Faugheen and Ulster Grand prix Update

Sorry for not having anything on my site recently, but with the recent
collarbone injury, that I received at Walderstown, there hasn't been much to
report on from the racing front.

Since then, I haven't had my leg over a bike but hopefully that will all
change very soon.



For The Faugheen weekend,  I had the pleasure of helping out Michael Dunlop
with our 600 Yamaha. As Michael's bike was away getting some engine work
done in preparation for The Ulster Grand Prix, I loaned him my r6.   My new
600 was the bike his brother William had started the season on, so he knew
it would be competitive. First time on the bike, and Michael qualified
fourth on it behind William, Ryan and Keith, I was well impressed, he was
definitely in good company for race day.  When the flag dropped he got away
fourth and was well in the race until getting caught behind back markers.
Overall he certainly rode well and ended up with a fastest lap of only 0.4
sec of the lap record.  I was well impressed how he approached his racing,
he certainly will be one of the men to beat on the four strokes as well as
the two strokes very soon.



I had an appointment at Craigavon Area Hospital this morning and must admit
I was disappointed with the outcome.  In the back of my mind I had hoped to
be deemed fit enough to ride at The Ulster this week, however this is not to
be the case.  I had recently completed a few laps of the circuit by car and
was impressed with the condition of the circuit.  I would have liked nothing
more to be preparing for it this week, unfortunately though it now looks
like I will be amongst the thousands of spectators.

On hindsight, when I rode at Cookstown last year following a shoulder injury,

I think I came back too early as I ended up missing Tandragee and NW200,

so I thought, it best to give myself a wee bit more time.

My big priority now is to prepare myself physically for the Manx, where I
will be out on Ken Platts 500 Manx Norton and Steve Caffyns 350 Honda

 I can only apologise at this stage to Hugh Murphy, HM Motorhomes and
Stewart Smith Racing for not being able to fly the flag for them this year
at The Ulster.  Mark Buckley will be racing on Stewart's 250 this weekend,
with my full blessing.  I wish them both the best of luck for this weekend.

All being well, I will be back on Stewarts 250 at Killalane.

JB#16