Chris Palmer is now one of Road Racing's best known faces. The British 125cc Champion of 1998, now residing on the Isle of Man, competes in road races internationally with 2 wins at both the Isle of Man TT and the Ulster Grand Prix. We caught up with Chris to ask him about his 2005 season and what he has in store for 2006 along with a look into his racing history of over 20 years.

Looking back on 2005 how was it for you?

Yeah really good. The 125 has been good for us all year. Won just about everything. We beat Ian Lougher on what was his old bike in many places which is really satisfying. This year myself and Sean [Oates - Chris' mechanic] spent lots and lots of hours on the 125 in the garage which really paid off. The good Ohlins forks and PFM front brakes make such a difference, they really paid off. The 125 was basically brilliant.

The R1 was great but we just lost out with not having forks and brakes put on it, something we need to sort out for next year. The 600 was a bit disappointing. I feel I can ride a 600 really good but the bike was never quite fast enough, a real shame. I also had a good year on the 250. Beating Ian at the Southern 100 was really good and a bit of a surprise result. But all in all I had a great season. No crashes!

That 125cc race win at the North West 200 continues to elude you. Explain what went wrong this year.

Basically, the weather. Nobody knew what to do about tyres. One part of the track was bone dry in sunshine whilst another part of the track was flooded. We set off with the 400s. I was with John Burrows and he was passing me on the straights with me passing him back on the corners and on the brakes. I wasnt really getting anywhere so in the end I settled for third but unfortunately at the end Michael Wilcox was on a bit of a run on the last lap and he piped me at the post, so I eventually finished fourth. At this point we decided that the 125 needed a bit of work and we now have the bike running much better than it did then so something came out of it. Well have to go back and try again.

So you're confident of taking it next year?

That all depends on whether they mix the 400s with us. Last year we assumed it was separately classed and it wasnt. Its a bit disappointing really because the top 400s are now quite a bit quicker than the 125s especially at the North West with the long straights. Otherwise well be up there.

So what do you make of the NW200? Is it a good starter for the season and the TT?

It is a good test for the TT. The big benefits are that you can find out how fast your bikes are and it gets your brain used to travelling at 200mph again. It doesnt do you any harm.

You really seem to have got the hang of the bigger machines this year (lapping the TT course at over 120mph with solid top 10 finishes in the two superbike races and superb results at the S100). What changed?

The biggest factor would be Sean and myself finally getting the suspension sorted. Because Im so small and light, the suspension settings are imperative. If youre a big lad then it is less critical as you can hold the big bikes down over the bumps but it's really difficult for me. Even getting the bike to change direction can be tough. But its all a big learning curve. This was our fourth year on the bigger bikes and this year was the first year on a tuned bike albeit with standard brakes and forks so its good to make a step forward towards a full blown superbike. Weve worked hard all year at getting decent four stroke settings and it seems to now be paying off. Were always learning and it now seems to be all coming together.

How much of a difference would having a fully tuned superbike or 600 make for you, both at the TT and the rest of the season?

I truly believe that if I had a very competitive 600 and 1000 that I would be well up there. Id be knocking on the door of the top 5 or 6 and I really believe that. But it is hard to say unless you actually have the chance to ride them. At the TT on that superbike I could only do 121mph on the last lap because the clutch was slipping and I was still in the top 10. I had to ride it at what was half throttle. I should have been doing 124mph there.

Your partnership with Glynn Jones of DSC Racing has been very successful one, elevating you to one of the top privateers in the paddock. Is this set to continue next season?

Yeah I think so. He wants to meet up and have a chat to arrange some plans for next year. Hes been fired up and really keen all season which is good for us as the support helps endlessly. Id be quite happy to keep the big R1 but it would obviously need a full engine rebuild. Realistically, I would also like a decent set of forks and brakes in it and a few other little bits and pieces. I think then it would be a pretty competitive private superbike.

How important is it in road racing to have continuity i.e. riding in the same team for a number of consecutive years?

