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749r.info Exclusive Interview:

Kenny Kopecky

Introduction

Aboard both his Ducati 749R and 999R bikes, Kenny Kopecky of San Diego, California is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the Club Racing scene. On December 18, 2005 Kenny, ended the WSMC season the same way he started it 12 months previously: with three race wins in BOTT Middleweight, BOTT Heavyweight and Formula Twins at Willow Springs Raceway, solidifying his 2005 overall WSMC Club Championship.

Kenny won all 12 races in these three classes, which is a remarkable feat in this racing series amidst some very stiff competition. In addition to this, he won 5 other races during the season in 650 Superbike and 750 Superbike events. Throughout, he set personal records for most wins in a season (41), personal best lap times, and four WSMC class lap records. The 46 year-old racer's overall points total for the season is one of the highest ever set in the 14 year history of WSMC racing.

Kenny, a devoted family man, who not only has the skills to win some very tough races, and been actively involved in the Southern California club racing scene, but is also a talented instructor who loves to share his motorcycling expertise with fellow racers or just superbike enthusiasts.

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Kenny's Website

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Interview

749r.info: Kenny, first thank you so much for taking the time to share some of your insights for the Ducati 749R enthusiasts worldwide. Let’s start with some of your general impressions of the Ducati 749R on the racetrack:

Kenny: Thanks for asking us to participate on your site!

We’ve found the 749R to be the most wonderful handling bike we’ve ever ridden! It’s stable chassis, superior Ohlins production suspension, the great Brembo brakes… everything comes together in the great Ducati trellis chassis with a smooth, torquey twin-cylinder motor that makes it so much easier on the rider to get more from themselves then most any other bike on the planet!

749r.info: How would you compare the 749R with any other bike on the track?

Kenny: Ahhh, well there is no comparison! The bike comes straight from the factory with some of the finest components available and some fantastic features. They’re great bikes to just look at, but riding them on the racetrack is even better. The competition could only dream of being this good. The 749R allows it’s rider to brake deeper, carry more corner speed and drive off the turns in a smoother faster fashion then any most any bike, even those that have been highly modified with aftermarket components.

749r.info: Out on the track, how does the 749R compare to its big brother, the 999R?

Kenny: Having spent the entire 2005 season at WSMC (Willow Springs) racing both machines, we’d have to say the ‘little’ 749R is the sweeter machine of the two. In that, it does turn a little easier, delivers it’s lesser power in a smoother more tractable fashion, and gives it’s rider the utmost in confidence. It’s been very interesting, as the two bikes share the same frame, same wheels, same brakes, we used the same tires even…but the nature of the bikes is much different when riding them at high-speed on the racetrack. The ‘big brother’ takes more from the rider to get the optimum performance, whereas the 749R is ‘easier’ to ride at a high level.

749r.info: How much support did Ducati provide to you in your pursuit of racing?

Kenny: Ducati North America presented a very strong contingency program in 2005 at several racing organizations around the nation, for selected Ducati machines. We were very happy to participate in this program at the WSMC meets, and we won all of the 749R and 999R contingency events we started in 2005. As a matter of fact, we’ve won these same classes again in each of our 2006 starts, and are thankful to Ducati North America (DNA) for this strong support of Ducati racers. It was so very beneficial to our entire racing program.

We’ve also been fortunate to have the success and knowledge of a top Southern California Ducati dealer, Moto Forza (formerly known as Aprilia/Ducati of Oceanside.) Their love, care and concern in maintaining our Ducati Superbikes took us to a 100% reliability record in the many events we raced in 2005, and was instrumental in our winning the Overall Track Championship #1 title at Willow Springs Raceway.

749r.info: What racing classes can the 749R participate in? Is there a “best” racing class for the 749R?

Kenny: The eligibility rules vary among the different racing organizations. At WSMC where we focus our efforts, the 749R can be run in many varied classes, including BOTT Middleweight, Formula Twins, Formula Two, Formula One, Formula 40 Lightweight (if the rider is old enough!), 650 Superbike, Solo GTU and a few more! The newer racers (Novices) can run the bike in Heavyweight Novice.

As far as a ‘best’ class…at WSMC that would be BOTT Middleweight, where the Ducati 749R took the Class Championship #1 title in 2004 with Richy Headley, and in 2005 we won all 12 races to win the title.

The bike is extremely competitive wherever it’s raced, and we also had great successes in 650 Superbike and Formula Two with it.

749r.info: How easy or difficult was it to maintain the 749R for use in a racing environment?

Kenny: The expert technicians at Moto Forza have shared with me that the maintenance of the newer 749/999 series of Ducati Superbikes is much easier then the older models. As mentioned earlier, our bikes had a 100% reliability record in their monthly races, and the guys performed the same type of maintenance checks that Ducati recommends for all of it’s machines. We do change the oil and filter regularly, we did replace some ‘consumables’ such as brake pads, clutch plates and a set of belts all as preventative maintenance. We changed the chain and drive sprockets a couple of times as well, otherwise these bikes were as ‘solid’ and reliable as any we’ve ever been involved with.

