Athea 2007
Fridays at Burrows Engineering can be somewhat hectic, not only are we trying to get the work finished off for the week, but also making sure we have all loaded for the weekends racing.
At four thirty we headed of for Athea., which is on the southern side of Limerick, on board for the weekend were Simon, Stephen, Muggsy, Geoff McElvogue and myself, it’s a long drive down but when the club appreciates the fact that we make the 6 hr journey , it is small things like this that give us satisfaction from the racing… when we arrived I done my usual thing and done a lap round of the circuit in the truck, I suppose its a superstition thing I have, one lap before parking up!, anyway, top marks to the club the track was as safe as they could make it with the new safety Bales etc
When we arrived at the Paddock, I thought it was a ploughing match we came to! but JJ assured me this was the paddock and that motorbikes would appear here the next day so we took his word for it and got parked up. It isn’t easy when the weather is against those who try to run these meetings, and too often we hear people giving off about things like this, but unfortunately that’s nature for you!.
 After parking up we headed down the street for some of the black stuff, to some that’s Guinness, and to others its Coca Cola as is the normal in these wee southern Pubs, the craic was mighty, with James Redpath and his crew plus there was some boy called Bisto ,no idea who he is, but from what I hear he’s a trouble maker so best staying clear!!!
Saturday morning we laid the straw floor to soak up the muck and then set up… first practice up was the 250, but I had to retire after 2 laps with a problem, but I still ended up 5th quickest, so was lucky to hold 5th and get away in the front group for the race..
600 practice went fairly good I ended up 2nd behind Connor (Cummins) 0.4 slower so was hoping that id be fit to go with him come race day..
Open practice was feeling fairly good as well but the bike just hadn’t the edge on some of the other bikes and I ended up fourth in it but at least it was another front row start so we decided on a few changes to the gearing and hopefully this would leave me closer to the other lads… Mr Finnegan and I had a coming together in practice down the back straight where we touched flat out in 6th gear!! Bit too close for Comfort!,, I had to have a look at the boxers when I came in after that one!… ill let him of with it as he is going to have a look at my superbike this week and sort out a couple of the problems that I am having with it… Martins a good lad and he has always helped me out in anyway he can from I started road racing, but id loved to put him behind me one of these days so beware big man!
Muggsy got the bbq lit up on sat, so it was steaks all round , but we had a precautiounary check to see if there was there a hospital nearby for Simon, Just in case the choking thing started again!!
Them lads headed of down the street but I headed of to see a few of the neighbours in the paddock and check out the Barry Davidson camp, Sammy can still make me smile, hes a real character,(for those who don’t know who I am talking about, that’s Barrys Dad!) . So it was an early night for me, as at half ten I was tucked up in the cot. But later in the night, or should I say , morning, Muggsy decided to let me know it was five oclock in the morning when he arrived home, on his own again!!!!
Before I move onto Sunday there was a birthday girl in the paddock, 30 something I believe Fiona is her name, is that right?, enjoy the thirty’s, the twenty’s are in the past!!!!!!
Sunday, Race Day
250 race I got a reasonable start but the we bike started to misfire on the opening lap and I had to retire at the paddock, I have the life tortured out of Bob Patterson these days, but ive no doubt Dr Bob will sort the problem.
Special Thanks must go to Mark Young ,for making it possible for me to even make it to the start line on Sunday ,as he worked on my bike before getting his own sorted out on sat night!, Thanks Mark.
600 race 2nd on the grid, the condition were far from perfect but we went full wets, wrong choice as the rear tyre was gone after two laps, but I was never in the race anyway because id made the worst start ever.
 First big race 1 ended 3rd on the road, but 4th on corrected time as William Dunlop caught me from the second group! You could say I was a bit disappointed as I thought I was third, fair play to Derek Brien for getting second he was riding the best I have ever seen him, on the third lap Finns MV Agusta blew up in front of me and covered me in oil ! so I kinda lost out to Derek at that stage..
Grand final front row was Finn , Connor, Derek and myself, Every one says that Hondas are hard to get of the line and back in the winter I was telling Martin(Finnegan) that I was going Honda for the open class, and I remember him saying; “ I cant wait to see you kangarooing of the line in that thing!” But when the flag lifted I was away like a scalded cat so it was head down and ass up to the first corner, thought sure, this is my chance now to run with Conor and Martin but as soon as I clicked 6th gear the pair of boys came hurdling past!!!I couldn’t believe it, again I would be telling a lie if I didn’t say I was somewhat a bit disappointed not to led it for a couple of laps , but sure that’s racing, I finished 4th, looking back, I have to be honest and i expected a bit more this weekend, but I am home safe and sound, I guess that has to be the number one thing.
So it was time to look about the ford tractor to pull us out of the paddock and head North.
Fair play to the club they ran the event very well in tricky conditions, Its not an easy task, and every one went home safe and sound..
Next week is Skerries, not one my favourite circuits, but we will head down and give Francis (Everard)and his team our support, again, another enthuastic bunch of race organizers, lets hope the weather is favourable, Baylor tells me that it is a geographical fact that Skerries is one of the driest places in Ireland!, lets hope he is right.
JB#16
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