91传媒

Test day

鈥淚 haven鈥檛 been to Anglesey for four years, and never on a big bike, so remembering its quirkiness, knew I had to be switched on. The first session was terrible 鈥� the Back Straight up to Rocket was mental fast and, all around, grip felt that bad I thought there was oil down or a bike issue. So. pulled in to get my head straight.

鈥淟uckily, I had the main man Gary Walton to help me again: I needed it. Gary quickly saw where I was strong and we worked on the struggling areas. By the end of the day, with a fresh head and a few changes to the bike, I felt good and ready for qualifying. No lap timer, so no clue on times.鈥�

Qualifying

鈥淕reat result: a 1:09.851 lap put me 6^th on the grid and P1 in class. This is, of course, a Personal Best.鈥�

Race 1 (10 laps)

鈥淕ood start and managed a bit of a gap over Wilf Turner. Settled in nicely, then a bit of a yellow flag cock-up. Long story short, I took it too easy on a yellow flag situation through Rocket that took a while to clear. This allowed Turner to close the gap and, leaving the door wide open before Rocket, I was passed under a yellow flag. Turner was given a five-second time penalty for it, but on appeal, officials deemed him making the pass before he got to the flag, as the incident was actually at Rocket Out and not Rocket In. I had to accept the explanation and was put back to P2 in class and 7^th overall.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have enough time or pace to make a pass back on Wilf and Steven Butterworth got between us. A new PB of 1:09.619 and I鈥檒l learn from that one.鈥�

Race 2 (12 laps)

鈥淔rom 7^th on grid, got a good start and away again. P1 in class for most of the race and with consistent lap times in the 1:09s. On Lap 9, Turner got past me on the approach to Rocket. It was time to learn a few things and that I did. Now, I could see the sectors where he was stronger and those I was quicker. After closing the small gap, I set about making a pass on Lap 12. I tried everything, but couldn鈥檛 quite manage it at Turns 1 and 2, where I was strong. Last lap, I pushed hard through the Corkscrew section, got a mega tight drive on the inside and nailed it to the chequered flag. I missed out at the line by 0.087 of a second. Gutted not to win, but learned a few things and really enjoyed that one. P2 in class, 6^th overall and new PB 1.09.399.鈥�

Race 3 (16 laps)

鈥淩ight, it was gloves off time. I was not happy with second again so we had a plan to go one step further. From 7^th on grid, made a mega start and was 4^th overall. A new PB 1.09.3 on lap 3 kept me close to the front lads. Had a small gap over Turner which I expected him to close at some point, but was happy with the plan. Felt so good and settled and knew it was my best chance. Then red flag on lap 4 of 16.鈥�

Re-start (8 laps)

鈥淪o new plan was to get away and hope 8 laps weren鈥檛 quite enough for him to catch me again.

鈥淲ell, that plan changed straight away. I had a good start, but so did Turner. With no one in front of him on the grid, he got clear into 4^th and set a very good early pace with a 1.09.1. With a 1-second gap, I knew if I didn鈥檛 close it soon I could not fight for a win and there was no chance of that. With what I learnt from race 2, I was sure I could make a pass stick and give my amazing supporters something to shout about.

鈥淥n Lap 3, the gap looked to have closed a little and I started to settle. The first two laps were a little quick for me, to be honest. I wasn鈥檛 quite as switched on after the re-start as before the red flag. Turner was not hanging around so, to get to him, I was staring down the barrel at low 1:09s. Yes, I was pushing and pinching what I could and asked for a tiny bit too much at Peel. A strange slip- off, as I was off brake and off throttle. I guess, too much lean on a turn that offers low grip tight at the apex. Over the weekend I had a few warnings here and they all were ok鈥� until it wasn鈥檛. I鈥檓 ok, the bike is fine, just a clip-on to replace and, luckily, old fairings are still on, so it鈥檚 a cheap one.

鈥淚 was pushed hard by Wilf Turner this weekend. He was riding well and I congratulate him on a great showing. The last race was four wins in a row for him and I had to try and stop that. I鈥檓 gutted to have lost the Championship lead and now have some points to claw back. But, no regrets from me. I ain鈥檛 winning a Championship by settling for second places.

鈥淚 am getting faster and stronger. With the two DNF鈥檚, it might not always look it, but I will say, they haven鈥檛 been from recklessness. That鈥檚 just not me. I am working on racecraft and trying different ways to increase my pace through the different types of turn. Of course, I need to take it back in a little. I hate to see the damaged bike, so it鈥檚 time to tidy it up and go again.

鈥淗onestly, I loved the weekend and, though I say it every time, I did learn so much. I look forward to returning to Anglesey. I was only 1 second off the fastest time of the meeting and know I can go quicker if I could trust 100% throttle on the Back Straight (it鈥檚 not straight) and not end up in the sea. Thanks so much to No Limits Racing for a perfectly run meeting and, of course, the orange army and very friendly Anglesey staff.

鈥淣ext up Cadwell Park ,where I plan to take some points back. Thanks to the unreal support I get, on and off the track. It means so much.鈥�

Photos by Camilla Davina Temple-Court

鈥淪o, no change in the Premier Championship standings with shared points from the meeting, but it could have been very different and could have gone either way. This event was a rollercoaster and one I look on as a strong positive. Again, I learnt so much and we are definitely getting stronger.

鈥淭hank you so much to my amazing sponsors and supporters without whom it would not be possible. Special thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly on Saturday afternoon to repair the AMCO Yamaha R1 and my equipment to ensure the journey continued – Nigel and Jason 鈥� you are absolute stars.

“Also, the strongest praise for all the organisation, marshals and medical staff for an excellent meeting.

鈥淣ext up, a cheeky run at Cadwell, then to the long drive to Anglesey for Round 5 see you at the next one.鈥�

Photos by Camilla Davina Temple-Court