2010 marked my fourth Isle of Man TT. Having progressed my results since my newcomer year, 2007, I felt that 2010 was a big year for me at “the island”.

Preparations for the TT started well, having recovered back to full fitness after injuring myself at Anglesey in September 2009. I raced in 3 British Superstock meetings along with a couple of club races early in the season. Running well in each event and improving on lap times etc from previous years. Unfortunatly after the Oulton Park BSB round I decided to part company with PRF Racing for varying reasons.

This left me with no bikes to ride only 4 weeks before the TT. The following three and a half weeks are a bit of a blur. I borrowed money (from my Dad) and bought a brand new Suzuki GSXR1000. Many people dug deep to give assistance, Quill exhuasts, Maxton suspension, RLR Motorsport and many others gave support and rushed work through to get me out on the grid. Myself and James (JPR Group) built the bike in my garage in 3 weeks.

We only managed to fit in a half day test at Mallory park on the Wednesday before first practice on the Island. This was a massive help, although it wasn’t much track time, it gave the bike a shake down and enabled us to find a base set up which otherwise I wouldn’t have had. For the supersport races I was kindly loaned a GSXR600 by Graham Eyton Motor Body Repairs.

After all this action we made it to the boat on Friday afternoon ready for whatever the TT could throw at us. First practice was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions on Saturday, This wasn’t a big issue for me as I still had a few jobs to sort out on both bikes.

We got under way on Monday night for the first session, out on the 1000 first to get some miles under it’s belt. With only 30 dyno miles and 60 track miles I had to be a bit careful with the motor initially. Getting back out on the course for the first time in a year always brings the memories flooding back, braking markers, turn in points etc all return in an instant. Although the high speed of the place takes a bit of acclimatising to!! I came in after 2 laps, I’d done just shy of 120mph on my first and just over 120 on my second lap.

Happy with that I jumped onto the 600, which I’d never ridden before, for a couple of laps. At Braddan bridge I noticed a red warning light on and instinctively hit the kill switch and coasted to Union Mills. As it would turn out this was only a fuel injection warning light and caused no issues at all with the running of the bike. With this not being my bike and not knowing the ins and outs of it I wanted to check it out before carrying on. I leant the bike against a wall and a kind member of the public gave me a lift back to the paddock. This enabled me to get another very useful lap in on the 1000.

The remainder of practice week was very productive for me lapping at just under my personal best.

Posted: July 5, 2010

Race week started with a delay on Saturday with sea mist blowing in and shrouding the start line and stopping the helicopter from flying. After several hours waiting around the race got underway in the afternoon. I got off to a good start catching and passing the rider in front of me on the road by Ramsey. I only had one scare in the whole race, trying a bit too hard through Gorse Lea on the first lap. With a full tank of fuel and the tyre not quite up to full temp the front wheel started to wash out mid-corner. This happened approaching 150mph, the tyre lost grip, that sickening feeling of the bars twisting to the inside of the corner, but suddenly it found the grip again. The bars firmed up and I was still on! Smooth pit stops after laps 2 and 4, beating my personal best lap time to hit 124.5mph two laps running. I felt that I’d put a good race together to finish in 13th place. Given that I was riding a Superstock bike with slicks on I was happy with that.

The first Supersport race got underway on Monday morning. The Graham Eyton GSXR600 had served me well during practice week and I’d slowly been improving on my lap times. Riding the smaller capacity bike always helps my big bike lap times too. You really have to work the 600 to make the times and that helps you to understand where time can be found on the big bike too. I lapped just under 120mph for the whole race and felt good about the bike and how I was riding. I did manage to get a 30 second penalty for speeding in the pitlane (by 1.3kmh), this was a bit strange as I’d used the pitlane speed limiter on the bike which was set at 55kmh. But rules are rules this dropped my back to 26th position.

The Superstock race was on Monday afternoon. With my great result in the Superbike race on saturday I felt that now my bike was on a more level playing field with the others and that this race was my best chance of a result. I think maybe I put a bit too much pressure on myself, trying too hard, I struggled to break the 124mph barrier that I’d managed on Saturday for the whole race. I came home in, for me, a disappointing 18th place. The bike was great, the pit stop went well but it just didn’t work for me on the day. Nevermind.

