Skerries 2007
 It's hard to believe another week has gone by and another race is over. Well anyway, we had a hard week working on bikes with all the problems we had at Athea, Simon came straight from his work to the workshop each evening , our diet consisted of a Chinese every night! ( not my usual diet I may add!!) and we would work till the small hours of the morning before calling it quits!
We left the superbike down with Martin Finnegan this week to sort out a few of the problems we were having, so thanks to Martin for that as im sure he had plenty to do for himself in preparation for Skerries. I decided to take the 600 for a run up the road on Wednesday night just to check out the quick shifter when this Transit Connect van flashed the lights at me, I thought some one was warning me of the law down the road or something, then when I was turning into my house, there I seen this camera pointing at me, the first thing I though of how do I talk my self out of this one but lucky enough is was that clown Bisto! It was him in the Connect van so he decided to get the camera out for a quick photo. clown being the word.!! Thursday night all was packed and ready for Skerries, this time I had a new mechanic; the Irish bike reporter Geoff McElvogue, now that's another story but ill keep them wee stories for a little while as black mail, just to see how the next edition of Irish Bike looks. lets just say for now his nick name was Jack at the week end..!!
Friday was a busy day, rain one min then the sun decided to show its face the next, wheels were in and out every other min.. Raymond had arrived down about lunch time, having scrounged a lift with Irish Bikes roving photographer Baylon McCaughey, so he was able to give Geoff a hand ,and by that time we had John McKeown and his wife Roberta also on hand ,so thanks to all them for their help, its not just all about the rider in the team!, Team work is a vital part in the whole weekends racing.
As I said in my last report Skerries isn't my favourite circuit ,and when I got out in practice I was not at all comfortable with it but I decided just to bed my self in again, luckily for me it was raining and the grids were on championship positions. The bikes all seemed good again and was quite looking forward to Saturday. Before practice was over the Simon boy finally arrived so we got him stuck into the cleaning before he went to check out Skerries town.
Saturday and its was nice to wake up to dry roads as I was dreading it being wet, we had a problem with the quick shifter on the super bike in practice and I asked could I do a lap behind the support lads in the morning to check if we had sorted it ,but unfortunately we were unable to do so, having been used to the quickshifter, I was having to revert back to the older style of gear changing! Before we knew it, we were lining up for the Superbike race,and I was on the front row along with  Connor Cummins and Paul Cranston as there was no timed practice we started on championship positions, Away from the line I was 4th on the first lap behind Cranston Cummins and Cameron Donald, but I was getting a bit frustrated trying to get past Paul (Cranston) as he didn't seem to be up to speed after is tumble on Friday night and ended up going up the slip road twice! So my overeagerness didn't pay off, and not the result I was looking for.
The 250 was next up and I was having a good dice with Barry Davidson and Ian Morell for 4th when the little girl decided she had enough for the day and I had to retire at Dublin corner in that one.
The old saying; all will come good yet ! so I am hoping it will with the 250 as I enjoy riding, what one can really describe as a proper racing bike!.
The 600 was our next outing and I had a great battle on the road with Victor Gilmore and Shane Connor .It was good to see Victor back on it again after his TT crash which wasn't his fault, I ended up 8th in that one, maybe not the best of results, but I felt that I was beginning to warm with the circuit a bit better.
The last race of the day for us was the Grand Final, I had to start from the second group this time round because of my bad result in the first big bike race, the first couple of laps I got tied up with liam Quinn, but when I got past I got the head down and got P4 on my board so I was in the race at long last and a clear road in front of me, as the race progressed the shoulder was starting to play up on me ( The track is probably the most physical, that I have raced on over the past few weeks) and I dropped down to 6th at the flag, I was pretty well satisfied with this result, but if there is one good thing to take away from this meeting ,it is that its not the worst meeting in the year for me any more, im quite getting to like the place!. Now with the racing over the HM motorhome had to be cleared out and all the bits and pieces we need loaded into the transit van to head to the Isle of Man first thing Sunday morning for the Southern 100, But not before Simon and the lads had to take the forks out of the superbike and get new seals in after the grand final as I had a heavy landing going into the chicane and busted them, so thanks to Clarence Bell for helping us out there at the last minute before he headed for home, cheers Big Man.
 On Saturday night we headed down to Dublin port so we would be there for the Sunday morning sailing to the island. there was myself ,Simon, Raymond , John and Roberta Mckeown, there was little to no food consumed that day so we hit the Dublin city for some food and drink.. lets say it was a good night out but after a head count in the morning we were a man down again!! We are going to have to put tracking devices on these young lads!..and poor Roberta must have picked up a tummy bug, ill say no more!!
So we have arrived on the island safe and sound and the sun is shinning, wonder for how long??? we have got our selves a house in Castletown for the few days while we are here. George Peach from the Southern 100 club has arranged a marquee for us to work out of in the paddock, so many Thanks to George and his team for that, not many clubs would go to that bother for the riders. Monday night was our first practice and it was wet early on in the evening but it dried out later on for us to use intermediate tyres, but for once in a long time I felt comfortable in the wet and finished up 8th on the superbike and 14th on the 600 but I had one of them heart stopping moments on the 600 just losing my confidence a little towards the end of the session. After practice we got some food and met up with another Dungannon man; Darren Hughes and his Wife Kerry, Darren was the clerk of the course at the Bush this year.
Before I go I must wish Keith Stewart a speedy recovery following his crash at Skerries, only for bad luck he would have no luck at all.Get Well soon Boy.
JB#16
Pictures Baylon McCaughey |
