Winter 2002 - 2003

Sold my No 2 Yamaha R6 at the close of last Season to make room in the garage and raise the much needed funds for the bigger capacity bike that I'm after, as all last year I was sick of waving bye bye to the 1000cc's on the long straights, and then not seeing them again……… Therefore, I decided that I needed one…… More than one reason really…… it would give me more of a chance in the Open Classed Road Races, Jurby Road and the Southern 100 especially, and I have decided to enter both Proddy TT's…… it would also enable me to have a better crack of the whip at the IOM Centre Championship……

First job on the list was to get the old M.Benz (Van) fettled…… so gave it a service, and the bodywork the once over…… then started on the fairing's on the R6…… these have gone pretty scabby during the rigours of last season so I decided that they needed repainting…… so, still in the middle of that at the mo…… The bike itself is pretty much ready otherwise, as it had been rebuilt for the Manx Grand Prix last year but kept leaking oil…… this was eventually traced to a crack in the actual crankcases, which has since been welded up by none other than Mr Dave Molyneux, so fingers crossed that will be the end of my oil leaks that did my 'sweed' in last year……(still managed to record 198 miles on it though).

Usually at this time of year, I've already had what I'm going to race sitting in my garage........ Although I still have my No 1 Yamaha R6, the bigger machine that I'm after still wasn't………………… Until now.

I've been down a few avenues trying to get one of the all new 2003 Suzuki GSXR1000 K3's, but they seem to be like Hen's Teeth, apparently they're not out till March (more probably be April) and there is no guarantee that I'll get one, you have to put your name down with Suzuki GB and tell them what you plan to do, and then they will decide if you 'qualify' for one……… and even if I did, the race parts for it would also take time to get, and ideally, I want one to start the season on......... So, I had a look down the road of Plan B...... which was to get a K2 Model (2002).... but these also seem to be thin on the ground and then I still had to get it fettled in race trim....... and as the K3 model isn't available till after the season starts, most teams are still hanging on to last years K2 models.... And who can blame them..... which makes it even more difficult to get hold of one……

So the only other option if I wanted a Suzuki, was a K1, which is the 2001 model..... Padgett's in Douglas, IOM, still have two brand new ones sitting in their showroom, and they offered me a good deal on one..... these are well proven pieces of kit, and there is no difference between the K1's and K2's…… But, again, I still had to get it fettled....

As I am planning on entering Both Proddy TT's.... the bike would have to be Production based (or close to it)..... "so, I thought, "what is probably the best sorted Proddy 1000 out there?"

I gave Philip Neil at TAS Suzuki (Temple Auto Salvage) a ring and did a deal on David Jefferies's Production Suzuki GSXR1000........ It's got everything on it that you can do to them, and it's only done 3 races (and three practices) as it wasn't raced in 2001..... (the pie eater didn't join the team till 2002) and he went extremely well on it for a 'big bloke' (Ho Ho).. He came 2nd on it at the 2002 North West 200 (In the wet), and won both the Production TT and Ulster Grand Prix…… with lap and race records…… So it should be well quick enough for me...

As the IOM steam Packet are a f*cking joke for more reasons than one, (They don't go to Ireland in the Winter) it took me a while to get it. Instead of going to Ireland (via 4 ferries and 3 days off work) waited till I got the call from Philip and eventually met Mark, from TAS, at Frank Wrathall's workshops just outside Preston…… It was all last minute stuff, and when I got the call I was on the ferry the same night just a few hours later, which meant that I had to sleep in my van overnight…… and to say it was cold was an understatement…… when I woke up, the river was frozen! But the bike itself is a belter, even got DJ's signature and 2002 TT Winner lacquered on the tank (Been on the Stand at a show).

Have decided to do as many road races as I can, but as usual, it all comes down to what you can afford to do…… but my priorities will be to do both Proddy TT's, the Post TT Steam Packet Races, The Southern 100, The Manx Grand Prix and both the local Open and 600cc Championships at Jurby (including both Jurby South Road Races)…… would also like to do a couple of races on the mainland, probably the British Championship Supersport 600 at Oulton Park being favourite…… but we'll see on that one…… getting back ache just thinking of driving my old Benz any distance whatsoever……! Might just end up doing a few club rounds to keep up to speed.

Would like to get a meeting in or at least a track day before the Season starts at Jurby on the 30th March…… but as always the first meeting of the year is at Mallory Park…… which is a bit Mickey Mouse and is ALWAYS freezing at the start of the year…… and I don't fancy sleeping in my van again after last week!…… so will be looking into that pretty soon……

Got to concentrate on getting fit again, after breaking a bone in my left foot (that's another story)…… It always seems more of an effort when it's cold out……… I must be getting old……

Anyway, stay tuned for further updates…………

Cheers