Well I can imagine it does help a lot but I dont know because Ive rarely been in such a position. The longest relationship Ive had since I switched to the roads was with Nick Woodman and the 125 Honda. It absolutely gob smacked me when Nick told me he was pulling the plug at the end of 2004. I just couldnt believe it. We were already talking about 2005 and it was all looking positive but it all went pear-shaped. In the end he just decided he had put enough into racing and decided to pull the pin.

But the longest relationship I have at the minute is with Sean. We work together so well its great. Its where the success comes from. He knows what I want or what I need and its there.

You look set to stay with the Mannin 125 machine. This must stand you in good stead for the 125 class next season?

Yes. Were going to stick with the same bike from this year. Were inheriting Ian Loughers power valve kit from his bike. He tried it but couldnt get it running the way he wanted to so were going to give it a go. Were also going to get some new forks and brakes for it which should improve it. Basically, were just going to spend a bit more money on the bike to try and improve it. As for the results I would like to think that Ill be up there. You cant be over confident but I would definitely like to be a front runner. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the 125s. The rest of the guys are hard riders on good bikes. If things go my way then Ill be there. I dont think Ill be getting thrashed anyway!

2005 seen changes in the format of the TT schedule. How much did you miss the 2 strokes this year?

Not very much to be honest. 2 strokes at the TT are a lot of hard work. Every single time the bike comes in it has to be stripped and rebuilt. There is so much time consuming work that goes into 2 strokes for everyone involved. The biggest difference to me was the reflection on my results. With winning races for 2 consecutive years at the TT, finishing 10th this year, although a good result on the 4 strokes, is not quite as good as winning races.

You have a ride sorted with Alistair Flanagan and the AIM team for Macau this year. How did this come about?

[Laughs] Basically I just made a few phone calls and left a few messages. Alistair called me back and just said Weve put you on the 600, thats what you wanted isnt it? And that was it! It should be a good set up with Adrian Archibald and Les Shand both in the team.

Will you be the first 600 home?

Well I dont see why its not possible. It will depend on how good everyone elses bikes are out there. I proved last year on the Triumph that I can run at the same pace as Cameron Donald and Callum Ramsay. I had never even sat on that bike before where as Cameron had been riding his bike all year. We ended up trading paint for about 10 laps, it was really close. There are a lot of fast lads going this year such as Pere Riba so it will just depend on how fast boys like Pere can adapt to such a circuit. I dont see any reason why we cant be at the sharp end.

How important is Macau to a rider?

I dont know how important it is really. For me personally its given me the chance to ride some real good motorbikes. Last year was my first ride ever on a fully tuned 600, which I podiumed. The first time I went there, I rode the V4 500 Yamaha with Sabre Sport. Who wouldnt want to ride one of them? There was no hesitation.

What are your aims for the 2006 season?

Just to win more races to be honest. I love winning motorbike races. Weve got the 125 and Superbike already sorted and Ive been talking to Fred Walmsley again to ride the Manx Norton at the MGP and a few others. I enjoy riding the Norton and they are a great bunch of guys to work with. Whatever they want to do Ill go and do it for them. Its good fun to ride something different so hopefully we can pick up some more victories on that next season. But in general, the aims for next season are just to win more races.

Going back a bit, how did it all begin for you? Who were your biggest influences?

A lot of my friends at the time were all a bit older than me so they would always be out scrambling. There were quite a few local motocross races going on so I thought I would give it a crack. I ended up buying an old CZ 250 crosser off one of my mates and I went to do some local events. At the time I was about 5ft 2 and about 8 stone so this 250 motocross bike was riding me. So my Dad, in his wisdom, came along to watch me on these so called Slutter bikes and told me to get a 125. We ended up with a RM 125 Suzuki having to cut the seat foam out so my feet could touch the ground! I won a few events on that.

