Manx Grand Prix 2003 Reports.

Saturday 16th August - First Practice. After signing, riders briefing and the bus tour, could not belive how long everything takes over here, it was time to get the bike through scrutenering. Another shock, this including queing took 2 hours!We passed and it was now 3 hours till the off, time for a shower and relax, or try to. We got up to the holding area to find the bike had vented petrol everywhere. I had to empty the breather bottle and got a mouth and nose full of petrol. Not the best start to my first Manx practice. As I got up to the start line the nerves kicked in, I was second away, man Bray Hill is all they say and more. I had a plan to ride the first lap as I found it and forget all I ha been told about racing lines and markers. This was all well till Ballaugh Bridge were I took it as the road dictates and 20mph to fast!!, I was over the bars both feet of the pegs, how i did not crash is behond me. All was well again till May Hill in Ramsey, I entered her way to wide and way to fast, the front wash and I had to pick it up, this made me run wide and I was leant over but heading for the wall, at the last moment I had to just chuck it in as was going to hit the wall at about 50 MPH!!. I mounted the kerbs and missed the air fence/bails by inches, rode alond the path for about 50 metres and back onto the track. That was very very close and slowed me for a while. Second lap was the opposite, I tried to follow all the line the Hailwood Foundation trip had told me and all the knowledge i had of the course, much smoother but slower , so I thought.When the time sheets came out. LAP 1 = 95.16mph LAP 2 =95.13mph. I was pleased and now could relax. I had set both the first and second fastest time in class.

Sunday 17th August - Rest Day. Checked bike overchanged oil fuelled up ffor morning practice. Went to the Calf of Man and Port Jacks, Top day!

Monday 18th August  - Morning Practice un-timed. With the weather wet, had rained all night decided not to go out this morning, until the classics set off and woke me up. Thought might as well go watch them off. Got to the grandstand and the track looked patchy dry, watch a few mates set off and decided to go get the bike and have a pootle round. And did just that, steady trip round, half wet half dry, good for learning the circuit. Evening Practice. After sitting round all day then getting through scruteneering I was fired up for this evening. Got away in the front few rows and set about the lap, using the braking and reference point I had been told, Bray hill flat out is amazing as is Balla Cry. Lap 1 no moments at all nice and smooth, as was Lap 2. LAP1 = 94.13 LAP 2= 100.49 I topped the 100mph on only my 5th lap, I was over the moon but just tried to stay cool and pretend that it was not such a big deal, but for a 400 I think that is the bench mark to aim for.

Tuesday 19th August - Evening Practice. Weather again was nice and warm. No moments and had a good run, bike ran well but was still starting to run hot on the run into Ramsey and up the mountain. LAP 1 = 101.83 LAP 2 = 101.34 Still getting quicker another 30 second in fact. But a name seemed to be getting quicker all the time also and closing the gap each night, but more of that tomorrow.

Wedensday 20th August - Morning Practice. Decided not to go out in morning practice but as soon as the bike left there was so much noise that got up and took the bike through and went for a lap, only got one lap in but at least was cool and the bike ran fine. Evening Practice. In the holding area got talking to Stuart Sturrock the guy who was slowly realing me in in the times. As I left the start the bike felt fine but by the time I had got to Glen Helen it was jumpimg out of 4th gear on full power, if you short shifted it was OK, but this was far from ideal. On the run down the mountain I was passed by Mr Sturrock just after Cregg-na Barr, I was a bit miffed as looked around coming out the Gooseneck and therewas no-one there, so he must have had a good lap. Any way stayed with him till the end of Sulby straight when on the run to Ginger Hall banked had over the bike jumped out of gear again, that was a heart stopper and took me a while to get over it, I caught up a bit again up the Mountain but on the run down the other side his Yamaha was just to quick for me and he ended the lap 10 seconds in front. LAP 1 = 102.76 LAP 2 = 103.34 Second lap was quicker even with the Ginger Hall moment. But Stuart was as I said 10 second faster and this was trhe first time I had been headed in the times all week.

Thursday 21st August - Evening Practice. We decided to change engines after last nights gear box woes. I was up till 12.300 and then again from 8 am, only for the practice to be cancelled due to mist on the Mountain, I needed the practice to check the motor was OK, it was a fresher unit and has more power bit is harder to ride as does not have as much midrange.

Friday 22nd August - Evening Practice First lap I took it faily steady to make sure the motor was OK, all seemed OK so pushed a bit more on the second lap, there was a couple of inccidents out on track which I had to slow for but all felt OK on the bike. The overheating problem was a concern though as this motor was in a higher state of tune thus makes more heat, so we drilled a few holes in the fairing after practice. LAP 1 = 101.66 LAP 2 = 102.96 Lap to would more than likly have been my best lap exept for the yellow flags, only 4 second slower than my fastest lap so far. But tonight was the last of the fast laps, Saturday was new chain, new oils, new pads, new tyres, bed them all in for one lap then park it for the race Monday.

Saturday 23rd August - Evening Practice. Evening went as planned, if a bit slower than even I had thought. Still 3rd in the times and still second fastest overall in prictice times for the Newcomers Race and even qualified in the top 10 for the main 400 Race on Friday. The bike was ready, I was ready, bring on the race. LAP 1 = 100.25 Only 3 laps in total under the 100MPH bracket, as this was a target to get at some point in the fortnight I was happy with this. Only six riders managed a single lap over the 100MPH in all of the practice week. I did 13 laps in practice over 8 days. I was happy with practice but knew the race was going to be different.

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