Skerries 100 Road Races June 2005

After Athea and my 4th place finish (on a circuit which favoured the big bikes), I was really looking forward to the twisty Skerries circuit, as it suited my style more. Although the weather threatened to break up and give some rain, it proved to be a dry weekend.

Unfortunately I was only given an entry to the one 600 race (as there were so many entries), but it still meant I got racing and that was the main thing.

Practice was an interesting experience, as I have never really experienced poor grip due to dust and sand. Billy however had tweaked the suspension and although the bike was drifting and sliding in the corners under power, it never really threatened to let go completely (in fact I began to enjoy the experience of having the bike a bit looser). The conditions and tight circuit meant that it was difficult for the 750’s to use all their power and it evened the field a bit.

So after only 10 laps of the circuit, I came in feeling quite good. I had more to learn, but felt I had qualified in the top 10, Billy reckoned that as well. When we heard the commentator say that I had come up through the field and was not third, or second….but first, I was ecstatic !!!
I was 0.2 seconds ahead of the fastest 750, and had achieved a pole position start for the race.

We had a we celebration that night, things just seemed to keep improving throughout the season.

On the Saturday roads closed early, so we were up and at scrutineering at 07:30. The weather was a little cloudy, but otherwise warm.

I felt like a bit of a star when after the warm up lap, the TV crew came across and gave me a short interview, and then we were ready. Me on the front row with 6 750cc bikes, which I knew would probably get past me before the first corner, due to the power advantage (my work was going to be getting past them through the race, because they’re were not many places to pass on the circuit).

I got a good start, with one bike in front, but was out braked into the first corner by another, the fight was on, but I knew I was fast through the faster corners.

I was being held up a little by a 750 through lap 2, but saw where I could pass him, so o lap three I waited and made my move into the chicane from 6th gear and out braked him. He managed to catch up and out brake me into the first corner again, but out braked himself also and ran very wide, leaving me to power through, as the bike slid and squirmed over the dusty road surface.

I knew I was much faster down through the flat out 5th gear esses called Dukes, so I got my head down to make sure I stayed ahead. Unfortunately I clipped the banking on the left going through and it pushed me over into the right hand side banking ( I tried to save it, but couldn’t and I hit the banking, which then launched me up into the air……………….This is going to hurt…..I thought……….and it did !!!

It only took an error of a few centimetres, but that’s all it needs.

This is the type of accident which is not usually forgiving in the least ! and I count myself extremely lucky to be alive after it.

The countless X rays taken at the hospital showed no breaks in any bones, so I got away with three stitches for a cut in my nose.

Thank you to my main sponsors this year.