2007 Mid Antrim 150 Report

Hi Everyone, It seems rather strange to be doing my report on a Sunday!  With the racing having been held on sat/Sundays over the past few weeks, anyway, a day off for everyone wont do a bit of harm, I have plans for to day, more of this at end of this article. The Mid Antrim began for us on Thursday night , as we headed down with the truck as to get set up , mainly because  the boys had to work on Friday and would not be down until late in the evening, when we arrived we had Robert Burrows better know as Bisto, no relation thankfully!!, only joking, to give us a hand to set up etc, along with the boss man himself Hugh Murphy.

 Thankfully the much talked about rain stayed away for the practices, I qualified 5^th on the 250 and 8^th on the superbike ,but was a rather disappointing 14^th on the 600! I am sure you will know,  that wasn’t where I wanted to be!  Whilst out in the 600 practice, I got caught up with a few lads and struggled to get past them, which in turn held me back a bit , however it wasn’t too bad, because when the grids were made out, I was on the front of the second group, so my plan would be to try and make up time if I can get  a clear road. After practice I decided to head back home as I wasn’t feeling the best, during the past week, I have been having flu symptoms, sore throat etc, so I thought it best to go back home and have an early night.

 Saturday morning and I waa a wee bit late, arriving just before the roads were closed! and also missed the riders briefing (sorry Norman).

 The first race up for the team was the support race for Mark Young, he done yet another superb job and led from start to finish to make it four wins from four starts on the bike, But I believe our Baylor had to give him a wake up call on the final lap!, nevertheless, he crossed the line first, and that is what matters.

It was another hard day for the lads as I was out in five races, I ended up with two x 5^th on the 250, in the second race I had a great dice with Barry Davison, managed to get ahead of him a few times, but he just came steaming past me again, good fun it was, I must say I really enjoy racing with Barry, , and if you are ever speaking to Barry, ask him about the heart stopping moment I had at the left hander up the back in the first 250 race!   

In the 600 race, I managed to get in front of the second group, but young Mick Weldon squeezed through towards the end,nevertheless, I finished in 8^th, a good improvement from my qualifying poisition.

 On the superbike, I got 7^th in both races, I really enjoyed the second race with Adrian (Archibald) and Paul Cranston, overall, I was reasonably happy with my performances, even though I wasn’t  running nearer the front, But hats off to Ryan, he  was setting a helluva pace, Well done man, you are now back to where you belong, And to the Mid Antrim Club, give ya selves a pat on the back, a meeting well run, Thanks

At the start of the article, I mentioned that I had some plans for to day (Sunday), well, I am now heading up to see my good friend Seamus Greene, who is still in hospital, following his TT Practice spill in 2006. I have kept in touch with the family on how he is doing, but I admit I feel a bit guilty, that I haven’t been up to see him in the past few months, lets hope that Seamus pulls through some day.

Before I go, Can I just say Thanks to everyone who has passed on positive comments about this site, feedback is important, as I want everyone to enjoy the input, my Thanks also to Baylon and Alan for their input as well, next weekend , should have been the Boyne Road races, unfortunately, it is a no go this year, so we have an unexpected break, I am sure the lads wont say No to that!.

Till the UGP, take care