, that means he doesn't appear to be a know it all. That's good. More the merrier. Although I would like to know who he is and if he has a similar name, I don't want any part of him...

Whomever Livin is, he is correct on a few things. I am not sure if this is a troll or someone who is legit. It seems to be basic knowledge that can be sourced anywhere as I am not sure what the issue is with the posts I have made. Whatever. The more knowledge we all get, the better we all become. I don't have all the answers. I've just been blessed with being around a lot of different leveled people in this business and have heard things that apparently were not true to things that not many know. It's just part of being a fly on a rather large wall. All I know is that I am no Superbike racer. I never claim to be fast nor even that good. Had a lot of lucky breaks and have been behind or passed by some of the best racers in the world. But, there are some that get threatened by things or feel they have more to offer. Dunno. Comments made here by Livin seem weird and yet supportive. It really has me scratching my skull. Crew chief for a top AMA team... Only 4 years experience at that level rules out someone like Medley or similar. Top ten and living around here could be someone like Pegrams guy, but he doesn't sound to be that dude. I also think Larry's guy has more than 4 years on board, but could be wrong. Not sure the issue with Nate's comments on 7lbs. If a team like Rider's who has a top notch racer like they do, EVERY little bit counts. EVERY. Everyone else they are racing at the level they do are doing as much as they can and it gets to a point where they are so close that small and seemingly trivial things can add up. Rider's shaving 7 lbs means a lot. Me shedding 7 lbs is not much at all. 195lb rider with average talent and old? Yeah... Not a big gain. But, if Livin is critical of my response saying 7 lbs is a horsepower, it is close. Not exact, but he should know that weight is relative and doesn't add HP, but rather lowers that power to weight ratio which is similar to adding HP. As to Livin's question about the gas charged stuff, I am wondering who he is. I am thinking it may be a certain guy we all know who would have to reveal himself before I give out guesses. He knows me rather well apparently, but is hiding behind a screen name. Well, maybe not hiding as we all have silly names or names that mean something to us all, but isn't willing to come out and say who he is or what team he crewed for. But, about the Ohlins... I don't have the money, man and quite honestly, I haven't heard a lot of positive feedback or an overwhelming response that would make me trend away from what I know or can understand with little effort. And, if you are the guy you say you are and have a finger on the pulse of the racing industry, you know who TJ is and you should know the quality of the build and how high the standard will be when completed. You also would know TJ's background that allows me to say that. In any case, sorry everyone for a lackluster e-battle. I just don't know who it is and honestly, he isn't really bashing anything. Some weird comments, but maybe he is a crew chief for Pegram. Hell, he supported my comments on the R1... It's really strange...

Cephas hit the nail on the head. We are given an allocation of passes. Some high level all access, some general admission. In this case, I am willing to bet that Attack was issued passes for staff for a set amount and one of the passes was offered to Kevin with the connection to Blake. Maybe even Blake used an allocation he had been given. Whatever the case, the idea is that it is possible (I am guessing as I do not know the facts) that Kevin was there as a guest or as part of the staff of the Attack team and Honda team. Very easily could have been a deal where it was not known by the track owners and admin people until reported or viewed. It's simple as that. I think he actually made the full first day if not mistaken... So, it wasn't until it was made aware by the higher ups that he was there. Rjett... The way you are looking at it is very skewed. The business is racing. The track is a privately owned entity. Several racers have been kicked out of facilities for reasons from rental car racing and jumping to violating rules like dogs or bicycles. Whatever the reasoning for asking someone to leave, the track does what it feels is necessary. No matter who the team is, no matter who the rider is, you have to follow rules. Rossi could easily be asked to leave if he is doing smokey burnouts and tearing up the surface of the track for example... In this case, there is a conflict of interest. That conflict is between Kevin's company and COTA. Again, look at it with an open mind. Two businesses with a lawsuit between them. One is right, one is wrong or maybe the truth is in between. BUT, we DO KNOW FOR FACT THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT between the two. That being said, COTA feels it is not a good idea to have the person that is the face and name of the company suing them attending one of their events. Simple as that. Attack and Blake can do without Kevin. He isn't the electronics guy. He's a mentor and coach for Blake. He does have an important role in the minds of Blake and Attack, but it isn't like they need to scramble to find another mentor. The fact is that lawsuits are messy and they can cause people to act crazy and even act in a way we view as extremely uncalled for. Look at divorces. They can take two people that cannot get along and are cordial at the initial stages of divorce and turn them into raging lunatics that want whatever the other has. COTA has all the right in the world to ask Kevin to leave. Again, I think Kevin would have done the same if it were something at his school like I gave as an example. I'm just saying it is not our place to judge right or wrong. Does it make sense? Maybe. Would you allow someone to be at your workplace or company if they have a serious lawsuit placed against you? I think you would feel that was inappropriate. I think Kevin should have seen that he would not be welcomed. I think he knew that it could have occurred this way. It sucks and it looks messy for COTA, but again. Take the personal and the fame out of it and ask yourself if someone like Ben from Ohio Riders was asked to leave because he had the same lawsuit. We on here due to our feelings towards him as a friend and motorcycle enthusiast would protest. But, would the average guy in CA that never heard of him stand up and shout and write a blog asking people to voice their opinion to COTA why this sucks? I really doubt it...

