Three weeks before setting off to Phillip Island for the 2023 MotoGP, I was well advanced in preparing my bike for the 2500km round trip. The biggest job had been putting a long-overdue carby kit through the Mikunis, which my mate Steve and I accomplished in his garage. Alas, in the process we snapped the brittle clip-onmounted choke lever — not the easiest part to find for a 32-year-old Ducati — which we planned to plastic-weld. The busted tacho and speedo cables were replaced, as was a section of wire to the right rear blinker.
I also needed an inspection report to renew the rego, and it was during this that Pete the wonder mechanic gave me the bad news. He had valiantly173), but it turns out with limited success. I wouldn't ride it to Phillip Island, he said.
