I took my Panigale S to the track yesterday. My track bike is / was a BMW S 1000RR, I am an ex A grade racer so I was looking forward to this.
The Pani S is completely standard except for some grippier pegs, and I had a fresh set of tyres on. Ran it only in Race Mode on the default settings. First impressions were that the Pani seems lighter and more flickable, around the tight and twisty sections it was near perfect, I could even hang with the 600 young guns. I saw no reason to play with any settings even the sue soon, as I was busy learning everything about it. That will come next time.
I tried all sorts of gear points on it, but found it best to leave it a higher gear than the BMW, torque it out of corners then do a quick short shift and drive through. Absolutely brilliant. I had a tussle with a gaggle of Jap race bikes and it was priceless to come out of second gear corners and wheelie past them to the next corner, simply fantastic. Certainly had some guys shaking their heads in the pits.
Where it lost out to the BMW was on any long straight, it just did not seem to have that that final insane top end kick the Beemer has. Having said that, I did hook onto a Kawasaki Zx10 race bike of a young mate of mine, and down the same straight I could actually reel him in fairly easily, so the Pani in standard trim is between these bikes. But as I said through the next twisty sections, the Pani was sheer bliss.
I could see easily how non Ducati riders, or guys not used to them would struggle with it. It is a more physical bike to ride hard than the super smooth and relatively easier Beemer. By the end of the day, though I found the more you threw it around like a 250 the more it responded. It is nothing like the 916/1098 bikes. In race mode it actually an angry beast, and again this could put some people off. I loved it.
I am hooked, and can't wait for the next day.
If I was still racing the BMW would be easier straight out to go fast, and as a club level racer is hard to beat.
But the Ducati, as an intoxicating track weapon is simply sensational, but you have to work at it. Very happy.
Cheers
