Thursday Report

After along day of waiting, Dan finally managed to get away in the second batch of riders last night.

The idea was for Dan to try out the changes that had been made over Wednesday, in the run from Glencrutchery to Ballacraine, however long before he reached Ballacraine he was convinced that everything was positive and that the bike was running better than it ever had.

His time from the Grandsatnd to Ramsey was so much better and he really felt that he was in for a good lap time on the outgoing lap.

He was clocked at 138+ on Sulby straight, (6mph up on Tuesday) so the gearing change was a positive one.

The front end was behaving itslef and the back wheel was keeping itself on the black stuff, so the idea was then for the run from Ramsey up and over the mountain to be used to give the bike its head and let it go to its potential.

All went well, until the approach to Windy Corner, a few classics in front of Dan and a change back to 5th with a tweek on the front brake to steady her up for the Apex. On the gas and instantly the front disc exploded in a million pieces with shrapnel flying up through the fairing, resulting in a destroyed rad and a fairing looking like a colander.

Trying to keep control of the bike and the rapidly approaching slower classic, Dan felt the bike go into Tank Slapper mode. Nothing for it, but to lay it down and wait for the consequences.

Phew, missed the classic boy, and started the slide into the green stuff, "bump" as a cats eye caught the knee and off up the old quarry slip road, eventually coming to a halt, man and bike close together.

Thankfully, the damage to Dan was limited to a sore knee, however the wee bike ws looking pretty sorry for itself.

So that was it for the night, just had to wait for the recovery truck, nurse the knee and hope that the bike would be in a fit state for an outing on Friday.

Upon picking the bike up and getting it home, closer examination revealed, repairs to the fairing, change out the rad, install a new wheel, disc and caliper and she should be aok for a go on Friday.

Busy day ahead I am afraid to get the bike up and running and looking smart again for the next run around the mountain and hopefully, a complete circuit of it this time.

Stay tuned for tomorrows update