Hi to you all again, sorry I haven’t had much to tell lately, so I will try and bring you up to date what’s been happening over this past few months.
Probably the best news I have had in recent days, is that I have been given the chance to ride Stewart Smiths 250 Honda in selected events next year!
This is the bike that Ian Lougher rode this year, it’s a new bike ,so no doubt I am really looking forward to having a run out on it .
As I said, this will only be at selected road races, At the moment we are looking at contesting all the northern road races, along with the Southern 100, the newly proposed 250 Race at Billown, immediately after the TT races , Kells and Killalane are also pencilled in, along with any other race that Stewart and his wife feels like coming over to.
All being well, I hope to make my Scarborough debut as well, Thanks again to Stewart. Scarbough one circuit that I have never been to before, obviously, I am pretty excited about this, along with the fact that Stewart has given me the chance to ride his pride and joy.
As Stewart wont be able to make it to all the Irish road races, I will still be using our own HM 250 on which Mark Young and myself rode this year,the HM bike is well on its way to being completed after Mark’s off at Killalane, Bob Patterson has the engine well sorted now, so hopefully we can be a bit more competitive than we were last season. so many thanks to both Stewart and Bob for their help.
In all I have six bikes at my disposal for 08,so no rest for poor Simon, Stephen and Raymond !, no more late nights lads!!
The season isn’t long over, but there is no time o rest, these days, I am pretty busy at work, but I am getting my self back into a training regime again ,at the moment, mostly on the push bike , going out with the lads from the East Tyrone Cycling Club, its one of those sports that is so painful when your pushing in the miles ,but makes you feel like you have had a really good work out after you have done it, plus it’s a good excuse to keep the beer to a minimum at the weekends!!
Also the trials bike has been dusted down after lying up over the summer, so along with Ryan Farquhar and his uncle, the evergreen Trevor Ferguson we have been out in our local forest park riding the banks and rivers a few times lately..
I made a trip over to the NEC bike show in Birmingham on Thursday past along with my sponsor from Kronos Audio Visual David Campbell, he is much better at that talking to trade sponsors than I would be, I have to say we came home more than well pleased on the support and help we have been offered for 08, last year was the first year we had made contact with a lot of them and it really is much easier the second time round so Many thanks to Everyone who has supported me with their products.
As you may be aware from previous updates, an enthuastic bunch of friends have fromed a supporters club for me, known as; The Joni B supporters Club,
Over the past few month, I have to say, it has been very encouraging for myself ,to see the amount of people that have joined up and given their support, so lets hope everyone involved will enjoy the craic, from my point of view, its not all about how much money that can be gathered up, admittedly, it does help, but it’s the fact that everyone can group together every now and then, enjoy the racing and the craic that goes with it.
Doc John Hinds, better known as the flying Doctor that you see following us boys around on our first lap ,also does a bit of work for Performance Bike Magazine well he came up the other Sunday and done a road test on my Superbike!!-- on closed roads off course!!!
This was for an article in conjunction with their magazine !no doubt this will make interesting reading for myself and others when that comes out.
Really that’s about all I have to report at the moment, other than its that time of the year again for all the award nights, we had the Bush presentation the other week which to be honest ended in a mess! but it was good to wind the season up with a night with all the lads, also I invited all the people that are involved with me ,out for a bite to eat and a few beers, it was certainly a good nights craic, RJ Woolsey was in attendance and he certainly made the night very entertaining
Last weekend was the Daingean Supporters Club award night in Kells, what can I say about this bunch of guys, they go out of their way to ensure you are looked after!, it was satisfying for me, to collect my award for 2nd in this years Senior road race championship behind young Cummins. Well done to Andrew Brady, he sure done good for his first season amongst the national guys.
I also received VIP tickets last week from Paul Lindsay from Irish Racer for the Irish Racer awards night, this is the second year in a row that ive been invited so Many Thanks Paul, and if its anything like last years event it will be top class, I also hear there are some interesting people attending!!
Oh before I go, I must tell you that ive got my self a miniature Jack Russell pup!, I call him Trigger!, so anyone out there good on potty training feel free to pass on the tips…..!!!!
Just before I go, I must say I am honoured to have been asked to switch on the Christmas Tree Lights in my local village this weekend in Newmills!, gotta admit I was taken aback when asked, but I must say I feel privileged.
Till the next update, take care
JB#16
| 
