Junior Race day has finally arrived……… the boys Wad, Willy and Graham had tipped up at the paddock at 8ish to get the bikes through scrutineering…..for some reason all bikes for both races that day had to go through in number order meaning that 1-30 was 7am-8am and then 31-60 and so on, so that meant an early start for an afternoon race.

I tipped up at about 9.30am and the boys were sat in me fully equipped hospitality tent complete with ‘ping’ machine filling their fat faces! They then disappeared off into the container for a practice pit stop. Juan has been in a flat spin about this all week as he is the one that will change my visor when I stopped for fuel……Stuey had done this in the past and I admit he was pretty good at it, so it was a task to be matched. Juan had taken my spare helmet home and been practising changing the visor with Bubba wearing the crash helmet whilst watching an episode of Corrie and pressing the stopwatch to count every crucial second…….At least I hope that’s all they have been doing with it………….We had every thing covered just in case we couldn’t get the visor fitted, Juan could change the helmet in under 30 seconds, it would be tight but it could be done…………..Willy was cleaning the screen, with Wad on the fuel. We ran through the stop at least 20 times until we were finally happy with it.

The clangers were well under way so it was just time to try and relax and get my head together for the race…. All I had to do now was clean my visors and fit the rip offs. Decided to do 2 dark visors and a clear just in case the weather took a turn for the worse; Sarah was busy cleaning my leathers.

At 12.15 pit lane was open for the boys to go and set up my pit...... we were going to fill the fuel container with three cans of fuel, although they are gravity fed the more weight that you have above in theory should make the fuel come out quicker………….Wad timed 20 litres through, it took 32 seconds, so we should have plenty of time to change a helmet if Juan F**ks up.

Everything was now fully fettled just waiting for the race to start………….. The Clerk of the Course gave an announcement about the course conditions at 1 o’clock, and luckily the weather was good all around, and not much wind on the mountain………. It should be good for some fast close racing……….. I am going to have to start fast, as the first 9 miles on the run to Glen Helen is really important if you are going on a fast lap to try and break the other lads chasing me down.... With Pattinson and Jackson starting 10 seconds behind me it’s going to be hard to break them as they will be getting a glimpse of me arse on certain parts of the track and that will drag them along.

The boys were up at the holding area with the bike warmed up, and brimmed to the top with fuel………..Juan had banged the tank out to get another 1 litre into it, it still could be tight if I go any faster than 119.8mph………..Got into my leathers and said "see ya" to everyone and headed up to the line with Sarah, Laura, Collete…..three brolly dollies…….…factory!

13.10 and the bikes lined up on Glencrutchery road… 13.12….take the bike down to the line…….…Chris Kinley grabbed me for a quick interview for Manx Radio before I put my helmet on……….a quick handshake with Graham, Willy, Wad, Juan, then I wheel the bike down to the line……....30 seconds to go, click her into first gear and wait for the start marshal to drop the flag………….go go go!

Thunder down Bray Hill……...big wheelie over Ago’s - Bubba is waving with Ros & Les but there’s no way this time I’m waving back….remember last time Jesus! Into Ballacraine and Stuey pops out of the hedge with a board, no time on it yet but good to see a friendly face……….Try and keep it nice and smooth through Glen Helen……… I wonder who is on the pace……….Next board is Martin at the 13th …. just says P1 but no time……….nice and smooth run through Kirk Michael………flat oooot down Sulby straight, Simon Harrison is standing on the pavement with P1 +0…that would be me Glen Helen time……….F**k somebody is trying hard ………………... I’m fast from Glen Helen to Ramsey let's see if they can keep up………Through Ramsey and up the mountain.... There doesn’t seem to be much wind and it’s dry… bonus!……….. Exiting Windy Corner Jossa is there with a board P1 +8, that’s the Ramsey time nice one……..Past the pits the boys give a big wave as I just snick 6th going under the bridge…it’s flat out down Bray………..that felt like a good lap only 3 more to go………….Stuey’s ready at Ballacraine P1 +12 so I’m still pulling on them……………Martin at the 13th P1 +12…..feels f**kin good just trying to keep it smooth………Simon at Sulby P1 +14 still pulling, but either I’m slowing or the others are upping the pace…………………Jossa’s board at the Windy P1 +18, that’s better I’m still the fastest on the run to Ramsey……… Start to think about my pit stop on the run down the mountain, hoping Juan doesn’t f**k the visor up and Wad puts enough fuel in!………………… I’ve been really busting a gut the last two laps……………. As I pull into the stop box we are the first pit, No.6, at the top of pit lane. Wad’s on my right, Juan left, and Willy in front in the firing line telling me where to stop. Juan opens the fuel cap, Wad gets the filler in and the visor change goes smooth whilst I take a quick drink.... not too much…. don’t want to be pissing like an old hoss now…. Willy cleans the screen, the fuel seems to takes ages, I even have time to get two new chewies from Willy. She’s full, I push the cap, it snaps shut, on the starter button and into life she fires…….… here we go again…………… Ballacraine Stu P1 +21…… ………..….Martin at 13th P1 +21……….. hopefully the run to Ramsey will gain me some more time………………. Simon at Sulby P1 +21………. I’m holding onto a steady pace…………….. Jossa at Windy P1 +21……….flat oot down Bray for the last time……….Stuey P1 +21…. started to catch a few backmarkers hope they don’t get in me way ………….. Martin P1 +18………… lost a couple of seconds there, maybe with the traffic…….. better pull me finger out of me ginger hoop....

That was the last board Tommy received.

Tommy crashed on the approach to Ballaugh Bridge on the last lap of the Junior Race whilst leading by 18 seconds. He was airlifted to Nobles Hospital, where his condition was descried as serious. Later that same evening Tommy succumbed to his injuries and died at Nobles Hospital surrounded by family and friends.

I have written this last day of Tommy’s "World Famous, Tune in for the Next Episode" Diary myself in memory of my mate Tommy, in honour of all of you that have read his diaries religiously. Tommy was a great friend of mine, from the days of football when I chased the Ginger Hitman Island International round the pitch right up to the bikes when we pretty much started together gathering signatures for his licence to do the Manx. Always a fierce rival on the track. His professionalism and determination to be the best at everything he did made him stand out from the crowd. He always had a smile on his face and time to talk anybody (mind if you knew him, he could whinge!!) He lived his life to the full and was living the dream on that fateful Wednesday. Everybody that knew him will miss him…………………. Rest in peace my friend, I’m missing you.

Juan Kinnish, Racer, Friend.

The Team at Nobles did their best to help Tommy. However there were 60 unsung heroes who tried their best to save him with 60 pints of donated blood. The family and friends of Tom would like you to remember Tommy by donating a pint in his memory.