Ducati Superleggera race suit??

reganc said:

looks awesome if you are a really fast guy not so much if you are slow.

I find with a Panigale at the track you are already a target.

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Exactly.

Riding a Panigale, you are already sort of a target and people have high expectations before you even roll out on the grid. No sense in giving them further expectations. If you are going to come in looking like some Factory racer, you had damn well better be fast.

When I started racing as a Novice, my bike had minimum decals on it (only those that could earn contingency...I didn't have any sponsors then). I had a Krylon spray can paint job and my leathers were solid black...no patches, no name, nothing.

I would respray my bike after each weekend, I kept things neat, my suit stayed clean etc. But in no way, shape or form did I try to make myself look like I was anything more than what I was.

Not only because I didn't want to look like a poser or give a false impression of being fast, but because I felt like I hadn't "earned" any of that stuff. I hadn't won anything, hadn't beaten anyone notable and hadn't proved .....

Offtopic, but that last post kinda reminds me of another thing that kinda gets on my nerves. Personally, and I stress this is just my opinion, I don't like to see guys at track days with white number plates and black numbers.

In the US, white number plates and black numbers are earned. They signify an Expert racer. And to earn your Expert race license, you have to either finish in the top 5 in the final standings for the season in your Region, or finish on the Podium at the Grand National Finals (GNF). The GNF is the season finale. It is an invitation-only race. You have to earn your way into the GNF. At the GNF, you are racing against racers from every region, all over the country. And landing on a Podium at the GNF as a Novice is the other way you earn your Expert license/plates.

As somebody who worked my ass off to earn my Expert plates, I see it as a little bit disrespectful when guys will put white plates and black numbers on their bike for no reason. In some ways it discredits the efforts many of us have put into earning those white plates.

...and don't get me started on the people who put decals all over their bikes without actually being sponsored/supported.

While I know this opinion is shared by many other Experts, again I stress this is just my personal opinion. It isn't up to me what other people do with their bikes.

Chaotic said:

Offtopic, but that last post kinda reminds me of another thing that kinda gets on my nerves. Personally, and I stress this is just my opinion, I don't like to see guys at track days with white number plates and black numbers.

In the US, white number plates and black numbers are earned. They signify an Expert racer. And to earn your Expert race license, you have to either finish in the top 5 in the final standings for the season in your Region, or finish on the Podium at the Grand National Finals (GNF). The GNF is the season finale. It is an invitation-only race. You have to earn your way into the GNF. At the GNF, you are racing against racers from every region, all over the country. And landing on a Podium at the GNF as a Novice is the other way you earn your Expert license/plates.

As somebody who worked my ass off to earn my Expert plates, I see it as a little bit disrespectful when guys will put white plates and black numbers on their bike for no reason. In some ways it discredits the efforts many of us have put into earning those white plates.

...and don't get me started on the people who put decals all over their bikes without actually being sponsored/supported.

While I know this opinion is shared by many other Experts, again I stress this is just my personal opinion. It isn't up to me what other people do with their bikes.

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Ha nice rant

It's usually the same guys that are running full slicks in the novice and intermediate groups

Geez, I do have a Ducati helmet, jacket, and gloves. I didn't know I was automatically a .......... I thought it was nice stuff that worked well for me although the glove break-in process was a little painful. Fits nice now. I haven't been to Starbucks with all this yet. I've been busy at the track with it instead. I guess my first season was a little embarrassing but the second season much less so. I was having too much fun to really care though and couldn't care less about what others thought of what I was wearing other than for safety reasons.

It's just protective gear. Some care more about looks and matching their bikes color scheme more so than the opinion of others. I don't have matching gear like that since my brands are all over the place but I definitely like matching colors. I don't see anything wrong with it. People who have an opinion about what someone else chooses to wear whether they are the super noob at the scene or the expert racer is nothing more than wasted energy. Channel that energy n focus on yourself n what you're doing. If you have the funds to blow $7k on protective gear to match your $65k motorcycle and you have 3 inch chicken strips, there is NOTHING wrong with that and certainly doesn't make someone a douche. People are so quick to judge n criticize others. It's rather juvenile. Just because your expert rider friends have a different opinion on it doesn't give you the right to pass that judgment on anyone. Keep it to yourself or talk .... amongst yourselves in your "expert" group.

Meh. Nevermind.

The only thing people at track and race weekends should be judged on is their riding etiquette.


Wear whatever gear you want as long as it keeps you safe!


Although I do agree about the number plate thing....however, I think most people that slap numbers on their bike for fun don't know any better.

