TT 2000 & Dundrod 150  2000

"Bad practise, good race" is what people in the racing world say. I cannot begin to explain the depths of some of my feelings during practise week of TT 2000. It started good.

Saturday Evening - 2 laps on my Kawasaki 400, it felt good to be back. Dad went to the race office to get the time sheets....and there for the first time, my name, top of the list, quickest in practise.

Monday Evening - Mark John's had arrived with two RC45 750cc Hondas ready to go. The first practise session was on the 400cc so of I went only to blow up the engine and was stuck up the mountain for 3 hours until my team came to pick me up.

Tuesday - in the garage all day swapping the 400 engine ready for the evenings practise. First session was on the RC45 and I got three laps done. The bikes felt really good and very steady and my speed was 115.6mph. Then out on the 400, came off 2 miles down the road at Union Mills - unhurt, wish I could say the same about the bike!

Wednesday - rain, I was very stiff and sore and did not want to look at the 400.

Thursday - rain, worked all day and night on the 400.
Friday - did one lap on the RC45 in the rain.

Saturday - Formula 1 race on the RC45. Completed six laps with two fuel stops to finish in the top ten earning a replica, at a speed of 118mph.

Sunday - went to the Church service in the Grand Stand. Returned to the garage to work day and night on the 400? Will she go.

Monday - Lightweight 400. delayed five hours, reduced to three laps because of the rain. During the race I had to keep to keep lifting my head above the screen to get the revs down as the bike was under geared. The good news, I finished third - God is great. He brought me here, He kept me safe, He helped my team prepare a wrecked bike and I sprayed champagne - FANTASTIC.

On Wednesday I was promoted to second as the first placeman was disqualified for having a 600cc engine.

Tuesday - first and only "normal" day. Treated Sarah (8) and Katie (6) to some toys and spent a day with them and my wife Anne in Douglas.

Wednesday & Thursday - worked at bikes (nothing major) and scrubbed some tyres in.

Friday - Senior race on the RC45, due to start at 1.15pm, delayed every half hour because of rain - just like waiting to do an exam, don't sleep the night before and very nervous, so every delay becomes tougher. 5.55pm ready to go, exercises done, one more toilet break, helmet on. It's called off. Come back tomorrow.

Saturday - everyone is quiet and drained from yesterday. Finished with lots of blisters as it was very windy and made riding hard. But I finished a good 11th earning another replica. Ready to go home!
 
One week later - Dundrod 100 my favourite road race in Ireland. I won both the "Big" races on Mark John's RC45. I cannot tell you how happy I am. It was just perfect!

A big thanks to everyone who has given my family and I support. Whether it has been financial, encouragement, prayer, time, emails, support comes in so many ways THANK YOU.

Especially Dunlop, NGK, Millers Oils, Module, Uel Irwin, Scotspeed, No 7 Racing and David Faulkner.