Some I'm on the Isle of Man..

[SVbadguy]

Saturday August 27   Race day

Official press release 
http://www.mgpfestival.com/News/2011/08/27/Wayne-Hamilton-takes-victory-in-Isle-of-Man-Steam-Packet-Newcomers-A-race.aspx

Bikes set off one at a time at 10-second intervals. It didn't take too long before I had passed a bike or two. A 400 of some kind passed me heading into Greeba. I caught up at Ballacraine and I think passed him right after Ballaspur. Heading into Doran's Bend there were two bikes close together. I passed the first up the inside and was close to passing the other but I had to stab the brakes because it was going to be close and I didn't know how tight to the bank he would get. I got past him before the next turns.

Heading into Ramsey a bike passed me. He was slow through Parliament Square and I motored past him on the straight to May Hill. It's really bumpy slowing for May Hill and up through the turn. As I'm at about my full lean for the turn I got hit from behind but kept it up. I heard a bike hit the ground and slide. The next lap I was able to see the scrape marks it left behind.

Just seconds before it happened.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northline/6087152460/in/set-72157627532933224

What I found at the end of the race.



This was on my mind through the mountain section and it was throwing off my concentration some. Just past the Bungalow was Kevin "IrishAgo" Murphy, an experienced MGP and TT racer, doing a signal board for me and the Finnish guy Tuukka Korhonen that he was helping. Tuukka showed up here solo like I did. The signal board showed me in 2nd at that point. That really suprised me. Coming through Governor's there were waving yellows for a crash. At the corner of Glencrutchery Rd they were putting a guy on a backboard. Here a waving yellow means slowing down to 30mph and no passing. That probably cost me about 10 seconds.

I pitted at the end of that lap and took on about 4 liters of fuel. It was a really quick stop and the radio commentators made note of that. There was a possibility that I could've done the race without stopping for fuel but it was really risky. In practice on Friday I used 5.75L per lap. I was able to squeeze in a little over 18L (Suzuki claims 17L capacity). From the next two laps it was pretty much clear road ahead. I got passed by a few bikes. The sign board showed P3 on lap 2 and P5 or P6 on the final lap. At the end of the final lap I was gaining on two bikes, at least one was one of the 'A' class bikes. For the last few miles I could see spectators cheering us on knowing we were about to complete our first race on the famed Mountain Course.

Coming up the return road to the paddock all the officials and spectators were clapping for us.

My best lap was 22:50.48 (99.11mph average)

Lap times for all here
http://www.manxgrandprix.org/Races%202011/Newcomers/Lap%20by%20Lap%20Newcomers%20B.pdf

Photos
http://www.manxphotosonline.com/2011-MGP-Photographs-Newcomers-Race-27th-August-2011/slides/270811-037.html

Another at Parliament Square
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northline/6087165910/in/set-72157627532933224

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tmgreed/6091604258/

[SVbadguy]

Sunday  August 28

Today Martyn and I went to the bike festival at Jurby airfield. It was better than the Barber museum! Most of the bikes were ridden there too. Bikes from the early 1900s to present. One of the only bikes I didn't see was an RSV4, then again I wasn't there all day. Every type of VFR was there including all the 400 versions, RC30 and RC45. VFRs are extremely popular with those that show up to the Isle of Man. The MGP is a real enthusiasts' event. Lots of bikes and some Morgan three-wheelers were doing parade laps around the airfield track. The 6-cyl Honda two-stroke and MV Agusta racebikes were awesome sounding as always. I got loads of photos and some video. Name a make of bike and I can probably post a picture of one.

After that Martyn drove me all around the island to check out the sights like Peel and the castle (saw a basking shark in the sea below), the Calf of Man, Castletown and the roads that form the Southern 100 course.

Taking the bike through tech. Got to wear leathers or overalls in parc ferme and the pits, so I brought along a flight suit.


A photo similar to this will probably be in some race publication.


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Monday August 29

Rain showers made for a damp course for the races and it was still damp in spots for my practice session.   I did a single lap taking it pretty easy just to keep the course fresh in my mind.  I still averaged over 93mph.  I actually took some turns faster than I had previously because I had someone to follow.  That will definitely help for the my final race on Wednesday.

Monday night me, Chris and our new Finnish friend Tuukka were invited to the corner marshalls' dinner at the Villa Marina. We were the only racer guests and they had us up on stage answering questions. They're making celebrities out of us. It was a really cool experience.

[JOHN 3:16]

Love the reports and photos stay safe Travis

[Eric Kelcher]

So jealous, sounds like you are having fun on and off the track!

[ramoszx12r]

Very cool