[Ducati] AMA @ VIR and Ducati.net presence

[D888SPOLTD at aol.com]

I had the great pleasure of once again volunteering with MAD members for Miss 
Vicki and Ducati at the Ducati hospitality tent at VIR this past weekend.  
Although I'm not the photog she is nor the scholarly author some here are here 
are a few of my words.  
http://www.mad-ducati.com/GalleryShowTN.php?GalleryId=341

I arrived early evening Friday and thus missed practice on Friday.  
Apparently it was a good show although unfortunately for Ben Spies he crashed right in 
front of the Ducati tent in Turn-4. Plans for me had changed late and my son 
and wife were unable to attend. Her brother had returned from Iraq on Wednesday 
and they spent the weekend with him down at Quantico. Thirty-nine months 
activated over the last five years, yowza! It turned out to be fortuitous however 
as when I checked my hotel room it'd been mysteriously canceled two days 
earlier so it was going to be camping in my truck for me.  Not too bad really as 
the Avalanche rear folds down to a conventional bed sized area and I slept well. 
 I ended up running into Allen Lyons (he of RisAllen on this list) and his 
cousin Chris. Being tired and drinking doesn't mix too well so I was thoroughly 
pooped. Thanks Allen.  It was really fun finally meeting you after ten years 
and chatting the night away.

Saturday dawned early and muggy and the temps soon rose higher than forecast 
so it was a blistering day.  It didn't help that about three weeks ago VIR 
found it necessary to re-tar the blacktop where all the vendors and manufacturers 
had their tents.  It was like a black radiant heater for the weekend!  You 
could hardly walk across it without needing another bottle of water.  Ducati' 
presence was much smaller since the hospitality truck/trailer was in Slat Lake 
for the dealer meeting and Suzuki decided to get fairly, well, obnoxious, with 
their presence.  I know it's the "Suzuki Big Kahuna" but sheesh!  Moving the 
jumbo-tron so Ducati tent people and people on the hill couldn't see?!?!  
WASSUPWITDAT?!?!?

Actually, it could still be seen from the tent but they had a giant balloon 
SUZUKI logo set right where there are usually hundreds of spectators watching.  
Outside Turn-4 is one of the better places to watch as you can see the racers 
descending to Turn-1 all the way through Turn-5. Then you just watch the rest 
of the lap on the jumbo-tron. Where they put the balloon eliminated great 
seating and blocked viewing by many more.  Not well thought out IMHO.

Race one on Saturday went well I thought.  I found it amazing to hear the 
Suzuki's of Mladin and Spies bouncing off the rev-limiter running down to Turn-1. 
 Nobody else was doing that, not even Yates on the same bike. Love him or 
hate him Mladin was running great with Spies doing famously given he had a broken 
hand. Also, watching Mladin pass in the T4-T5 S's is always fun.  It's a 
difficult series of turns to hit correctly and so most people take it cautiously.  
I think that's why Mladin chooses to pass their.  It's not unusual to see him 
take two or three riders in those series of turns.  In fact, he went by 
Hodgson on lap two of Race one there. Anyway, you all know the result and I was 
much pleased to see Hodgson podium. It was so Hot Hodgson was seen to just sit 
and rest for a bit immediately after getting off his bike in the pits.  Ben 
faired little better with the heat and if you watch, Mladin was strained as well.  
I know I wouldn't do so well after doing a track day at VIR two weeks earlier 
and running two sessions straight I couldn't get my helmet off fast enough! 
These guys physical conditioning and concentration still impresses me.

Saturday night I found a hotel recommended by a fellow MADster who said "it 
was the best dive hotel he'd ever stayed at."  I think I should have stayed 
sleeping in the truck. Although it was nice having the restroom right there to 
shower in the morning it was obviously a smokers hotel as everything I owned 
reeked of smoke by the morning. That and I learned that one guys "best" doesn't 
necessarily equate to my "tolerable"

So I get to the track Sunday for another hot muggy day.  The cooler temps 
predicted never arrived although approximately 11:10am they announced over the PA 
that the race was to be moved up to 12:00pm because of projected weather.  I 
felt for those who would arrive later expecting to see a race and missing it 
because of such short notice.  The race went well until Hodgson tucked the 
front at Turn-14. The announcer got it wrong calling it Turn-15.  Minor complaint 
I guess but T-14 is the top of the Roller Coaster?!?!  How could you confuse 
it?  Anyway, the ground drops off pretty dramatically straight through the turn 
there so there was no recovering his bike to get back on track.  Glad he 
wasn't hurt.

After the race it was just a matter of picking up the Ducati belongings and 
enjoying a brew or two as the Superstock and Supersport races finished.

Enjoy the pics.  I have a few of the racers on track, a few of the Ducati 
tent including Miss Vicki, and a few random shots. 
http://www.mad-ducati.com/GalleryShowTN.php?GalleryId=341

Thanks Vicki once again for overseeing our MAD and Ducatisti presence.

Cheers,
W