TT Day 16 - Looking Back

A well overdue post...written shortly after we got back more than a month ago but not published. I've been hiding out. Post TT blues I guess. Here it is...

On Sunday, we packed up and loaded our gear from Bray Hill then headed over to the garage to pickup the bikes. By 08h15 we were all loaded up and at the ferry port. Soon we were boarding the Ben My Cree. 3½ hours on the ferry to Heysham and then the 5 hour drive home through traffic jams and rain. Nic was meeting a friend in London that evening so after our farewells, I dropped him at the train station en route. I arrived home after 20h00, unloaded the bikes and van and then got ready for an early start at a new job on Monday. Exciting prep like ironing a shirt. Knackered.

A look back on the 2 weeks on the Isle of Man…

Our goal was to compete in the TT. We had 3 race entries; Supersport race 1, Supersport race 2 and Lightweight. Both the Supersport and Lightweight bikes were new to me and I had only done a few shake-down sessions at Mallory on them. The Lightweight bike was all setup and good to go after my friend Warren successfully campaigned it at 2014 ManxGP. I was also used to riding VeeTwins - so it should be easy. The Triumph was a newly built bike that needed some development. This was telling during practice.… and I had never ridden a three cylinder bike before. They are different.

To compete in a TT, first one must qualify. The grids are limited to only 72 starters. With 96 Supersport entrants and 72 Lightweight entrants, we had work to do just to make the start line. There would be attrition, but we needed to be fast enough during the qualifying/practice sessions.

On the Lightweight Kawasaki, wechanged to a different tyre size. We made some changes to gearing and geometry to compensate and we got it pretty much spot-on. Just a few tweaks here and there and we were on a good pace by our second practice session – this is what you need when racing on the Isle... get up to speed quickly. We had a few issues with the clutch and an oil leak later in practice week which hurt our qualifying time in the end… but still managed to qualify in 40th place and were happy with the bike for the race.

The Superport Triumph Daytona 675 was a different story. We started at a fair pace, but the handling wasn’t good for the TT Mountain course. We improved it with every session, first changing the geometry and then the suspension settings. Unfortunately, the improvements were too small and due to one reason or another (a faulty fuel pump, incidents during sessions and short laps) our pace didn’t improve as quickly as it should have. This left us with poor qualifying times and only just scraping onto the start line in 65th place with a bike that still didn’t handle well enough to go quickly. But… we had qualified - this was the main objective. We were going racing!

For the first Supersport race we made more changes to the suspension. This time they were bigger changes than the small increments we made during practice/qualifying. The changes worked and the bike was better. It still had problems that didn’t allow me to use that beautiful silky smooth power… but it was better. This enabled us to do a 114mph average on the last lap. Just a few seconds off my personal best (set at the Manx GP 2014 on my old Aprilia).  I was also starting to get the knack of riding a three cylinder around the Isle. We finished in 51st place. Our race time 1 hour 21 minutes 2 seconds. There were quicker laps in the bike.

So, for the second Supersport race we made more changes in the same direction that we’d been going. The bike felt better than it did all fortnight… I finally felt that I could go fast on it! I could hold the power over the bumps and jumps without fear of it throwing me off. 115mph from a standing start on lap 1 and a similar time for the second lap which includes slowing down for the pit-stop. Personal bests. Another good pit-stop helped our third lap times.

Unfortunately, the clutch started slipping during the race. This cost us time on acceleration and top speed. In practice we were running consistently around 165 mph top speed through the Sulby speed trap. In the Superpsport race 2 our speeds through the trap were only in the high 150s… it doesn’t sound like a huge amount, but extrapolated over a 37.7 mile lap and it cost us a bit. Despite this, we still managed a 116mph average on the fourth and final lap. This was my target lap time for the TT . Our decent race pace brought us home in 39th place… but unfortunately…  we missed getting a replica by less than 2 seconds. 2 seconds over a 1 hour 19 minute race! We were really happy with the finish… but disappointed to be so close to that replica. Too little… too late. Shouldda, couldda, wouldda.

