848 build blog : 42 days to go

With just 42 days until the British Superbike season starts and the 2012 848 Challenge riders head to Brands for the first of eight rounds, I thought you'd like to see the lastminute.com preparations and hard graft going into my bike to get it ready for the season ahead.

Instead of ending the season in one piece, I highsided in Race 1, buggering the bike and busting my shoulder. The bike and I have been feeling very sorry for ourselves ever since.

But now all that's going to change because my 848 is currently sat in JHP's workshop getting some 'me time'.

I got to know JHP, well before I started racing, as all the Ducati press bikes were prepped there and that's where we pick 'em up from. Throughout last season, I got to know Rick Hackett, the man running JHP's racing efforts, in between racing around and running JHP Ducati Coventry's busy workshop. Rick works with Nigel Jamieson running the JHP race bikes and they've won the championship two seasons on the bounce, but with the competition even tougher than last year, all that could change..

Rick and Nigel know the 848 inside out and not only are they tasked with sorting out the seized gearbox, but they've got a list as long as your arm of parts that were damaged during the crash, including: making sure the frame is straight and forks aren't twisted, replacing rearsets, clip-ons, front brake lines, checking the raditor, fitting quick-release front wheel spindle and more... Not to mention, fitting a slipper clutch, servicing the engine and running it up on the dyno.

Nigel's just got back from Bologna where he was swotting up on the new Panigale, then he comes back to the UK and has my shit-old 848 to sort out. Sorry Nigel.

Sorting my 848 would be easy to fit into the schedule, if they didn't have a Panigale Superstock 1000 bike to prepare for JHP's assault on the Superstock 1000 championship with Leon Morris this year. Oh, and a couple of Panigale RS bikes to build for a British Superbike team too..

Get crackin' boys!

By Ben Cope