It was a long haul as we set off from the Island on the Wednesday evening boat to Heysham port. We drove as far as Leyland and slept in the truck and then met with Kiaran Hankin in the morning who very kindly lent me a van so that me and JK (Juan Kinnish) could get to Frank Wrathalls with the K6 1000 and CBR 600 to get new maps fitted. Big G and ASBO Boy headed off in the race truck to Bolton to get the new GH awning fitted…looks real smart now. We re-grouped back in Leyland later and took on the long slog to Brands, arriving at 2.00am!

Not much rest for the wicked, up four and a half hours later and JK started to crack the whip. Truck was setup perched on a hillside, off to riders briefing, then scrutineering where my old faithful leathers failed! Thanks go to Scott Youngs wife Lynn for the loan of a needle and thread! Bit of nifty needlework and they were as good as new. I dont recommend this though.

I did a few familiarisation laps round the GP circuit on the pushie, then into free practice. Fantastic course and very challenging for any rider. After session 1, I was 39th with a 1.38.94. I was happy enough because I knew I could go much harder but didnt want to bin it first time out. My first qualifying was last session of the day on Saturday. I steadily upped my lap times and ended the session 22nd, over 3 seconds a lap faster. All was rosy in the camp until the timesheets were issued and I had been excluded due to the bike not being in the parc ferme after qualifying. I just didnt know about these extra rules and maybe I was half asleep during riders briefing but I did have an excuse! So I left the pressure on for the final qualifying session in order to get myself on the grid. Another good run as my confidence grew and ended the session 13th on a 1.34.32. Couldnt grumble, 55 riders were trying to qualify for a grid of 40, so it was adios and an early tea for 15 disheartened souls!

Race day arrived, sun scorched the tarmac and morning warm up showed promise with 11th quickest. It was a long day basking in the sunshine watching the Superbikes until my race - last one of the day. From 4th row of grid, I just shut my eyes on the first few corners and hey presto, I was up to 6th from 13th! Got my head down and picked off 3 more riders and by lap 11 I was sniffing the rostrum with a motocross style block pass going into Sheene Curve. I could feel the heat on behind me but kept it at bay taking the chequered flag holding third. It was all a bit too professional being up on the BSB podium collecting my trophy and champagne. I got blinded by the winners champers and couldnt see to open my own. Got there eventually but reckon it should be bottled lager, not much for the champagne. No time for long celebrations though, within 5 minutes we were back in the truck and on the road, fearing the dread of the bank holiday traffic but hey presto, we had a fantastic run and made it back for the 02.15 boat to the Rock.

Next up was round 3 of the Isle of Man Championship at Jurby though it was only the second round in reality as the previous one got cancelled due to snow. No it never snows on the IOM! Now the sun was out and JK and Big G got the milk bottle legs out. My new leathers finally arrived from Scott leathers, and if I dont say so myself they look well smart. The day was as smooth as a Guinness…I qualified pole on both the 600 and the 1000. Riding in the UK had really put me on the pace and it showed. In both Centre championship races I lead from start to finish winning each race by over 10 seconds. Bit poor for the speccies mind. I nailed the first 600 race but the second race caught me napping. I read my pit board wrong and got a bit complacent having not been pushed all day. Next thing young Ryan Kneen had closed the gap and I crossed the line only 0.3 seconds ahead, talk about skin of my teeth. All credit to Ryan though whod had a storming weekend.

Next stop Pembrey. My old man was on the ex Virgin Mobile R1 for his first outing on the bike before the North West and as there was space in Kev Cringles truck for the 1000 so I slipped in a late entry. Testing on Friday went really well together with the first couple of races. I finished 3rd from the back row of the grid and later on a 2nd only beaten by Phil Bevan, a local circuit specialist. All too well really. Third race of the day I had a four second lead, tipped into Honda curve. I hit the bump in the middle of the track and down she went, fast fast fast! The bike did all the tricks landing eventually on her roof. Oops, sorry Martin! The bike was too damaged and I couldnt scrounge enough bits to fix the bike so that was me, back on the bank watching with the speccies. Still, I beat my old man and I won £75!

A hectic week trying to source parts and rebuild the bike ready for the Thursday nights boat. What a drag to Silverstone. Big G was the man driving through the night whilst we all pushed out some zzzz. We made it at 5 am. At 7.30 we were allowed in to the circuit, then it was a mad dash to fix the bikes before first free practice at noon. Another new circuit and another big learning curve. 25 minutes of track time went by really quick and I ended the session 35th (1.38.4). Didnt have a clue where I was going. Things stepped up during first qualifying and I ended the session 17th (1.34.1). Next qualifying the following day, the radiator cap came off and I had a lightly boiled inner thigh. I pitted and JK managed to get some water in but no joy, not enough water in. A bit more fettlin in sauna like conditions, another mini scrutineer check who spotted the bung was missing. Had to sprint the pit lane with my pink thighs and find the bung before they would let me out. In the 7 minutes remaining, I went banzai and ended up 14th (1.33..3). I did feel a bit disappointed because I knew I could go faster but thats racing. Still, another good start like Brands and I could be in with a shot.

After a quick game of footy in the paddock, the boys headed out on Big Gs stag night. They only made it to the paddock bar but boy did they shovel some beer down! I was rattled out of my bunk just after midnight, by the sound of ASBO Boy sniffing out the Vodka. They made it a late one for sure whilst I dreamt of fast corners.

Not much team effort in the morning, the boys were a little damaged so I had to pull my finger out and put my own tyre warmers on! 16th overall. I was hoping to go faster but the weather was really cold and there wasnt much point in chucking it up the road, mind plenty did!

From row 4 I had a cracking start for the race and was 7th by lap two. Was up to 4th on lap 8. The leading bunch had got away a bit but I reeled them in and hitched on to the back of third. It was a dice with Johnny Angel in 3rd and was holding 3rd out of the last corner but then got out dragged to the line. I was happy enough with 4th, but third would have been better as you get a free set of tyres!

Just one race meeting in May, Oulton Park first May bank holiday weekend. At least Ive been to Oulton before so I had better take advantage of some track knowledge. Then its off to the North West 200 to help out the old man. Its also Big Gs wedding that weekend to the lovely Babs who does my paper work. Good luck guys! Then the old man is at Jurby Road and then its my 21st and were having a big party at Union Mills Footy Club. Then, the Big One…the Centenary TT. Busy Busy Busy.

Til the next one…

Gav