500 Classic TT - started out at Braddan and scooted over to Bedstead after the first lap.
Ian Lougher on the Paton
Dan Cooper on his way to 2nd spot. I spoke to Dan on the phone a few days ago - he'll be back on Andy Molnar's 350 & 500 Nortons for the Classic TT again although he's still working on an F1 ride in case anyone's got a seat for a top rider!
Couldn't get my head together for the next race day for some reason and ended up at Douglas Road Corner but the light was very harsh, so I did what I could...
Headed up to Keppel for the Newcomers in the evening
Dean Osborne - ER6
James Caswell-Cox - VFR400
Watch out for this guy: Joe Newbould, who's a good mate of sidecar driver Wayne Lockey. 2nd place in the Supersport B at last year's S100 and he was all over Dan Cooper at Aberdare a couple of years ago. He was just hoping for a 100mph lap and a couple of finishes but did a 113mph sub-20 min lap in the Junior, despite the heavy wind up top. He'll be back at the S100, Aberdare & MGP this year and he's going to do Cookstown & Tandragee. He's also been offered a ride on a Rocket 3 for the Classic TT.
Going to the Bungalow for the Junior MGP was perhaps not my best decision ever....Cold and blowing like hell - it was very hard to hold the lens still!
Warren Verwey leading Newcomers winner Billy Redmayne. Another one to look out for as he also took 2nd in the Junior with a last lap over 119mph. Who says the MGP can't produce future TT stars? Hopefully, as he's Manx (Laxey) someone in the DED might take note and make sure this privatisation business doesn't harm the MGP...
Swedish rider Bjorn Gunnarsson - lapped over 116mph on I think his 2nd visit, so another one with bags of potential
The high winds caused lots of riders to run deep into the corner - including Gary Fowler
Finished off at the top of Barregarrow for the Senior
Gareth Evans
Andrew Farrell
Tapio Mustonen from Finland leading Jamie Hodson
and that was that. A few hours later I was on the boat wondering if I'd ever be back.
However, 6 months to the day after I lost my job I've accepted an offer and start on Monday - so, all being well I'll be on the dock at Liverpool on May 29th for my 50th TT