I then came over the TT in about 1981 to do the motocross event that was in between practice and race week. We ended up having a look at the paddock and I just couldnt believe the bikes. The speed of them were just unbelievable. When I went back home I had a look around at Kawasaki Carlisle. They had an old KH 400 production bike. It wasnt too expensive and my Dad said lets have a go. So we bought it and I started racing at Silloth in July 1981. I ended up coming 6th in my first race with motocross boots on and baggy arse black leathers, but from this point I was hooked.

I also had a 750 Kawasaki road bike which I traded in with Vin Duckett in Blackpool for an ex-Mark Johns TZ250. In my first full season in 1982 I ended up winning the Silloth club championship and breaking Neil Mackenzies lap record. But my Dad was a big influence in the early days. If it wasnt for him I may not have even given it a go.

You came road racing for a short time earlier in your career but then went off to the short circuits (picking up a British championship on the way). Why did you not stick at the roads?

My absolute number 1 ambition was to be British Champion. Nothing else mattered. I did 12 non-stop seasons of British Championships until I won it. I believed I could win it so much and I thought one day it could happen if I stick at it. It also cost a lot of money because the financial rewards were so minimal. My number 1 drive was to become British Champion so thats what I went after.

I ran the number 1 plate in 1999, a year after winning the championship, then pulled out. I had already achieved the goal that I set myself and things just felt very strange. It was still one of the proudest moments of my life. After all the highs and lows of trying to win the championship I asked myself was it really worth it? Although it was one of the proudest moments of my life, it was a really bizarre feeling. I was asking myself where do I go now?

You had a special affinity with Mick Lofthouse (we understand that you keep a pair of his gloves with you at every road race). How hard did his passing hit you and how did you convince yourself to go road racing after that?

[Chris pauses] Well that was a massive wake up call for me, it really was. Mick Lofthouse was a perfectionist. His bikes were always mint. Whilst I was scratching around some old tent Mick would have his bike prepped perfectly. He was always trying lots of different little things. After he went, I thought if things like that can happen to him, what chance do I have? It really did make me knuckle down and it made me realise that working like Mick is the way to go.

It was hard losing a good mate like that. I know for a fact that if it had happened to me, he wouldnt have packed in. He was also obviously a big TT man. Every lap I do now I give him a nod. Id like to think he is looking after me and winning TTs through me. It still hits me hard when I think about it now.

How did your friendship with Mick Lofthouse begin?

There was a bunch of us who used to knock about together, most of us were Frank Wrathall's group so to speak and Mick was one of us. Being honest we generally just went out and got pissed together. We had a great social side to our racing yet were so serious on the race track. The social side to the weekends were great. You got to know a lot of lads. I just had a great friendship with Mick thereafter.

Some good sessions had then Chris?

Absolutely! Mick used to go over to Spain or France testing at the start of the year and come back with a 7 tonne van loaded full of beer and wine. Next thing you know we would walk round to Micks van after second qualifying and all get slaughtered. Great days!

Originating from Carlisle, you decided to move to the Isle of Man to set up home with your now wife Rachel Palmer. Do you feel any benefits of the residency?

Yes definitely. If you are into motorbikes at all then there is probably no better place to live in the world. When I moved here I knew Sean but not that well. We were both scratching around for a big bike for me and within a couple of months Sean put me onto Matty Carter. Id never ridden a 1000 before but knew I had to get one. Matty ended up saying to me, you buy a big bike and Ill buy it for you. Ive got to thank Matty for putting me on the big bike trail, without him I may possibly have still not ridden one.

It also helped me to get a few laps in on the mountain circuit. The reason I came back to the TT is after a meeting with Nick Jefferies on the ferry. He said to me “you should be doing the TT Palmer, if youre going to move to the Island you should be doing it. I told him that Id already done it, wasnt overly keen on it and struggled to learn it. He told me to get a road bike and get plenty of laps under my belt. So I took the opportunity and was entered again in 2001, only for it to be cancelled!

I had another year to learn it up to 2002 where I finished fourth and broke the lap record. 2003 and 2004 I won it. So living on the Island really helped.

