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Brief Summary of the Manx Grand Prix 2004
 I started 26th in the Junior race on the S&S Tuning Yamaha R6. I had a brilliant start and made up 10 places posting my personal best lap time of 113.43mph, from a standing start. During the first lap though I caught a group of slower riders and lost concentration. I began to get frustrated at being held up and the tension caused my wrist to pump up and make it hard to ride the bike as fast as I could.
I still did 113.05mph on my second lap, which includes slowing for the fuel stop that I was more than ready for!!! The pit before mine already had a rider in so I had to stop broadside with the rear brake locked, I’m just glad my crew were there to steady me!!! I managed to relax and enjoy the last two laps. I finished the race in 19th position at an average speed of 112.01mph, which is 2 mph quicker than 2003. I’m pleased that I’ve improved but know I need to work on my stamina to do the big bike the justice it deserves.
Practicing for the Ultralightweight race on my RVF 400 NC35 went very well and by the end of the week I’d posted the second quickest time but knew I’d got plenty more in hand. I started the race at number 40, in the first pairing away.
I started with Keith Taylor who was the 2003 lap record holder but with weather conditions on race day this year less than perfect, it was never going to be a record setting race for the little 400’s. The Lightweight 250’s set off before us and the time delay between the two classes felt like a lifetime!! I was first off the start and set off down Bray Hill leading the race.
On the flat out run down from the Highlander Keith passed me, I followed him for a full lap, which was made difficult by the groups of 250’s we kept catching up with, and the wind over the mountain was really making it difficult for the 400 to pull top gear.
As we jumped the bridge at Ballaugh on lap two I got the drive out of the village and it took me the 1 ½ miles to Quarry bends to edge past Keith just enough to be on the inside for the turn into the fast sweeping bends. I lead the race from there and had posted the fastest lap of 106.51mph by the time I came in for fuel, which was all tyre smoke and squeals as I tried to slow for the stop box with Keith close behind me.
The Pit stop was awesomely fast and Kev, Ed & Tim got me back out still in the lead of the race, even with a film crew and commentator focusing all attention on us. Keith passed me in almost the same place as before, the decision to sort a faster engine for next year was made there and then!! I stayed with him as before but on the run to Ballacraine we caught three 250’s and by the time I’d exited the Glen Helen section Keith had pulled out a ¼ mile lead and I knew I didn’t have the speed to claw it back.
I stayed within sight of him on lap three but a series of yellow flags and a dubious signal board early on lap four slowed me down. By the gooseneck I’d got a board with P2 +5 so I went as fast as I could over the mountain on the final lap. I crossed the line and rode up the return road but I wasn’t prepared to believe I’d got a podium position until I was waved into the winner’s enclosure. I was interviewed on the live commentary by Milky Quale, at the time I was in 2nd place but by the time I’d got my helmet off I’d been relegated to 3rd by Manxman Graham Taubman who also just put in a faster lap by the smallest of margins.
By far the highlight of my Manx Grand Prix career so far has to be standing on the podium with a packed grandstand in front of me, and my team looking up with the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen, it makes it all worthwhile.
It was a good enough performance for Martin Bullock to approach me with the offer of riding one of his Honda CBR 600RR race bike’s in the Junior Manx GP in 2005, backed by S&S Tuning it promises to be a brilliant year.
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