Supersport 2 was due to run on Wednesday, with heavy rain in the morning a delayed start eventually led to a postponement until Thursday. I can honestly say that I’d already decided not to run, even if the race had started, in the wet. Having raced previously at the TT on a patchy damp track I wasn’t prepared to take the risk. Once again, I was mindful that the bike wasn’t mine and I didn’t fancy having to buy the bits of  it from the owner after I’d thrown it at the scenery! Postponing the race, in my opinion, was the  right choice. After all the public came to see a race, not a bunch of  riders wobbling round on the wrong tyres in the wet. The race got going in good conditions on Thursday, again I put a race together of just under 120mph. I think, without waved yellows I would’ve beaten my goal of 120 but safety is paramount around the TT course. The pitstop went well but when I came to start the bike after the fill up it wouldn’t go, it sounded as if the battery was weak. Just as I was shouting for a push start, my mechanic, James was already pushing  with Wife Jo 2 paces behind!! The bike fired and I was away for another 2 laps. Eventually finishing in 22nd place. We traced the battery fault to a broken wire to the regulator/rectifier after the race. A big thanks to Graham Eyton for the use of the bike for the event at such short notice, it did me proud.

The final race of the fortnight was the blue riband Senior on Friday. Again I caught and passed the rider in front of me on the road at Ramsey on lap one. After my pitstop at the end of lap two I came across waved yellows on the approach to Ballagarey. To be honest I saw the smoke before the yellow flags, slowing to virtually walking pace through the crash involving Guy Martin. I’m pleased to say that Guy is ok and recovering from injury well. We were stopped by red flag a Ballacraine, shortly after we following the travelling marshall back to the paddock. The restart was over a shortened 4 lap distance. I again set a good pace early on lapping at 124.2mph, just under my personal best, on the first lap. The wind over the mountain was really strong, making several turn in points, especially at the top of Hailwood Rise, a real struggle. 

The final race of the fortnight was the blue riband Senior on Friday. Again I caught and passed the rider in front of me on the road at Ramsey on lap one. After my pitstop at the end of lap two I came across waved yellows on the approach to Ballagarey. To be honest I saw the smoke before the yellow flags, slowing to virtually walking pace through the crash involving Guy Martin. I’m pleased to say that Guy is ok and recovering from injury well. We were stopped by red flag a Ballacraine, shortly after we following the travelling marshall back to the paddock. The restart was over a shortened 4 lap distance. I again set a good pace early on lapping at 124.2mph, just under my personal best, on the first lap. The wind over the mountain was really strong, making several turn in points, especially at the top of Hailwood Rise, a real struggle. 

Also with the wind on my back for the Creg, I had to brake earlier than usual to make sure I made the corner, it would’ve been really easy to get dragged into running wide here in particular. I was happy with how I was riding, another smooth pit stop by James, Jo and my Dad. I finished a pleasing 13th. I’m really happy with this finish against the big names and teams and all on my own Superstock bike as well.

Photo courtesy of Jude

Overall this years TT has been a great event for me with 5 strong finishes, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze replicas. I improved my personal best time too. Although I had aimed slightly higher, given my lack of preparation time with the bike etc, I was happy with my haul of replicas and faster lap times too.

I’ll be back for at least one more year.

Many Thanks to all of my sponsors who made this happen at very short notice.

Quill Exhausts/JB Racing,

RLR Motorsport,

Maxton Suspension,

Bob Beese,

Tom Jones,

A&S Transport,

Carl Roberts,

Tony Mackman,

Goodridge,

NGK,

Castrol,

Motul,

RST Leathers,

R&G Racing,

Hein Gerike (Chester)

roadracingsupporters.com

Bill Smith Motors (Chester)

Brian Woolgar,

Posted: July 6, 2010

This coming weekend sees Ian competing at the twisty road circuit at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough, N. Yorks for the prestigious Cock O’ The North title. A list of former winners of the title reads like a history of British motorcycle road racing and includes John Surtees, Bob McIntyre, Mick Grant, John McGuiness and Ian Lougher plus defending champion Michael Pearson. So Ian will be in good company there.

Ian will be lining up on the grid against TT stalwarts such as Ryan Farquhar and the remarkable and former winner of the title, Guy Martin. Who returns to action only a few short weeks after his big Senior TT crash.

Oliver’s Mount is renowned for it’s exciting close racing that can be viewed from some excellent vantage points all around the parkland circuit. A real “must do” for road racing fans.

Race report and pictures to follow.

More information can be found here;

http://www.oliversmount.com/

www.auto66.com/

Posted: July 6, 2010

Clear blue skies, wall to wall sunshine greeted the early arrivals at Oliver’s Mount on Saturday for the first of two days ‘pure’ road racing at the annual Cock o’the North Road Races.

Practice commenced promptly at 9.00am, which is what everyone has come to expect from the organising Auto 66 Club, followed by Qualifying, both incident free and after a lunch break the first of nine races got underway at 1.00pm.