749r.info: Would a regular non-racing track enthusiast have to go through plenty of added maintenance?

Kenny: Not based on our racing experiences! They should change the oil and filter more often then recommended, keep an eye on their coolant level, check their nuts and bolts as would occur during any regular maintenances. We did find that the hydraulic clutch likes to be bled every so often…we include that in our monthly pre-event maintenance and most Ducati riders seem to be aware of this already.

749r.info: Many are curious to know what you think of Ducati’s 749R Racing (or "Corse") Kit?

Kenny: We had much enjoyment in running this kit on our “A” bike (749R-04 #0298) throughout most of the 2005 WSMC campaign and really enjoyed racing with it! It brought the bikes’ horsepower level to a point in between the stock 749R and a stock 999R, which was added fun! The bike did tend to lose a little of that ‘sweet’ character mentioned earlier, the added power does somewhat affect the nature of the chassis, but not as much as 999 riders will find on their bikes. Most riders will likely find plenty of enjoyment when adding the racing exhaust system along with a Ducati performance computer chip or a PCIII module.

749r.info: Many Ducatisti have a difficult time choosing between the Ducati 999S, the 750cc MV Agusta F4 and the Ducati 749R, what are some important points you think they should consider?

Kenny: Wow, wonderful machines indeed! Our only experience with the beautiful MV has been to look at it on a track day, and hear it’s wonderful sound as we passed it repeatedly with our 749R. I think many would find the 999S to have much more useable torque, which would be fun on the streets and at many tracks, but the precise handling and excellent nature of the 749R will place it ahead on many tracks in the right hands! The 749R is the more limited, more exclusive bike, built to perform ON the racetrack and is the winner in our book.

749r.info: What is your advice for the aspiring 749R racer?

Kenny: Ride it like a Grand Prix bike! Meaning, work on fast entry speed into the turns, maintaining a high cornering speed and use the wonderful smooth powerplant to drive off the turns sooner then your competitors! The chassis will allow a very high level of performance, even as delivered stock with its fine components. Choose smooth flowing lines and carry as much speed around the track as is possible. Have confidence in your bike, gear it correctly for the track you are on, get some fine race compound tires and ride it hard and fast. The bike IS a winner, and the racer on one will be as well. Have FUN!

749r.info: What is your advice for the regular track enthusiast who would like to take his 749R to Track Days?

Kenny: “Just do it!” While the Ducati 749R is a large investment, this bike is designed FOR the racetrack, and learning about it’s potential as well as that of the rider can only be done safely ON the racetrack. Get some aftermarket bodywork (save the stock items for street use and/or re-sale), re-gear the bike (this is one of the lowest cost modifications that will give a huge advantage and for many riders may be better then getting aftermarket exhausts and such), use tires you are confident on, and ride ride ride! This bike can take the rider to a higher level of ability and enjoyment then any other motorcycle. The feeling is magnificent.

749r.info: What tires do you think are “best fit” for the 749R Track Enthusiast?

Kenny: Oh, now that is a loaded question! Well, we did run our 749R “A” bike on its’ OEM Pirelli Diablo Corse tires for several hundred miles on the street, as well as one track day at Willow Springs. These tires are an excellent choice for an OEM tire, giving the rider good wear, and nice performance on both street and track.

However, after having previously raced Yamaha production machines (R1 and R6 from 2001 to 2003) exclusively on Dunlop race tires, we changed our tires during testing in 2004 to the D208GP-A. Instantly, with the confidence we have in the Dunlop product, we were over 2.5 seconds a lap faster then on the Pirelli. Since then we’ve won many races with Dunlop on our Ducati racebikes, and will look for more success throughout 2006 on them. We just recently tested on the new D209GP Sportmax DOT tires during a TrackDaz event at Willow Springs Raceway, and they were just awesome. Great performance, great wear and we’re looking forward to many fun track miles on the D209 this season. I don’t think a Ducati 749R rider could go wrong with them.

That said, our best advice on tires is this: There are many fine products available from the tire manufacturers, and your 749R deserves to have top level tires on it for your track days. Use a tire that you feel confident with, and with a tire vendor that you enjoy doing business with. Learn to trust your bike and the tires you choose to gain the most possible performance from your fantastic Ducati 749R Superbike!

749r.info: Well Kenny, this has yet been another great dose of valuable insights from you. Thank you so much for the time you took to share this with us. We all wish you the best of luck in your racing campaign, businesses and most of all family! Thank you!

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For much more information on Kenny, please visit

his website at http://www.kennykopecky.com

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