We needed to make amends in the Lightweight class. It was always my stronger class – a class I was used to riding in and on a proven bike despite it being new to me. We knew we were better than our 40th place qualification and got the bit between our teeth from the start flag. 110mph opening lap form the standing start… including coming in for the short pit-stop. We were on it! Our second lap had our short pit-stop added to the time so it wasn’t too fast… but that’s when the clutch started slipping again. I adjusted it on the move… but reached maximum adjustment halfway through the race. As with the Triumph, we were losing acceleration and some top-end speed. Despite this, we still managed to bring her home with a final lap of 111mph average, 25th place and earned a bronze replica. Considering the top 4 riders smashed the race record this was an awesome result.

As with all riders and teams, we had our issues to deal with. With just Nic and I working on the bikes, we were a bit stretched at times. It was hard work and we only just managed it all. It was brilliant to come away with 3 finishes from 3 entries… with a cherished replica topping off our efforts.

My Best Man Nic was an absolute champ. Neither of us have a technical/engineering/mechanical background or training and have just figured bikes out by tinkering. A photographer (Nic’s day job) and an ‘office worker’ (as Deebs put it so succinctly) doing something we are passionate about. We work so well together and I trust him working on the bikes… it was like having me times two. I could never have done it without him. THANKS CHIEF!!!!

Thank you to all those who have given so generously through Indiegogo. Your contributions have gone a long way in helping us climb this Everest. I’m now looking out for a Kiva beneficiary – I will let you know where the funding has gone. Also to all family, friends and racers that have given support and encouragement… and all the ‘likes’ on Facebook. It may be small… but every little bit helped us along the way. Thank you all for this wonderful opportunity. It's been an absolute privileged.

TT 2015 - an incredible adventure that we could never forget. It's been EPIC!

TT Day 14 - Lightweight Race

Friday morning - race day. Our final race of the TT campaign - the Lightweight. At 10h15 the race starts for 3 laps of the most iconic and incredible 37.7 mile strip of tarmac on the planet. We are rested and up for it.

We're at the garage early to pickup the bike and in the paddock unloading by 08h00. Thirty minutes later and Nic has the wee Kawasaki through skrootineering and in the assembly area. We get her on paddock stands, tyre warmers and top up the fuel. All set for the race.

The Speed Therapy Team

Deebs had to get back to the mainland after the second Supersport race so Mark's partner Kath stepped in to take up the water and screen cleaning duties for the pit crew. Soon the roads were closed and the crew were up at pitlane filling the fuel bowser. Our pit box was right at the top of pit-lane. This is good... just need to watch my speed down pit-lane after the refuel.

I warm-up and stretch. Get my gear on. I love this part of racing... the reflection... the focus. I walk up to the assembly area with 20 minutes before the scheduled start. Head down... I watch the tarmac of the paddock moving beneath my feet at 2 mph, the gray stone glinting in the light... soon it will be a blur and I'll cover more than 100 miles of it in the next hour.

As I approach the assembly area, I walk down the now familiar tunnel of spectators snaking up to where the bikes are. Many with cameras, phones and tablets pointed at me. A few nod as they wish me luck and I get a few thumbs-up. Into the assembly area with the teams, well dressed VIP guests, TV crews interviewing the top riders and photographers in white bibs snapping away, trying to capture the atmosphere, the anticipation and the excitement that builds before the race.

I check in with Nic. Fuel is topped up, tyres toasty, pressures adjusted, engine warmed up and she's good to go. I walk around the assembly area, finding other riders and pit crew that I know to have a chat and wish each other luck and speed with a handshake and some hugs. we want to all see each other back at parc firme after 3 laps.

Spot the Speed Therapy lid...

The Arai support during the fortnight was fantastic. You just drop your lid off and they clean it, dry the inside and prep the tear-offs for the next session/race... done in 30 minutes or pick it up the next day. Service :-)

This is part of the ethos of racing on the Isle of Man that I love. Just about all competitors I know want all other competitors to do well. I'm sure it's the same for the top riders fighting over the podiums. You want everyone to have a good race, go fast... and come home safely. You're out there to challeng yourself, to beat the course. Get that section you've been struggling with right. make that apex you've been missing all week. Hold that corner you've been rolling the throttle on flat-out. Quieten that voice that screams "You're going to die!" at every second corner. The TT Mountain Course - just a strip of road that our human-ness has turned into a mystical place of speed and endeavor.

Up on Glencrutchery road. I love the buzz up there. The focus, the emotion, the poignance. At number 40 away on the road, we have a shorter wait than with the Superpsport races. Less time for the tyres to cool in the light breeze. Less time to soak it in, less time to savor it all.