All of those type of comments sound fine and dandy while we can all sit on our high horse behind the keyboard. Some people act as if we don't live in a world where first impressions and judgments are made daily all over the world about everything such as the clothes people wear, the color of their skin, their religion, their gender, their sexual orientation, their accent, their job, their bike, the vehicle they drive, where they live, what they eat etc etc etc etc etc.

Sure, in a perfect world none of that .... would matter to anyone and not a single person would ever make any type of initial judgment about another person until they knew them closely and personally.

Before you come on here with your passive aggressive ........ and calling people juvenile, you should make sure you have never in your entire life came to any conclusion or judgment or had a single preconceived notion about another individual before you knew them closely and personally.

If that IS the case, then congratulations on living in that aforementioned perfect world.

And FYI - there is a difference between somebody "coming across as a douche" and actually being a douche. But in my experience, every time we have thought somebody kinda came across as a douche, our initial impressions were confirmed once we actually interacted with the person, and many times our initial impressions weren't anywhere near negative enough.

As always, your mileage may vary.

sexparty said:

That's the ultimate. A SL with all the kit to hit the track.

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You would think they would find a model that the suit fits better. Looks way too big on him. Lol

I always laughed at the squids who showed up at the motocross races with the best gear and trickest bikes only to get their ..... handed to them. I loved smoking them.. When I showed up at the track last spring to do a rookie day and told the guys of my Mx background they thought I was just another douche bag with enough money to afford a Ducati. I'm a fairly humble person and told them I would learn fast. By my third track day I was bumped to expert class, soon after I was in a group of guys who where the fastest on the track. I earned everyone's respect with my fast progression and friendly personality. People are judged by first impressions. People who race take great pride in earning their plate colors! It's quite an accomplishment and takes time and a lot of hard work for most. I haven't raced my duck yet... But when I do I'll have the appropriate plate backgrounds as they are earned!!!

I just want to have a good time at the track and maybe, just maybe, learn one things that keeps my ass off the ground. I could care less what you ride or your gear color; but please, whatever you do, hold your line and please signal early that you're going into the paddock and do not change your mind!

Interesting read above.

I'm no pro and a beginner so good read from more experienced riders/racers. I understand about the white plate and black numbers but I also agree that you should wear whatever safety gear you want...i.e. matching or whatever without expert riders making "fun" of them.

I think respect goes both way no? Those expert riders were once beginner and didn't know much as well so how about show the way to inexperience rider as a mentor for example?

I can say I'm a "expert" gun shooter of all types. Can shoot a quarter 25m every time with a pistol and rapid fire targets standing, walking, and or moving vehicle and hit 3" targets all day long. Same with assault rifles...

If someone came to the range with fancy guns, I don't think I will judge him or think twice unless he starts shooting unsafely then I will offer friendly suggestions...of course if he is danger to other people then I will be more forceful. I will never start rambling off how to do anything to anyone unless they ask me as most people are egotistic.

When I finally be able to track again in long time, I will just enjoy it, learn, and improve my skill. Life is too short for having to worry about what other riders think of your gears or bike that you are riding on track...

Just my 02. cent

We all started at the bottom. Some just progress faster than others.
It's unfortunate that some people buy this bike as a status symbol to hang out at the coffe shop. I think that's where the persona comes from.

youngR said:

Interesting read above.

I'm no pro and a beginner so good read from more experienced riders/racers. I understand about the white plate and black numbers but I also agree that you should wear whatever safety gear you want...i.e. matching or whatever without expert riders making "fun" of them.

I think respect goes both way no? Those expert riders were once beginner and didn't know much as well so how about show the way to inexperience rider as a mentor for example?

I can say I'm a "expert" gun shooter of all types. Can shoot a quarter 25m every time with a pistol and rapid fire targets standing, walking, and or moving vehicle and hit 3" targets all day long. Same with assault rifles...

If someone came to the range with fancy guns, I don't think I will judge him or think twice unless he starts shooting unsafely then I will offer friendly suggestions...of course if he is danger to other people then I will be more forceful. I will never start rambling off how to do anything to anyone unless they ask me as most people are egotistic.

When I finally be able to track again in long time, I will just enjoy it, learn, and improve my skill. Life is too short for having to worry about what other riders think of your gears or bike that you are riding on track...

Just my 02. cent

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I agree with all of that. The "comes across as a douche" comment wasn't just based on somebody's leathers. I don't care what leathers somebody wears.

My comments were based on a few people that came to the track with the Ducati bike, and suit, and decals all over the trailer, and clothes, etc. And they were also the people that didn't socialize with anyone, looked down their nose and the people in Tech and before they went out, they would sit over there in their pit and rev their bike over and over....then on their way through the paddock, they would creep really slow while holding the clutch in and revving the bike making sure everyone looked at them.