Who do you respect most today and who do you see as your biggest rival?

Well my biggest rival and a guy I can ride safest and closest to is Ian Lougher. Obviously Ian and I have been around a long time and most people know about our rivalry. I really enjoy racing against Ian but there are so many good lads out there. Some you respect because of their great history, and some you respect because theyre young and fast. Guy Martin is one of them. You really have to take your hat off to Guy, he is a bloody hard charger. He must be made of elastic!

What is the best moment of your career to date?

Well there are 2 really. Crossing the line at Donington Park in 1998 to take the British Championship was a bit special. Id been around a long time and I knew so many people. After 12 long seasons I had finally done it. It was a magic feeling – even the marshals were going crazy. But then winning a TT was also one of my highlights. I never thought I would ever win a TT. Again, it was just a magic feeling. We beat all the right men and put in the proper lap times so I was really happy. Living on the Isle of Man also made it a bit better. To live here and be a TT winner is special.

And worst?

[Long pause.] Im not certain to be honest. 1999 was a pretty bad time. My mechanic of 3 years had just left the team and went to Australia with his girlfriend. Everything we learned together and the team bond had gone - it would be a bit like losing Sean now. Everything just went wrong. We had the number one plate on the bike and we should have been there or there abouts. The bike went bang so many times. I went from having no failures to nothing but failures! It was very disappointing to have the number 1 plate in Britain and seize up at just about every circuit in the country. I was gutted.

Politics was creeping into the British championships as well. You couldnt do this, you couldnt do that. It just wasnt there - I was heading for the roads.

What is your favourite road race circuit and why?

Its got to be Billown. Its right on my doorstep and it has a bit of everything. I know the organisers and they treat you well. Its just such a friendly place. Winning races in front of so many people you know is really satisfying. Id never seen the circuit before. George Peach (Secretary of the Club) approached me every year at Scarborough to try and get me to ride. For years and years I told him Im not really into the roads and said no. He came up to me in 1999 when I was having a crap year and before I gave him my answer he was walking away. I had to run after him to tell him I wanted to give it a go!

So the stone walls didn't put you off then!

Well, when I was at British championships I was always pushing hard. To get to the front row I was prepared to slip off no problems. On the circuits you really do push it to the limits. Over here on the roads, I do push hard, but only say 9/10ths at most. I dont really think I go much harder than that. You do have to respect the road circuits but its a difficult one. Sometimes I know Ive been pushing too hard. When I did a 2m 39sec around the Southern on a 125, I was going bloody hard.

What is your favourite section or corner on any circuit?

Going through the Bombhole at the Southern 100 (Billown Dip). Absolutely awesome. Its mental! Youre airborne in fifth gear over the jump before it, then you tuck it into 6 th and nail it though. You just have to lift your shoulder off the wall as you go through. Its a rollercoaster every time. Its scary, but good.

If there is one thing in road racing you could change, what would it be?

I think it would have to be the prize money. It isnt too bad currently but I just think riders could be looked after a little bit better here and there. But I think it is getting better all the time. More and more road races are now charging the fans for the entertainment so as long as this money is put in the right places, everything should be fine.

Which is the best road race for a party?

[Chris Laughs] Im getting too old to go to parties, thats the problem. Im always too tired and too p*ssed before the party starts. I suppose I had a reputation of being a big drinker at one time but now, I can still drink, but Im just in bed before everyone else!

When you hang up the leathers how do you want to be remembered?

[Chris laughs] As a fast motorbike rider hopefully! Ive always said I will go to 2007 and I think Ill have to make a big decision then. Id just like to think I may get the chance to ride a fully kitted out Superbike or 600 before that day though. But Id like to think Ive got a character. Id rather people thought of me as a loveable rogue than an idiot!

Chris Palmer was talking to Ben Oates.

All of us here at PaddockGossip.com would like to thank Chris for answering our questions. We wish him and the team all the best for the 2006 season.