My week at the Isle of Man TT.

[BluprintZ]

I was part of "Team Huws Racing" for race week at the TT, from 7th - 12th June.
http://www.iomtt.com/Home/Forum/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=199005

I was in charge of the tyre warmers and general cleanliness of the race bike, a brand new Suzuki GSXR-1000.

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/BluprintZmusic/TT%202010/100_1135.jpg

By the time i arrived at the pits on Friday afternoon, after a sailing on the ferry from Heysham port, the race bike had already run in the Pokerstars Superbike TT race on Saturday 5th June.
The rider, Alan Connor from Ireland managed a time of 01:56:46 with a speed of 116.321 mph, winning him a bronze medal.

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/BluprintZmusic/TT%202010/100_1137.jpg

Alan also ran in the Dainese Senior TT on the 11th June, with a time of 01:18:35 and a speed of 115.228 mph.

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/BluprintZmusic/TT%202010/alan_senior.jpg

The senior race was red flagged after Guy Martin crashed, with his bike bursting into flames and setting fire to several crash-bales.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/8739016.stm


Race week was a mixture of excitement and sadness, although this is the side of pure roadracing that will always cast a shadow on the event.
For those who have never raced, or have not been involved in a race team, it can be both delightful and crap, within a matter of minutes (ask CK & AK).

It was only by the grace of god that Alan didn't suffer an off in practice, as the rear brake and footrest bracket snapped just before he entered Creg-ny-baa corner.

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/BluprintZmusic/TT%202010/100_1024.jpg

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/BluprintZmusic/TT%202010/100_1023.jpg

It seemed to be a manufacturing fault in the casting!!
So, a new one was ordered from another company, this time with billet bracket...at £500.
Obviously we are looking at some form of compensation from the company who supplied the faulty component, as it most certainly wrecked what was going to be a good practice time.

Anyway, having been part of a race crew and mostly enjoying it, even when it hammered it down with rain and a nippy high wind on Monday and Tuesday, i saw a side of the TT that i hadn't realised how stressful and knackering it could be but i also made some good friends, with a nod from presenter Craig Doyle in parc-ferme...in the rain.

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/BluprintZmusic/TT%202010/100_1036.jpg

I took quite a few pics and a mate took pics of all the racers in the senior at Ballacraine, plus a video of the whole race.
Unfortunately it's in MOV format, so i need to transfer it to MPEG before i can stick it up on Youtube and post the link, probably tomorrow.

The link below is for the pics:

http://s513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/BluprintZmusic/TT%202010/

G ; ) .

[desmo]

I watched all of this years coverage on ITV4, great racing.
I have always longed to go to the TT, but for one reason or another, I havn't done so yet.
I am determined to go one year before I hang my leathers up for good.

[Mr.Number]

Hope you enjoyed your time over there bluprintz, some good photos. Sounds like hard work, but rewarding at the same time if things go right. I gave the TT more attention this year, and thoroughly enjoyed the itv coverage.

Interesting to hear Lorenzo say he wouldnt ride competetively in the TT.......proper racing !

[LouSCannon]

Sounds like a great time George... did you get to take a ride round the route at any time?

[BluprintZ]

I didn't get to do a great deal of riding this time Jim, due to the heavy rain and wind on Monday and Tuesday, plus my duties in the pits.
I did have a couple of hours at Peel and then dinner at the Sound cafe at the Calf of Man.
My mate was on his Beemer 1200GS with his son and i had Elle the dinner lady with me on the Thruxton.

The bummer was obviously the deaths of Martin Loicht, from Austria, and Paul Dobbs, from New Zealand, who were taking part in the Supersport 2 Race on Thursday.
Mr Loicht was fatally injured at the Quarry Bends section of the course.
Mr Dobbs died in an accident at Ballagarey.

Also at Ballagarey, Guy Martin's crash in the senior was something that shocked many fans and fellow racers, he was very fortunate not to have died or been much worse injured than he was.
This video is from an interview on Look North in 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7410966.stm

G ; )

[MrsC_772]

I too was hooked on the ITV4 TT coverage.

I've been to the Isle of Man half a dozen times with cars, and on my bike for the first time in the middle of May, but never for TT week. Watching the coverage this year made me think I really must go over there for TT.

