Sorry folks for my slack ass and not keeping you all informed about practice.
But as you will read I have been sorting the bike out and out practicing every night and it has taken up more time than usual. But this is the Manx, and that’s why we love it.
Wednesday night was good, well to a point. I set off with this buffoon on a bike.
He was quick off the line, but carried it all the way into Quarter Bridge and over shot the corner. I nipped up the inside, as you do, but he came back passed me and over shot going into Bradden. I was nearly thinking of pulling in and letting him go.
I didn’t, I just tried to crack on with my own thing and ignore him in front. After following him for a few miles to Ballacraine, I knew that if I could get passed him he wouldn’t be able to keep with me, as it was clear him didn’t really know where he was going. I got an opportunity to get passed him going into Laurel Bank, but he wasn’t prepared to let me by and cut my nose off. I thought ok mate have it your way, I followed him to Cronk Y Voddy, where we came across 6 riders as a big group, 4 abreast over the straight.
Great I thought where do I go. I waited to Handleys and nipped passed your man plus another. I cracked on and passed Callum O’Shea too. I was happy as I didn’t think the Buffoon would be able to get up to me now. But this was my next problem, because I had to pass this group we had caught as they were travelling a lot slower than me, I had to ride very hard to pass them. But this caused me to pump myself up.
Going into Guthrie’s I caught another rider, who again was riding a lot slower than I wanted to go. I was passed by a friend, Michael Russell who rides for the RAF, we had fun out there, he was riding his 750 and despite this I kept with him over the mountain mile, it was funny I followed his lines which were quiet nice. I got back passed him going into Ballacraine, he did wave me passed so he could got a tow off me through Glen Helen, only problem was I nipped passed him and the guy in front, and that was the only tow he got. I continued but my second lap was a slow one compared to my first. This was a new personal best of 112.645mph.
The positives that we gained from the session were despite pumping up on the bike, we were faster. I thought my old gloves had stretch too much and this had also contributed to the arm pump, so I bought myself a new pair. Plus we confirmed that the front of the bike needed sorting as it was still far too lively.
So Thursday night we changed a couple of things, mainly the front of the bike and the gearing, more speed Captain!!! Plus after speaking to the clerk of the course I was given permission to start in the fast group, i.e. group 1 to 30. This should be better for traffic out on the course. I shouldn’t be coming across 4 bikes abreast along Cronk Y Voddy straight. I set off with Philip McGuirk. I went through the bottom of Bray Hill full tilt and Phil still pulled ground on me. By the time I was coming out of Union Mills he was already heading passed the camp site at Glen Lough. Thanks for starting with me.
The plan was to have a couple of steady laps and try and go quicker but with less effort and stop pumping up
This lap was awesome; I don’t think I have ever got to Kirk Michael so quick. I haven’t seen the split times but I know it was quick, I got to Greeba and through her in and then crapped myself thinking it was far to quick and I was going to come off,
only to find that I made it and easily too. So there is a tenth or two there.
Unfortunately, someone had spilt oil or diesel all the way from the last kink at Kirk Michael to Ballaugh Bridge and it seemed to fill the right side of the road. So thanks to that idiot who did that, because of them the session was ruined. Put it this way, I have NEVER seen a ‘lack of adhesion’ flag waved before. Nor so many of them.
The guys in front slowed to a sensible pace, where I was willing to go a little quicker. I caught 2 of them and once clear of the mess that was Bishopscourt and Alpine I decided that these guys might be able to give me a tow. So much for my game plan of a couple of steady laps. I was chasing a guy on a 600rr plus a guy on a 750. The 2 of them instantly pulled ground on me after Ballaugh Bridge and I thought right if I can just latch on I’ll be sorted. But what I actually found was, when I was in Quarry Bends I carried a lot more speed than then and had to roll to avoid clipping the guys back wheel.
This continued till Ramsey, I was slightly quicker through the wiggly bits, but they had the legs on me on the straight, even the 600. This was good though, yes I had again met traffic, but this time the traffic was only a couple of mph slower not 20 mph slower. Going over the mountain I found I had again started to pump up on the bike. My right arm was so solid that I was struggling to not only use the front brake but to twist the throttle on and off. I tried to relax and it sort of worked, but I was still not able to ride 100%.