Within minutes of the start, I have my helmet on and am chanting the mantra "Fast, safe, smooth." to myself. We move forward in the queue. I get on the bike, fist pump with Nic, "See you in twenty minutes" and I'm padding into the start enclosure. "Fast, safe, smooth. Fast, safe, smooth. Fast, safe smooth.".

The view from start position 40 on Glencrutchery Road

The red Isle of Man flag drops and we're away. The little Kawasaki parallel twin revving her heart out in every gear all the way down to Quarterbridge. I'm focused and up for it. easy through Braddan Bridge on warmish tyres up to Union Mills and then we get the hammer down.

Lap one goes well. I'm feeling fast. I get through Ballagarey faster than I ever have on a small bike... just knocking the throttle till I see the apex over the blind rise and then tipping in and flattening it. I carry good speed down to DJs where I say "Hi DJ" as I crank the bike over to the left... throttle flat out, revs rising to near maximum as the tyre rides on the smaller diameter edge. My shift lights flicker though there for the first time in the fortnight. "Sweet!"

Quarterbridge

I see the next rider on the road at Ballacraine after the flat-out blast through Gorse Lea. "Let's catch him." I push on, narrowing the gap through every sector. Ballagh Bridge and I make a huge jump... I gain 10 yards on him. Ballacrye and I'm just a few feet from his back wheel. He's good through Quarry bends and his bike is fast down Sulby Straight. I have to roll the throttle in his slipstream. I don't want to overtake too soon and give him a chance of getting back at me before the 140 down to 50 mph braking zone.

Just before the flat-out right kink, I pop out of his slipstream and pull alongside. He's two feet to my left... we're leaned over and a tall, bright green hedge is two feet from my right at over 140mph. Thrilling! We both brake late. 5th gear, 4th gear... 3rd. We are level pegging all the way up to the tipping in point. I have the inside line to Sulby Bridge - I'm through.

Up, over the mountain and the bike is feeling a bit slower than in practice. It's about 10 degrees warmer ambient temperature and the bike is running about 15 degrees hotter. We had taped the radiators in practice because she was running a bit too cool. Now too hot. Damn. With Nic doing the fueling in the pit-stop, I don't want to cause confusion and un-tape the radiators when we come in. She should be ok for the rest of the race.

Down the mountain, back to the Grandstand and into the pit-box for our mandatory stop. The top teams all have huge tanks on their bikes and just do a stop without taking any more fuel on. They save about 25 seconds in the race. We have to sit there swirling and additional 8 liters of fuel in by gravity while the clock ticks.

With the tank almost brimmed, I get impatient. "Let's go, let's go!". In the rush to get going we get the fuel rag caught in the fuel cap... in a second or two it's released and I've fired the bike up and am trundling down pit-lap obeying the 60km/h speed limit. 6500 rpm in first gear. I hook 2nd, quickly realize my fault and stamp it back down to 1st. 7000 rpm. 58km/h flashes on the board. Lucky!

I think this is through Tower Bends

Back on track and the little bike is held wide open again. "Fast, safe, smooth.". On the run to Ballacraine, I feel what I think is clutch slip. Shit. I adjust the clutch cable while flat-out. I wind it in to its maximum. That's as much as I can do for the rest of the race. By the time I get to Ramsey the clutch is starting to slip again. Shit. Shit.

I try take it easy on the clutch... not so aggressive on the throttle. Easy on my down changes. I have to bring it home. Over the mountain - I give my pit-crew the thumbs-up as I fly past the Grandstand for my last lap. "Just one more lap... c'mon baby. Just one more lap.".

Our wee IOM Mascott given by Glenda and Dave came along for a ride around his home island

Down into Quarterbridge and I see the next rider on the road just disappearing around the corner. having a target always tends to pull me along. Something to aim for. At Braddan Bridge there are marshals in the track and yellow flags been waved. Some debris around.. another marshal running with a back-board and two others trying to get a rider out from under the recticell air-fence. I slow right down and trundle through. Around the right-hander, green flags and we're flat-out again. I can see the rider ahead again through that first sector to Glen Helen. I'm chipping away at his lead.

Into the windy, forested Glen Helen section. The tighter turns, change of direction and on/off/on the throttle makes the clutch work harder... and slip. A lot. I ride as smooth as I can. Up onto Cronk-y-Voddy straight and I can no longer see the rider ahead. I just got to bring this home... I mentally clamp the clutch plates in the engine together to stop them slipping.

