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Doug Polen and Ducati Austin At Harris Hill Road : Harris Hill Road, Saturday & Sunday, October 17-18, 2009
 
This was a big weekend at Harris Hill Road in San Marcos.  For starters, Doug Polen's 1 On 1 Riders School teamed up with Harris Hill Road, Elite Trackdays, TotalRider MC Safety Training, and Ducati Austin to bring some great fun and track time to Hill Country riders.  I would estimate that approximately 50 riders were on hand with Ducatis, Aprilias, and various other brands represented. While everybody comes to the track for fun and to improve their skills, a good number went the extra mile and signed up for personalized instruction from none other than '91-'92 World Superbike Champion Doug Polen.  Polen's 1 on 1 utilizes on-board video and wireless Doug to Student communications for real time help and coaching with video reviews in class. Doug is seemingly tireless, cranking out lap after lap of smooth consistent speed. The only time you saw Doug sitting still was while his crew filled his tank and handed him water - on the bike, bike running.
 
Elite Trackdays and Total Rider pulled off another very smooth and coordinated show for the 1 on 1 students and the regular track day participants, and the Harris Hill Road facility is very nice, fun, and well set up.
 
Ducati Austin brought out a few Ducati demo bikes for the riders to sample - an 848 Superbike, the new F1098S Streetfighter with Ducati Traction Control, and a great short track and Hill Country Hooligan weapon the Hypermotard 1100S. When Doug Polen's personal Ducati 1098S developed some minor mechanical issues, we provided first our demo Streetfighter and later the 848, so that the show could go on uninterrupted. 
 
I had the opportunity to ride all three of our bikes on the track and they are all superb, with different styles and stregths. Many of the riders signed up for 5 lap demo rides led by Total Rider instructors, at safe but spirited paces. These and all of Ducati Austin's demo bikes are available for sale, with full Ducati Factory warranties, none have been "abused", and most can be had at a discount with all necessary services already performed.

Photos by K. Heil and W. Egger.  Words by Warren Egger

Doug Polen and Ducati Austin At Harris Hill Road

Harris Hill Road, Saturday & Sunday, October 17-18, 2009 This was ...

Updated: Oct 21, 2009 5:01pm PST

Ducati Streetfighter Pre-Launch Ride at Cresson : Text and photos by Warren Egger - Ducati Austin.

Last Sunday & Monday, Ducati North America hosted a pre-release track and tech session featuring the new Ducati Streetfighter S.  The event was attended by dealer representatives from top dealers around the country. The focus of the meeting was to introduce the bike in person to the dealers, explain the design features, and allow us to experience the bikes on the track.  

This was my first experience at Cresson Motorsports Ranch, and previous to going, several people told me that Cresson was unusually slippery in the mornings and to be very careful during the first session until the track and tires had warmed up.

When we arrived at the track the next morning at 8am, we were presented with a long row of pristine Fighter and Fighter Ss, gassed up, ready to go, and all sporting brand new, un-scrubbed Pirelli Diablo Corsa IIIs.  I'm thinking cold track, new tires, 155 HP naked bike, and I was pretty apprehensive.  Keep thinking "easy street ride"! and I should be fine right?

After breakfast and a short welcome talk by Michael Lock, we were briefed on the track and group protocols by Jeff Nash and his instructors, who pretty much call Cresson their home track. After the briefing, we suited up and were led out onto the track in small groups.  As expected, the combination of fresh track and fresh tires made traction and lean angles pretty precarious for about half of the first 30 minute session. Halfway through, things had improved so the instructors waved us on and we were able to start having a little fun.  

For my first session I was given a new Fighter S with Termignoni slipon system installed.  The DTC - Ducati Traction Control system was set to #4 of 8 settings, #8 being most intrusive, and #1 being the least.  This setting was suggested as a good initial setting for this track and conditions. First impressions were that the seating position is at least as comfortable as my own Monster S4RS, with a slightly shorter reach to the handlebars. Power delivery was as expected, very linear and controllable, and, no surprises here - HUGE.  Handling is solid and confidence inspiring, like the rest of the Superbike family - 916, 996, 999, 1098 and 1198, but with ergos compatible with daily street use.  From what I was able to determine, the DTC system only activated a few times, and it was not even noticeable except for the momentary flashing of the indicator lights on the dash. The DTC is in no way abrupt, and about the only thing you notice is that you're getting a great drive off the corners with no slippage.

My second session was on a stock Fighter with no traction control or Termi system.  Handling and power delivery was just as solid as the S bike, however midrange and top end power was slightly less due to the stock exhaust and ECU.  That said, it was just as exciting to ride, and for all intents and purposes is just as capable as a track and street bike.

My third session was again aboard the Fighter "S" with Termis and DTC.  For this one I selected DTC setting 6, just two short of full on #8, in order to see better if I could detect the DTC activating.  I was also more comfortable with the track and bike, and could spend a bit more of my attention watching the RPMs and DTC indicator lights.  I found that on this more active setting, I was easily able to activate the traction control by rolling on just a bit more throttle than would normally be prudent on corner exits. I found that it's best feature - at least for me, was it's control of the back end exiting fast bumpy corners.  The system is really all it's cracked up to be, and will be a great help to many riders, both on the track and off.  

Finally, as the Streetfighter is truly designed to be a naked superbike, with all of the hooligan aspects intact, the DTC system has been designed to accommodate burnouts, and most importantly, wheelies.  The attitude sensor in the tail of the bike communicates with both front and rear wheel speed sensors, and with the ECU and FI system, and knows the parameters that indicate a wheelie and does not interfere. Even on the more sensitive #6 setting, I had no problem lofting the front wheel down the straights, through multiple gears, at various wheel heights... No worries, and absolutely no headshake when setting down for the next corner entry. I'm fully on board with this stuff.

Ducati Streetfighter Pre-Launch Ride at Cresson

Text and photos by Warren Egger - Ducati Austin. Last Sunday & Mond ...

Updated: May 19, 2009 2:42pm PST

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Ducati Austin Racing

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