Sunday, 17^th September - Jurby Airfield 

Woke up to see that it had rained overnight….and bugger me senseless it was still doing so….wasn’t too bothered…… the forecast had given frequent spells of rain the whole day, so not worth moping about that one…the only consolation is that it's the same for everyone.

Arrived at Jurby around 10.15am on me own again, Scottyboy was supposed to be riding shotgun for me but was held up at the last minute, I was also minus Ann this time cos she was playing football for Peel ladies team….I played my first football match for four months on Saturday and was stiffening up nicely, thank you very much.

Met Juan who was already there, as it was his turn to help set up the course…. I had his bike in my van after bringing it back from Pembrey, so picked a spot in the paddock and saved a few spaces for the Laxey boys and Graham (Burden) and Dave (Kinrade).  All the usual suspects arrived and then it was time to sign on and get scrutineered. I had me fancy numbers on this time, and surprise, surprise they didn’t go down too well with the scrutineer……he made me doctor them, so they didn’t look as good as they did….

The weather was overcast and it had stopped raining…for the first time I hoped that the track would stay damp….not damp enough for wet tyres, just damp enough so that it would be a level playing field with everyone on similar rubber…but unfortunately the track dried up completely during practice…(never thought that I’d ever be saying that). 

Juan booked himself in for the race school as he was going to have a go of Bruce Blacks R1 Yamaha…..ex Jason Griffiths' proddie TT bike, it had full Maxton suspension and a blue printed engine…it was also geared better than mine……anyway he went out and was flying on it. Afterwards he knew what I meant about R1’s not wanting to go round corners as easy as you would like…he also said that he thought that it was really heavy…..all this I already knew.

Had a couple of practice sessions, with my goals for the day being,  mainly…. staying on, trying to be as smooth as possible and getting inside the Restricted Licence holders' lap record…which belonged to Rob Alton from 1996 at 1’03.1. I knew that this was obtainable, only trouble was Juan knew it too.

First race of the day for me was the Centre Championship, and I was on the third row of the grid.  Juan was one row ahead, with Heath, Quayle, Hunt, Beattie and Carswell being at the front. Got a good start only to be blocked by Big H, he didn’t get off the line very well, managed to get past him, then he got into his stride and nearly wiped my front away into the first chicane, was up to fourth place for the first lap only to be outbraked by Juan going into the bus stop, he was a little out of shape but made the move stick, this I was quite pleased about, now I could see if I could tail him. But he gradually pulled away from me , I was noticeably slower than him coming out of the last chicane but pulled a little ground back through Nans (but not enough).

Nige Beattie passed me on about the fifth lap, which surprised me cos I thought he was already ahead, thought to myself that I must have been doing alright if  I’d managed to stay ahead of him for so long…..the ten laps went by in a flash and I ended up 6^th, which is really the best I could have hoped for, finishing behind Heath, Quayle, Hunt, Kinnish and Beattie……my sister, Angie, had the stopwatch on me and my best lap was a 1’02.06……this I was also really pleased about because it was a second inside the restricted lap record, Juan however, must have gone faster. So now I was looking forward to the restricted race.

Next up was the restricted race, and this time I was on the front row alongside Juan and Rob Sells (who was leading the Championship), Juan needed two wins today if he stood any chance of snatching the championship, he also needed Sells to finish no better than third in both races to take the title by two points.

Got another good start and was leading into the first chicane and around Nans….. Juan came past me into the bus stop but overshot and went onto the grass, I went back into the lead, this, however, I didn’t want to do as I wanted to follow Juan around to see if I could learn something, so when he showed me his front wheel I let him by and tucked in behind. I stayed only a few yards behind for the full race distance, still losing time at the last chicane onto the Start/Finish straight but again pulling some yards back through Nans and the long runway section and at the flag there wasn’t much in it, but I was well happy with second…..Sells came in third. Both of us were well inside the lap record, but I don’t know who actually got it. The race record must have gone as well.

My next race was the Centre Championship again….same positions on the grid as in the first one. This time only got the same start as everyone else and by the first chicane I was on the inside going into it….not the ideal line and no mistake…. As everyone tipped into the corner I got hit by, I think, Carswell, who bounced off me and into Juan who both went off the track and rejoined at the back, I was up to about 5^th, but the race was red flagged before a full lap was done because Mik Stott had come off at the bus stop.

On the restart, I got off to a flyer and was side by side into the first chicane with Heath, he had the better line so I followed him through, then Milky passed me at the bustop, stayed third for a lap then got passed by Big H on the brakes going into Perimeter, yellow flags were being waved, then noticed someone lying in the track at the long runway section, as soon as I  passed that the race was red flagged (thought it might be), so it was back to the grid for another go.

The race was now reduced to eight laps and on the second restart I was 3rd into the first corner, stayed there for another lap then going down the back straight I had a quick look to see who was behind me, and saw Juan about 50 yards behind, but when I looked up again Big H had passed me on the side I wasn’t looking….shite, down to fourth, got passed by Juan on about the fourth lap and he started to edge away, again losing time on the same parts, on about the sixth lap caught up a backmarker and while deciding how to take him, Beattie passed us both. Had a look behind, no-one there, and finished a comfortable 6^th.

Was happy again with that, also had my lap time down to a 1’01.2 so I was again getting faster the more I was doing it. I know I can still go a little harder but I’m pleased that I’m going quicker while not getting out of shape anywhere, or grass tracking (you listening Juan?).

Next up was the second Restricted race……..was on the first row again…..got another good start and was leading till Juan barged past at the bus stop nearly taking my front wheel off, tried hard to chase him but he was edging away lap by lap, he was really flat out going around Snuffies, when I had to roll off a little to hold my line, by the sixth lap he had about 4 or 5 seconds on me, so knowing I wouldn’t make that up I settled for a safe 2^nd , with Sells 3^rd.  Juan therefore won the Championship by 2 points.

Last race for me was the last race of the day… The Champion of Champions race, again on the third row….this race Juan was on Bruce's R1 again. Flag dropped and we were off, by the first corner, it was Juan then Heath, Hunt then me. Heath and Hunt passed Juan into Perimeter and I had him in my sights, caught him up and tailed him, Beattie passed us both at the bus stop and began to edge away, I wasn’t bothered about that as I was having a great time. He was still quicker than me onto the start/finish straight, but I tried to pass him everywhere else most notably through Snuffies.

Where one lap I’d  try around the outside and draw level the next up the inside and draw level only for his bike to be a fraction quicker than mine, so I tucked in biding my time.

On the last lap I was right up his chuff again through Snuffies, still couldn’t get past,  so decided on a last corner manoeuvre into and around Perimeter onto the long runway section, tried to outbrake him and got my front wheel ahead of his only to be blocked by a backmarker, this time onto the start/finish straight I got better drive and we were side by side going over the finish line………..he beat me by a yard……..twat………. …..I Ended up 5^th.

Went and got my 17^th signature, all goals for the day obtained…..also got asked to be part of the Manx team for the Celtic Match Races at Mondello Park in Ireland, so that rounded off a good day for me. Hard to believe I’ve only been doing this for 5 months.

Packed up and headed for home……..makes a nice change to be sleeping in a proper bed after a day's racing…….so next up for me is the Celtic Match Races on 6^th , 7^th and 8^th of October……….then the ACU Star Championship finals on 19^th November, where hopefully I can keep my runners up spot…………. 

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Last Updated: 28 January 2001
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