Through the flat-out sections I have to keep rolling the throttle to 'catch' the clutch... let it grip then gently accelerate again. It's frustrating. I'm going through sections at 1000rpm less than before. I focus on being as smooth as possible and carrying as much corner-speed as I dare.

With John Trigger. JT built the Triumph engine and most of the chassis. Top bloke and probably the best Triumph tuner in the world who helped us out during the fortnight. Factory!

Onto Sulby Straight and I see the rider up ahead again... but through the bumpy Ginger Hall to Ramsey section I lose a lot of time with the clutch slipping as the rear tyre digs in over the bumps. I give up the chase and just want to bring it home. Easy on the down-changes... gentle acceleration. Less engine braking... but also less brake to carry corner-speed. Just nursing her along. I also take time to soak in the atmosphere. Crowds lining the roads everywhere... sitting on stone walls and grass embankments... some so close you could touch them if you reached out your hand. This is racing on the Isle of Man. This is the TT :-)

I run wide on a few corners because of my change in style and increased corner-speed. It feels scrappy... but I gotta keep going. Up to the Gooseneck and there are crowds 10 deep... I give them a wave as I start my final ascent up the Mountain. Less people... less reference points... but  smoother and faster. I love the Mountain section. I enjoy every turn.

Up over Hailwood's rise... as Douglas comes into view in the distance, I can smell the finish-line. I sweep around the 32nd milestone... 3 apexes taken as one. I love that corner! Windy corner - not so windy today and I drag me knee all the way around it. Beautiful! 33rd milestone, 2 super-fast apexes taken as one onto a negative camber... I hang on the throttle longer than I ever have on the approach. Down 1 gear and tip her in. Oh shit. I'm off line through the first corner...

I keep hanging off the bike... she squirms as I cross the white center-lines. I keep hanging off and turning. My mind is screaming for me to roll the throttle... I ignore the screams and open her up... flat-out. I hit the second apex perfectly and I rocket out the other side of the turns with two feet of tar to spare. Loads of room! Awesome!

Through the Cregg-ny-Baa

Keppel gate and down to the Cregg where the crowds are waving. Down to third and I drag my knee across the curb for the photographers on the inside of the turn. Brandish as fast I have before... clutch slipping on the exit doesn't put a damper on my spirits. Hillberry, and then Cronk-y-Mona... no brakes and keeping her almost flat-out in 5th through the 3 apexes. Signpost, Bedstead, the Nook, Governor's and we're hammering down Glencrutchery Road to take the chequered flag. Job done!

I stop at the beginning of the return road with the rider that was ahead on the road. We give a handshake and "Awesome race" to each other as the big stand of spectators clap. I cruise down the return road... hand out, high-fiving about 1000 hands all the way back up to pit-lane and then teh assembly area. I have never touched so many people  in such a short space of time. Old, young, men, women. I could feel all the love and positive vibes. Wow! Emotional.

Parc firme

Back at parc firme and Nic is there as I pull up. We hug. We've done it! Isle of Man TT 2015:
3 entries, qualified for 3 races, 3 race starts and 3 race finishes. It's been tough at times and a huge amount of work... but we've done it. Mark and Kath join us and we soak up the success. It's been bloody brilliant!

TT Day 1 - First Practice

Saturday morning on the Isle of Man... TT 2015, day 1. A good night's sleep an then up early to visit the Faeries.

A bit of breakfast then up to the grandstand to get new tyres for both bikes, Signing-on and Riders Briefing. The one wheel bearing on teh KMR wasn't as good as it should be so we sourced and new one on the way back to the garage.

Team Tyco truck... they got a few BMWs there

Milwaukee Yamaha setting up

Lee Johnson's cool ride

we spent a few hours at the garage changing teh wheel bearings on teh KMR and getting it prepped for the first laps of the 2015 TT campaign later in the evening.

Last year at the Classic TT, Kevan got selfies of the who's who of bike racing from teh past 40 years. In all the year's racing on the Isle of Man I have hardly any pics of the other riders. This year I want to get pics with as many riders as I can... we started yesterday...