Races 1 & 2 were six lap heats for the 175cc-1300cc machines, the first nine in each progressing to the two eight-lap legs. It was a Kawasaki one-two-three in the opening heat won by Ryan Farquhar who headed home Michael Pearson and Ian Lougher. Heat two saw Keith Pringle, Derek Shiels and Dave Hewson take the podium places, with Ian comfortably qualifying in a strong 5th place.

Race 6 saw the top 18 riders from Races 1 & 2 lining up for Leg 1 of the National Superbikes race. Michael Pearson had the hole shot, followed by Ryan Farquhar and Ian Lougher.

At the end of the first lap, Pearson had a 0.380 of a second lead over Farquhar with Lougher third 2 seconds down on the leader. Lap two Ryan was in front half-a-second in front as Lougher dropped back further still, with Derek Shiels, Dave Hewson and Ivan Lintin completing the top six. Farquhar had increased his lead to 2.7 seconds at the end of the third lap. At half-distance it had increased to 4.720 seconds, with Lougher 8.2 seconds down on the leader. Three-quarter distance and the leaders advantage was up to 6.190 seconds, with Michael Pearson 5 seconds up on Ian Lougher.

At the chequered flag it was Ryan Farquhar taking his 60th race win at Oliver’s Mount, followed by Michael Pearson and Ian Lougher. The remaining top 8 places were separated by 10 seconds with Ian finishing in 8th.

Leg 2 and the Cock O’ The North feature race will be run later today (Sunday).

Posted: July 11, 2010

Ian ‘s good form continued today in both the 2nd Leg of the Superbike Race and the feature event Cock O’ The North. Riding the 2 Machs Racing Suzuki GSXR 1000 he posted a fine 7th place in the opening race of the day, the 2nd leg of the 175 – 1300 Superbike.

Later in the afternoon Ian improved on that performance to come home 6th in the feature Cock O’ The North race. The race was won by the in form Ryan Farquhar.

Ian’s report to follow.

Posted: July 11, 2010

I returned to Scarborough, for my 2nd meeting at the circuit. I had competed at Olivers Mount, for the first time, in 2009 but only on a 600. This time I was out on my GSXR1000.

First practice went well familiarising myself with the track again. I had a minor issue with the front brake but this was easily sorted after the session. I qualified in 8th position on the grid for the heat in the timed practice session. Happy with that, my goal of making the “A” final was on target after finishing in 5th place in my heat. I started from 11th on the grid, got slightly boxed in at the first corner. Which, at Oliver’s Mount, isn’t difficult to do with 25 riders bottle necking down to a hairpin!! I had a race long battle with Ben Wylie and was pleased to finish in 8th place, improving on my lap time from the first 2 outings.

Sunday dawned a breezy day which was almost welcoming after one of the hottest days of the year on Saturday. I went out for a couple of practice sessions in the morning and then was out in first race of the day. This was the second leg of the 175 -1300cc. I altered the gearing slightly after practice to try and get more drive from the hairpins. Scarborough seems to suit a “point and squirt” type riding style which, usually, doesn’t suit me! The change had improved the bike and I lapped at 1m50s, my personal best and finished just behind, after a race long battle trying to find a way past, regular Oliver’s mount campaigner Dave Hewson in 7th place.

The feature race of the day was the Cock of the North final. I’d hung back in qualifying to try and get some clear track and set a good time. I hung onto the back wheel of Ian Lougher, thinking that this must be going well, but after the session found myself in 8th and Lougher 9th on the grid, not quite the master plan I had in mind!! I got off to a good start and made a pass on the first lap into 6th place. Once again tucked in behind Dave Hewson, again I struggled to find space to make a clean pass. I ended up going for it after the Jefferies Jump on the brakes for Farm bends. I got up the inside on the brakes and was broadside thinking that I wasn’t going to make to corner. I made the pass and ran wide after the apex as I pulled the bike back onto the line for the left hander of the chicane Dave and I clashed. We both stayed on and I held the position, so all was well!! I then made a big push to make a break and try and bridge the gap to Derek Shiels. Setting my fastest lap of the weekend 1m49.2, this all but equally the laps of Derek but I was unable to make any time on him. Then on the last lap entering the first hairpin I managed to hit a false neutral dropping me back behind Dave Hewson to finish in 6th Place. I was happy with the result and lap time just annoyed, if I could learn how to change gear then I’d have been 5th!!

Next up for me is the Cholmondley Pageant of Power, more of a demonstration/PR event but looking forward to it all the same.

Posted: July 16, 2010