MotoAmerica & Ducati !!

Ok gents. Lets start getting yourselves and your bikes prepped to get out there and get yourselves licensed all the way up to "AMA / MA" Level ok? Maybe there will be some support in this for you, who knows?

Ducati North America CEO Talks MotoAmerica With Bloomberg | MotoAmerica

I know a couple of you have the skills and balls to make this happen!

There is talk that the big 4 will all be back in next season. Aprilia is going SBK. Would be cool if someone put together a full campaign on a Ducati. But it's going to cost them a ton of money in comparison to just buying a Graves bike or something with more development here.

Privateer teams only not a factory-supported team at this point, but certainly a step in the right direction! Jason is a huge racing fan, and I know he'll do whatever he can to help get Ducati back into the U.S. racing scene on a more prominent level.

Lucky for us we have Troy Bayliss......https://www.facebook.com/DesmoSportDucati/

That's great and all, but to quote the guy he said "DNA is responsible for Sales, Marketing and SUPPORT of our products"... I'd much rather see the dollars be invested in that last part vs than seeing some Ducs on the grid... May be with better customer service and support more people would be able to put their bikes in races on regional and national levels...

It's going to take more than crossed fingers to make it happen, it will take major funding. Gone are the days when a fast club racer could build a super bike at home on a feasible budget and go out and run in the top 10.
Cook Nielson put his 900ss up front back in the very beginning, but even that effort ran into the cubic dollars. The stock 1000 class works out good for the 1199R's, but I would like to know what the maintenance routine/cost is on those bikes over a season.

jarelj said:

Privateer teams only not a factory-supported team at this point, but certainly a step in the right direction! Jason is a huge racing fan, and I know he'll do whatever he can to help get Ducati back into the U.S. racing scene on a more prominent level.

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Hi Jarel-

Do you by any chance mean Jason Pridmore? By the sound of it you know him, wondering just how well sir? By no means am I trying to come off cocky or like some "know it all" by this, and to all people not YOU whatsoever man!

I do like the guy, he's head and shoulders MUCH better than his Toolbag colleague of a commentator, I can say this from PERSONAL experience w that bald sack of .... GW, but Pridmore is not entirely too high on the flagpole within MA to start pulling in teams, much less Ducati Teams unfortunately. He was pretty much brought in due to his close relationship w that buffoon. However, I do hold respect for Jason since he at least knows what it's like to race for a living and thankfully made something of himself afterward too! So kudos to him and not knocking the guy at all my friend!

Again, not to sound like I'm on the Board of Directors, but thankfully I'm pretty keyed in with many of the MA crew from too down, and have it on first hand authority (or would it be 2nd hand if told directly to me?)that those two got themselves in on a whim and only due to knowing some of the key players within BeIN Sports. On the issue of BeIN , I absolutely have to say they are head and shoulders above anything Speed ever did - hell they were probably another contributing factor to almost driving that entire sport into the ground man!

Regardless, it sure would be something to see each Brand out there again the way it was WAY back in the days when Duhamel rode the rubber off his Honda, and Mladin (thank the Rain God's he's gone for good btw) ripped out some serious championships! Also, it's even great to see old racers passing the torch to their kids even w Yates, etc (the others just slipped my mind sorrry)
I SERIOUSLY miss my good friend Dane Westby who was about as classy as they Come! And as far as calling the races - Having Jason up there with Scott Russell would be the perfect pair for sure! (BTW - That guy has himself set up for LIFE w the gig he has going now, so as much as I'd love to see my buddy Scott up in the tower, he's doing what he loves most and making coin hand over fist now!)

Lastly, I'm very fortunate to call Josh Hayes and all the Graves Crew close friends and I'm keeping my cramped fingers crossed until MA kicks off again next season to see Josh pull off one more #1 Plate AT LEAST before these youngins climb over the top for good! Another class act who still takes the time to stop and chat about ANYTHING at all w the fans! Hell, I could go on all day about this National Sport, but bottom line is I'd truly love to see (and hear) some killer Ducatis at these races next year!

Hey, I got an idea Jarel - how about we members kick off a "Go Fund Me" Campaign for you to out one of your killer Racebikes out there and either ride it yourself or we'll get the best rider off this forum to represent? How's that for motivational brother!
Now we just need to figure out the way to determine who's the best rider here, hmmmm. Do I foresee a Poll?
Leon "LJuice" , "Rubbish", "Phil" etc??

Anyone else yoos guys can think of?
We know Mark419NY would do it if he didn't hate Ducati and Rossi so much right Mark? Lmfao -

***Hey folks. Sorry about the novel of a post. I'm convinced it's a symptom of my PTSD. Or maybe that I don't ride my Tri anymore.