The deal is that COTA was holding a private test and can choose whom they allow and whom they do not. Had Kevin been listed on the staff that was coming to attend, it might have been different or maybe COTA would have stepped in and told Attack that at this time, they cannot permit Kevin to attend due to a pending legal case they are in with his company. i assume that Kevin was not specifically listed with Attack. There is a crew of people that attend these tests and usually a list of names or a QTY of attendees. Had his name been on there, I would assume someone would have caught it. But, maybe he was and COTA missed it until word got out he was there. Once word got out, they asked him to leave and from the sounds of it, they did it professionally and without a big scene. In the end, it is a business deal, folks. Business. We let our passions and emotions run at times, but had it been just a regular Joe with the same lawsuit and COTA asked him to leave, we wouldn't think twice about it... Even if he was a coach for Blake...

I do worry. You are influencing people and with stuff like this, it isn't supportive of the sport which leaves me concerned. I am heavily passionate towards our sport and will do whatever it is to help it grow. As for the president of the AMA, I've never met Jeremy Lazarus in my life... So, not sure what that comment means if anything... You arent disagreeing with me - you have the right to your opinion. I just think the manner by which you expressed it is aggressive in tone and influential in spirit. I think what Cephas did was better done in that he had an opinion same as you, but had it tied to being solely his own and expressed it as such. Not using pieces of fact to make it sound as if he was speaking factual vs opinion... That's all. If you are an enemy of the sport, that's Jeremy's opinion. Something caused him to say that... But, in this case, I just feel you are using your emotions to hurt our sport and it isn't because you hate it or want to kill it - as the description fits when calling you an "enemy", but rather because your blog could be used to influence others in doing the same thing. "Stand up and protest" is what I sense and feel. Again, better served wearing shirts, paying the ticket prices to support the sport and protest in a professional manner, but to get impactful results.

It is possible. But, meeting him one time and in an environment where he easily could have a deadline for something he needs to be at, etc could come across as the wrong thing. To say in a fairly stern way that he is arrogant is different than "when we met him during an autograph session, he seemed very arrogant" is quite different. I've hung with a group and Kevin for a fairly long time. He was awesome and very articulate. He was showing us his new road bicycle and we all were talking MotoGP. People came up and interrupted the conversation to get autographs. He was totally cool. Was he engaging and perky like Pastrana? No. What people need to understand is that these guys are A-Type personalities. They are at the highest level of competitiveness to a point most never see. Two, they are in no way friends with everyone they meet. They try and be as polite and flexible as possible, but at some point they have things they need to do. It's like Mladin. A lot of people thought he was an asshole. I've talked to him a few times and not after asking for a signature. We had an Oakley deal and he was talking and I asked a couple of questions regarding the previous gen GSXR vs the current at the time. Someone told him he was 't an asshole like people said he was. We all laughed. He simply said "I'm here to win championships. Not be a spokesperson. Sometimes that rubs people the wrong way." He's right. But, he signed pics, took photos, shook hands, etc. she. It was time to leave, he was outta there. He fulfilled his deal and moved on. Pastrana is opposite. I've known the guy that essentially discovered TP and can tell you from the moment he's entered this industry even up until this day, the kid is fucking awesome. I've seen his plane arrive late and he got to the shop close to the end of the event. He stayed until everyone got something signed. 2 hours after he should have left. These athletes are hammered with events and full schedules. It can be tough sometimes.

The problem is that in these types of BS blogs where you make some seriously stern claims and paint a picture that COTA is evil for kicking someone they have a legal issue with out. You the. Mention the fact that you are not going to support COTA and essentially are using your forum to promote your actions make sense. The issue with blogs a d the way you come on the site and promote your blogs is that you try and influence opinion. Influencing opinion is the same as telling everyone that reads it in an underlying way, they too should follow your lead. You agree with the idea that you don't know all the facts yet you are making claims as if you do. You also see it being a business ordeal and yet again, you make a comment to my response that says it was stupid to boot out a popular figure from the track. Here's the drill. COTA's business IS the race track. It IS the racing. It IS MotoGP. They did not want any negativity as a result of a legal issue imposed by the individual that was there. In the interest to keep things 100% business, they did not want that individual at the facility. Yes, the likelihood is that Kevin wouldn't have done anything I poor taste or do anything dramatic. But, press was there, factory teams with big bucks and who are opinion leaders were there and too shelf racers were there. Allowing the suing individual there and being amongst that level of people that are essentially customers of COTA could have been very one sided and could have generated favorable press for Kevin's case or negative light on COTA with no ability to counter. Point is that is DOES make perfect sense to ask Kevin to not attend not come back at any time. It is a private facility and much like other tracks, they have a list of people who are not permitted to attend events. Just because Kevin is famous, why does that matter? There are people not permitted at Mid-Ohio. Are you going to stop attending races because of that? Or, are you stirring the lot because of Kevin's popularity? It can't be both ways, bro. It's a legal situation. How about a better scenario. Owner of COTA sues Kevin over an issue regarding the Swantz school. The CEO of COTA shows up to do a swantz school after. Is it a good business decision to decline his attendance? Probably so. It's a conflict of interest as in the same scope as what COTA did at the test. Again, you writing an article as to your opinion and the fact that you are trying to hit COTA in the wallet by not buying tickets nor watching the race (which I bet you still do) and because you have a site and write stories about things in this industry, people will follow your lead. Which you know. Thus, you are truly going against our fragile sport as a whole. Support the sport. Protest the track all you want, but do it with facts you know and not leading up to this awesome event.

You have met and been around Kevin? You obviously have not so, don't use jealousy over his success and popularity to be negative towards the guy. Jesus.