I have seen that on more than one occasion over the years. And THAT is where my comments are coming from. The people that show up to the track with that getup often times come across as attention seeking douches.

They could have just as easily showed up at the track with all of that ...., then actually smiled at people, maybe shook a few hands and had a conversation, then conducted themselves in a manner like everyone else did when prepping to and entering the track. And in that case, they would NOT have been douches, they would have just been people that like Ducati stuff. And more power to them.

Chaotic said:

I agree with all of that. The "comes across as a douche" comment wasn't just based on somebody's leathers. I don't care what leathers somebody wears.

My comments were based on a few people that came to the track with the Ducati bike, and suit, and decals all over the trailer, and clothes, etc. And they were also the people that didn't socialize with anyone, looked down their nose and the people in Tech and before they went out, they would sit over there in their pit and rev their bike over and over....then on their way through the paddock, they would creep really slow while holding the clutch in and revving the bike making sure everyone looked at them.

I have seen that on more than one occasion over the years. And THAT is where my comments are coming from. The people that show up to the track with that getup often times come across as attention seeking douches.

They could have just as easily showed up at the track with all of that ...., then actually smiled at people, maybe shook a few hands and had a conversation, then conducted themselves in a manner like everyone else did when prepping to and entering the track. And in that case, they would NOT have been douches, they would have just been people that like Ducati stuff. And more power to them.

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That's got nothing to do with their leathers that's just Americans .
Were they Americans?

Chaotic said:

I am sure it varies by place. But over here when we see somebody pull up in that kind of getup, with the bike and then the Ducati Leathers and Ducati helmet and probably with Ducati decals all over his trailer etc....we think "look at this douche".

People can't roll up with that kind of setup trying to look like some kind of Factory racer, and then get lapped in the Intermediate track day group.

It is just too much. The bike? Of course, absolutely. But Ducati leathers and Ducati helmet? No. That is getting into Harley Davidson cult territory.

Might as well put a big neon sign on your back that says "MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT ME, I RIDE A DUCATI"

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Right. This post says exactly what you're trying to clarify now. Nothing in this post says anything about someone's behavior. Has everything to do with matching brand gear and nothing else. This post also says that you actually do care what kinda gear someone wears, regardless of their skill level. Don't contradict yourself.

wilkson said:

That's got nothing to do with their leathers that's just Americans .
Were they Americans?

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that's a good one!!

You crack me up with your comments sir. Keep it up.

double0 said:

Right. This post says exactly what you're trying to clarify now. Nothing in this post says anything about someone's behavior. Has everything to do with matching brand gear and nothing else. This post also says that you actually do care what kinda gear someone wears, regardless of their skill level. Don't contradict yourself.

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And every person I have seen with that getup that looks like they were standing next to an exploding Ducati store, behaved in the exact same manner. Then they go out on track and can't ride. Which is fine, everyone starts somewhere and I really enjoy helping people become better riders.....that are willing to be helped. Those guys aren't. One of them actually said "the problem is that I shouldn't be in Intermediate, I mean look at this thing" (and pointed down at his bike).

The funny part is that he said after I had followed him into hot pit at the end of a session and was trying to offer him some advice on lines because he was struggling to keep up with the guys in the back of the Intermediate group because of how erratic he was riding.

So yes, when I see someone with that getup, my first thought is "here we go again..."

wilkson said:

That's got nothing to do with their leathers that's just Americans .
Were they Americans?

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Haha. Well played.

I have never seen Americans riding Suzuki's or Yamaha's do that douchetastic .....

And yeah, a few of them were Americans. But some of them weren't. I know 2 of the guys were from Greece and another one was French.

Chaotic said:

And every person I have seen with that getup that looks like they were standing next to an exploding Ducati store, behaved in the exact same manner. Then they go out on track and can't ride. Which is fine, everyone starts somewhere I am enjoy helping people.....that are willing to be helped. Those guys aren't. One of them actually said "the problem is that I shouldn't be in Intermediate, I mean look at this thing" (and pointed down at his bike).

The funny part is that he said after I had followed him into hot pit at the end of a session and was trying to offer him some advice on lines because he was struggling to keep up with the guys in the back of the Intermediate group because of how erratic he was riding.

So yes, when I see someone with that getup, my first thought is "here we go again..."

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I guess this is a bad time to say I have a Superlegara race suit, Ducati Corse helmet, Ducati gloves, ducati boots, Ducati under suit, sitting in my Ducati chair, under a Ducati Corse umbrella, drinking out of my Ducati corse coffee cup, spinning my Ducati key ring, whilst looking at my Ducati Red painted trailer.

No just kidding, I don't actually have the umbrella.