Duncan - Choses to Stop Racing - 2005

I don't really like the word "retiral" it makes me sound like an old fart......oh...I'm almost 41...I am !!

I chose to "stop racing"

Normally through the off season, you can feel the need to get the adrelnaline rush and you begin to get impatient.

Well, knowing that I have made a conscious decision to stop racing, just makes that need of adrenaline more sharp.

Then, I console myself by thinking about what I have achieved during my race career. I remember after my second year of racing (when I had my first year on the 400) I was interviewed by a photo jourunalist who was creating a video on bikers for her final exam....., I was the racer!

She asked my sponsor if he ever thought I would win a race and he said "well I can see Duncan getting on the podium, but maybe not winning",  I thought, "he's maybe right"

That very same year I got my first race win, first 100mph lap of the TT circuit, my first championship win and 2nd in another championship.

The change in results was beginning to believe more in myself, that I could be the fastest man on the day. It did wonders for my results !

The next year I went on to another Championship win and a Bronze Replica at the TT (10 days after having my wrist pinned !) and more race wins, (lots of them!)

That belief took me on to top 5 results in my first year on a 600, my first 110mph lap of the TT circuit and a 3rd place at the Ulster Grand Prix.

Roads were the way I wanted to go and therefore I couldn't say no to the offer of the two bikes to race a season in Ireland this year.

Bog standard ZRX 400 racing against GP250's. A Bog standard GSXR600 against GSXR 750's. 

But although the 400 was way down on power compared to the tuned SV650's and GP 250's it got me valuable track time and when I was out on the 600 my results got better and better. 7th at Tandragee, 4th at Athea and ultimately a pole position at the Skerries.

I went out on a high; Pole Position start and a race ending in a 130mph 20ft launch as me and the 600 parted company for the last time.

So how many lives do I have left?......who knows?...............

I'm busy trying to find something else to replace the adrenaline ruch of racing and think I will have to admit, there is nothing that can replace that drug called racing.

Because these is nothing like it !

My big test now is to keep my driving license while road riding.

I don't think I will ever be far from racing and I'd like to think that I can put some of the experience have gained through the years, to good use, by perhaps helping others to achieve their goal.

I would like to thank MAG, Trevor Baird and all the guys in the MAG sport team for the help (you may not know you have). It has been a great priveledge to race under the MAG Sport banner.

Keep up the good work guys.

Duncan (Punkroadracer)

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