We went for another lap and much the same, I had my fast bits they had theirs. I was sat behind them the whole lap. I got to Sulby Bridge and I thought right I think I can get to Douglas at this pace and ride through this arm pump, but once I had completed the motocross track, the run from Ginger Hall to Ramsey, I was unable to hold on at all. I slowed right up and ignored the guys in front. I went back to my game plan and just practice my lines at my speed. Which was what I wanted to do anyway.
I was a little annoyed with myself in the end,
I mean I should have done that from the start, but I must admit I had some fun riding with those guys. It also boosted my confidence that I was quicker than them in most places I just couldn’t get passed.
More positives, the changes to the bike were perfect. I have never had the bike running so well. The gearing could do with a slight tweak, but I tell ya. Suspension wise. It has never handled this well, the first thing from a riding point of view I have been able to get on the gas so much earlier than I ever have before. I am on it before the apex rather than on it or even after it. Ron and Richard from Maxton couldn’t believe I could ride the bike, looking back I don’t know how I did either. Still I could and I can now. Secondly, when back in the pits the tyre wear is SO different to how it was. The surface is ripped but in a different way, it’s nice. The way the bike was working before, the tyre were working far too hard and was being ripped to pieces. Not that I ever had a problem with tyre wear, but you know what I mean.
Friday night we tried another gearing choice to see if we could go any quicker. The suspension we were leaving. The 2 laps were pretty uneventful. I stuck to my game plan and took her steady and just tried to link everything better and not try so hard. But again I pumped up on the bike. I couldn’t understand why and it was starting to pi$$ me off. My friend Carolynn Sells was going well, she overtook me at Bishopscourt and she was on it.
Heading up the mountain mile I noticed that I had to put a lot of effort in to grip the bars. I was trying to stretch the new gloves. In a short circuit 6 lap race I would never have noticed this. After a few meetings the gloves would be perfect. But trying to break them in for 40 mins at a time is a pain in the right arm, I tell ya.
I pulled in after my 2 laps, to find that there was still 10 mins of the session left. Stevie shot back to the van to get more fuel, or what fuel we had left. Remember this is my 4th MGP and I have never been able to get a third lap in before, so we were caught a little short. While he was doing that I got Mike Craine, new KaKa Racing MGP pit crew, to massage my fore arm to realise the muscle a little. I took on fluid and put my new glove on again. Instantly I took them back off. There was no way I could have done a lap wearing them. So Mike ran back to the van for my good old faithfuls. People were starting to panic, as time was tight, but no need we had plenty of time. I got my old gloves and headed out for my third lap.
This was a cracking lap. The newcomer I set off after, I didn’t see until Handleys. Those R6’s are bloody quick. But I caught him and couldn’t get passed him until the 13th. Once passed, I cracked on. My arms were ok, tired but ok. The gloves were the trouble. This was so much easier than before. I noticed in Kirk Michael that the street lights were coming on. Winner I had my dark visor on.
Heading up the mountain I noticed that the air was cool. It was so nice. Calm! The bike was flying. I was thinking this was a good run over the mountain. Ok I was struggling to see but it was a good run. I was linking things better, plus there was a lot less effort involved. This is a good thing. Then as I went around the 33rd the bike died, blar blar that was it. Out of fuel as quick as that. No warning just Blar Blar and the engine turned off.
I rolled from the 33rd to Creg Ny Barr and rang the boys. I was gutted as I only qualified 34th with the first 2 laps. But that lap felt quicker, only thing is I will never know if it was or not. The gearing was fast but not the quickest I don’t think. I have to decide on the day as wind will be a big factor.
Saturday was cancelled due to weather. It was poor. Jet Skis would have been better. You get the picture. With a few days rest and my old gloves and a look at the data, I think we are there or there abouts for the race. I feel that I have let myself down a little, because I was fast at the start and then have gone backwards from there. But if we look at the other side of the coin, I have never made so many changes to the bike and it work. The bike is a real joy to ride as is the TT course, but if you can’t hold on then you are not going to be quick. I haven’t had a lap under 109mph all week. That ain’t slow. Plus I have broken my PB and Lapped at 112.645mph. So things aren’t that bad. But I will be pushing to go quicker in the race. I can’t wait, just hope this weather improves.
airtimebill