Ditto !

centeroff said:

It's going to take more than crossed fingers to make it happen, it will take major funding. Gone are the days when a fast club racer could build a super bike at home on a feasible budget and go out and run in the top 10.
Cook Nielson put his 900ss up front back in the very beginning, but even that effort ran into the cubic dollars. The stock 1000 class works out good for the 1199R's, but I would like to know what the maintenance routine/cost is on those bikes over a season.

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Good point here man!
Back when I started racing, at what was then a track on the AMA circuit, there were some super fast guys out there on those 900SS/SPs (which is what actually prompted my purchase of two of them! One for the track and one for street.

Went on to sell the BCM built n sponsored racebike but kept that streetbike and put a ton of mods into it (944 Kit plus more - as seen in pics- the two up shot was w my wife at Loudon matter of fact before AMA dropped it stating it was most dangerous track on east coast!) but you're right, when the classes started changing and air cooled bikes like those started dropping down, I moved up to a 748R and tried sticking it out until entry fees and tires became too much - let alone the post race work they required to remain active. It's good to see World Superbike running the new Series and come out good for sure. Fingers still crossed to see what n who will put Ducati to the test in MA next!

(Pics show progression from that 944, 748R w Red, then Camo Paint before my Iraq tour, then the sad day trading it in on that 1198s Corse (miss that beast!) And finally to the Tricolore Show Bike I still have but looking to sell to a "wealthy" buyer!!

Pics Continued

Felt bad I was hijacking the poor guys thread here w all this stuff, until I realized it was my own! Lmfao!

**Two more things I forgot. After the 748R came a kick ... SV650 done up nice w a REAL suspension built by the Thermmosman if you guys know my cousin Mike Fitzgerald? Also, that's the HIGHLY modified 1199s Tricolore I spoke of before too!

http://bellissimoto.com/BrendansPanigale.html

Note.: That SV was sold to our illustrious Moderator Phil who went on to win 99% of every race he entered with it during his very first year racing WERA! Now THAT made me more proud than anything to see! Post some pics of yourself w the trophies and race shots Phil !!!!

Lastly, the very first shot of me standing behind the 944 (with custom Italian paintwork by Sean Lezotte of Connecticut Cycle Refinishing!) And the very last shot of same, Were taken exactly 12 years apart of each other! Can't ya tell by gray hair (or lack of hair?) How cool is that!
(Ok Gunny, STFU now!)

Beautiful bikes there.

Thanks for sharing Gunny.

Hey All.

Last night was a VERY bad one for me with pain. I was heavily medicated and since I couldnt sleep I seemed to have went a bit too far posting on my thread here. MY SINCERE APOLOGIES to anyone I offended - specifically Jarel, who I just noticed the typo on your name, and several other typos as well. Perhaps I should read ALL of this over to review it for redaction folks.
**Word to the wise- Pain & Sleep Meds, PLUS Forum Posting can be dangerous to your health & reputation!!

Gunny Fitz said:

Hey All.

Last night was a VERY bad one for me with pain. I was heavily medicated and since I couldnt sleep I seemed to have went a bit too far posting on my thread here. MY SINCERE APOLOGIES to anyone I offended - specifically Jarel, who I just noticed the typo on your name, and several other typos as well. Perhaps I should read ALL of this over to review it for redaction folks.
**Word to the wise- Pain & Sleep Meds, PLUS Forum Posting can be dangerous to your health & reputation!!

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I didn't read anything offensive Gunny, you're good man lol

Gunny Fitz said:

Hey All.

Last night was a VERY bad one for me with pain. I was heavily medicated and since I couldnt sleep I seemed to have went a bit too far posting on my thread here. MY SINCERE APOLOGIES to anyone I offended - specifically Jarel, who I just noticed the typo on your name, and several other typos as well. Perhaps I should read ALL of this over to review it for redaction folks.
**Word to the wise- Pain & Sleep Meds, PLUS Forum Posting can be dangerous to your health & reputation!!

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Looked fine and normal to me, hope you get to feeling better soon, chronic pain grinds you into the ground.

Gunny Fitz said:

Hi Jarel-

Do you by any chance mean Jason Pridmore?

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No, I was referring to Jason Chinnock, CEO of Ducati North America, referenced in the article. I don't know Jason Pridmore other than attending a Pridmore track school about 10 years ago, and he was a great instructor!

Regarding racing, you know what they way, "Want to make a million dollars racing? Start with two million dollars." Too rich for my blood!

AHA!!

Many thanks for clearing that one up on me Jarel. Now I see your point buddy!