Lee Johnson

Wayne Axon

Rider's Briefing and who should come sit next to me - Guy Martin

Italiano speed demon - Marco Pagani

Michal Dokoupil from Czech Republic

Getting my gear skrootineered

This year we have got some tyre support from Metzeler. We'll be using their dual compound Racetec RR with a special compound tailored for the TT Mountain Course.

Tyres, tyres, tyres...

...and this is just the Metzeler truck!

New rubber for the KMR and Triumph. We're trying a 180/55 on the KMR

In the afternoon we loaded the KMR and our paddock gear and headed back up the the paddock to get the KMR through skrootineering. In the skroot bay there were mutterings about our 'non-centered' race number... within the regs but the Chief skroot wasn't happy. This continued onto our lack of visible fuel tank overflow. The bike has done the NW200, TT and ManxGP without having any issue. I guess fuel tank overflow is the new Chief Skroot's little 'project' for 2015.

Getting the KMR through skrootineering

At the ManxGP, the skrootineering queue starts to form an hour before skroot opens... and quickly develops all the way down to the lower toilet block. we regularly queued for over an hour in year's past (especially the last 2 years). Yesterday there were hardly any queues. It was just Newcomers, Sidecars and Lightweight classes out last night... so I don;t expect that to last.

TT veteran Chris Petty. Chris has a remarkable 52 TT finishes to his name since 1986!

It was cold and overcast and the weather was moving in. We warm-up, get our gear on and up to the assembly area. Just a few minutes behind schedule and the session starts with the Newcomers speed-controlled lap. Soon after, we're warming up the bikes and getting ready for our first lap of 2015.

Up to the starter, his hand on my shoulder. I feel the tap and feed out onto the track and start feeding the wee bike gears down Glencrutchery road. First time through St. Ninians is always a bit apprehensive. Less than 10 seconds ago you were stationary... now you're doing 110mph just 2 feet from a hedge. You pull the bike left, over the traffic lights and jump off the camber chnage while banked over. It's special. Next time around and it'll be flat out at around 130mph.

The little KMR feels soft but stable. She feels as if she wants to run wide on the fast corner exits but she's light bike that changes direction easily. Just and extra pull and lean and she's back on trajectory. Brakes are good. The bars flapping about a bit over bigger bumps - I make a mental note to stiffen up the steering damper. I feel the 'pivot' sensation Warren was telling me about when he used a 160 rear tyre. It's like the bike is pivoting around the centre. Similar feeling I had from my Ducati 888 at last year's Classic TT. I take is steady.

View on lap 2 from #44 Bray Hill

By the time I reach the 5 mile marker, I'm back into it. The apprehension of the last few months disappears. It feels to comfortable, so natural to be flat out on the TT Mountain Course. I relish that feeling. For that first lap I keep my focus on where I'm going... as I come through onto the next lap, I shift my focus to things like lever position, body position. Is it right? How does it feel at 140mph? How much strain is my body taking? Where can we improve things?

The bike is pulling well. A very similar power delivery to my Ducati 888. Low to mid-range is a bit weedy... got to keep it revving. She spins up fast though. It's on that second lap when I feel the clutch slipping a few times. As advised, I had packed out the steel plates to give the pack an extra 0.6mm... but I think it needs a new clutch pack :-(

Through the Gosseneck - the wee bike is a lot easier to sling around than the old Aprilia or Ducati

Spots of rain bead of the screen around the Varandah... the road isn't wet so I keep on it. I don;t see another rider for almost the entire 2 laps until James Hillier comes past me at Hailwood's. I get behind him and go to school. He is so smooth. Beautiful arcing lines. Great corner speed. These are the things you can only see when following. The wee KMR has good poke and he only makes up time on me through the corners. I've lost him by the time we reach Hillberry... and raindrops are splattering on my visor and screen.

Coming out of Parliament Square

I try to get into Governor's Dip a little quicker than before. I miss the turn-in point and I'm so hard on the brakes I do a stoppie. As the back wheel comes down and I let go of the brake, the bike falls into the hairpin corner and I have to dab my foot down to stop falling over. Ooops! I remember doing the same thing on the last lap of the Classic TT last year. Note the self: "Don't try get into Governor's dip faster."

With crew Chief  Nic

I bring the bike back home as it starts to rain proper. Good job! First lap was 103.8mph average and the second was 106.6mph. Very happy with that. My best ever lap on my little Suzuki is 108mph - to get within 2mph on only my second lap on the KMR is pleasing. More to come :-)