I can't get over just how fast the racers go. Having ridden and driven the course a few times, the idea of average lap times over 120 mph, or even over 130 mph is truly mind blowing. They have to be mentally on a different planet from those of us with any sense of self preservation to race there.

[BluprintZ]

I've only been once before, camping at Union Mill in 2008 just after i bought the M900, so i had a good blast around the course and watched the races from various points around it.
So this time, it wasn't too bad not seeing much of the racing, as i saw things from the teams point of view instead and it was quite stressful at times, especially when the footrest snapped!
My mate Huw, the team manager had invested over £30,000. in the fortnight, including buying the bike, so it was deffinately a nervous two weeks but it turned out pretty good, considering the odd probs that cropped up, as they do now`n then.

I would certainly advise those who have never been to the TT, to have a trip over there.
It's not just the racing, the bikes that are parked up all over the island are of all makes and sizes, amazing.
We also had a meal at the Paparazzi Italian restaraunt on Douglas prom, just before we left Loris Capirossi turned up, Huw managed to get a pic on his phone.
Didn't get to see Lorenzo but heard him on the PA.

Deffo have a visit, as a biker you owe it to yourselves to sample the delights, maybe get a UKMOC crew over next year?

G ; )

[Pomp1]

G sounds like a very good experience, living the glamour of the pits at the TT then:D

[BluprintZ]

G sounds like a very good experience, living the glamour of the pits at the TT then:D

Next year, if i go i shall be booking a Hotel and sod the cost Max!
Five nights sleeping in a draughty Merc van is something i shall not be in a hurry to repeat.
Anyway, i forgot i had taken this on my phone, thought of the forum when i saw it.

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/BluprintZmusic/TT%202010/Norcati.jpg

G ; )

[Mr Cake]

Better get saving then George!!!

It was only by the grace of god that Alan didn't suffer an off in practice, as the rear brake and footrest bracket snapped just before he entered Creg-ny-baa corner.

I can understand his fright! Last year I snapped a footpeg clean off in the left kink where it bottoms out at Barregarrow. It was the only time around there that I lifted my backside off the seat as I got bashed about there the last time around. I bimbled to Kirk Michael where I pulled over, changed pants, hugged "PC Flat", and waited for a Crow to rescue me :D

Too much beef Monster Munch :biggrin:

C

[BluprintZ]

Better get saving then George!!!

Too much beef Monster Munch :biggrin: C

Howdo Dave.

Hope you and mistress cake are both well.
We'll have to see how things go mate, i fancy the weekender and the TT next year,`cos i'm a greedy sod! :biggrin:.
Wouldn't mind the Manx GP as well, i haven't been there yet, apparently there's more chance of it raining, so camping would deffo be out.

Take care,

G ; ) :flag:.

[MrsC_772]

Stuart42 is looking to organise a trip to Island for practice week for the Manx GP next year - hotel not camping.

[BluprintZ]

Stuart42 is looking to organise a trip to Island for practice week for the Manx GP next year - hotel not camping.

Yep, saw that one Elle, might well do the weekender and the Manx,that'll space them out nicely over the year i recon.

G ; )

[Mr Cake]

Howdo Dave.

Hope you and mistress cake are both well.
We'll have to see how things go mate, i fancy the weekender and the TT next year,`cos i'm a greedy sod! :biggrin:.
Wouldn't mind the Manx GP as well, i haven't been there yet, apparently there's more chance of it raining, so camping would deffo be out.

Take care,

G ; ) :flag:.

We're both very well thanks George! Not ridden in over a year now, but I'm still tinkering away. Just focusing on next year, although looking at the weather today makes me want to pull my finger out and nail some bits together ready for the back end of the year! All three events for next year, eh?!?! You're not as tight as you ought to be! Beer is still cheaper on the Island than it is at the Mill!!! As for the weather, you're really in the lap of the gods. They're not keen on racing in the wet at all nowadays!

Dave

[Mand]

", and waited for a Crow to rescue me :D



C

That'll be me then!

Hello George, as soon as we are on the road again, we'll have to have a meet up again x

[BluprintZ]

Hello Mand.

Be good to see you both again.
Get back in the saddle and give the bikes some welly on these brilliant Welsh mountain roads.
Give us a shout when you are (bike) mobile again, then we can meet up.

G ; ) x