Walderstown Report
 Hi all, after been away for eleven days on the trot ,its back to work first thing Monday morning and the reality check has set in, Some people may not be aware of the fact, but I have a business to run as well as ride motorbikes!, but I know some people get the impression, that we just seem to race bikes!, (that would be nice!!) and just while I am on that subject, I have to say a Big Thank you to my right hand man at Burrows engineering; David Carmichael or better known to most as big Dave, with out him, a lot of this running about would not be possible, apart from Dave there all a good bunch of lads and follow the bikes when ever they can.
Last friday morning the crew left Douglas
Bay and headed for Dublin port, and need I say nearly missed the boat! we were 15 minutes late for check in, but Victor Gilmore beat us again he was even later, no matter how hard he tries he can never make it on time any where!!
When we arrived in Dublin we followed Martin Finnegan up to his shop to pick up some parts, then we were on our way to Walderstown to meet up with Raymond and Geoff as they had brought the truck down, due to the fact that we only were able to take the transit van to the island.
From we got of the boat till we arrived in the paddock it done nothing but rain and Raymond had to get towed INTO the field !, At that stage it was all looking for another wet weekends racing, and that , I was not looking forward to! whilst we were putting up the awning ,it started to hail stone at one stage, nightmare or what, To be honest, I just wanted to go home at that stage.
Saturday morning and all was looking good weather wise, but the rain appeared again but Thankfully it wasn’t long before the sun came out and remained for the duration of the Practice. Thank God for that..
 Practice went fairly well ,I felt to be going well on the 250 but ended up my transponder wasn’t charged and they didn’t get a time for me but the timekeepers said they would let me of at the back of the front group..(Thanks) next up was the superbike and we ended up 4th quickest in that one only 0.2 of pole but one second covered the top eight so that was going to be a tight race come Sunday.
The 600 was the last practice for us and I got tied up with a few of the lads that I am not used riding with and there bikes were so fast down the start and finish straight, that they were literally blowing me away!, but when it came to the back section of the circuit, they were holding me up! were holding me. I am not being critical about that as every one deserves to be there and they have to start some were, nor am I the quickest out there either, but when I saw the times, and I was down in 13th, I was a wee bit taken aback! but again, I didn’t expect to be right at the front on the 600 as we are just down on top end speed at the minute, although, I was 13th place, I was only 1.4 seconds of pole so everyone seem to be going fast!, like the superbikes, it was going to be a tight race.
So that was practice all over for me but we had Mark Young out on the HM 250 honda in the 250/400 support class as Mark had gave Bob Patterson a help out all week when I was away in the Isle of Man to try and sort out the problems we have been having this season, This was the first time Mark has ever set his ass on a 250 and he looked at home on it right away by setting pole, which would have left him 4th quickest for the main 250 race it self.!!
With various phone calls back to Doctor Bob, Mark was all set to face his first race on a 250 and boy he didn’t let anyone down least of all, the HM team! he has done us all proud, and picked up his first win on the roads after leading from start to finish, well done young man… it will not be the last time you will see the number 88 on the HM 250…!!! I may be sacked after that performance…
After practice Stephen and his girl friend Michelle came to stay with us on Saturday night and brought the BBQ food with them to feed all the bears, many thanks to Michelle for looking after us boys it can be quite a mess 5 or 6 fellas in the same truck for more than 24 hours…
Sunday morning race day and it was nice to wake up to the sunshine again, needless to say there were a few boys hard to get out of there bed after a heavy night out, never mind the competition going on in the truck who could snore the loudest, mind you I though Simon was bad, BUT Geoffrey McElvogue wins it this time, ive ordered a micron silencer for him for Kells or he’s got the sack…!!
First race up was the 250 and I got a cracking start a led of the line from the third row of the grid as the race progressed I settled into third until the last lap then Andrew Courtney came close, Baylon was standing at the first corner and pointed back as I looked over my shoulder Andrew was right there and I knew I had a fight on my hands for third but I held it to the line by half a wheel.. cheers Baylor boy…. It was nice to get on the podium again on the little bike and as Mark got the Top step I would have to think up some Big excuse to tell Dr Bob..
 The first big bike race I got the worst start ever and was about 7th, it’s a hard place to pass unless you have a big advantage in speed, coupled with the fact that I over shot one of the road ends , nevertheless I ended up 5th, I feel that I am now starting to feel more comfortable on the big blade now, its just we have been on the back foot all year after missing out on Cookstown, Tandragee and NorthWest…
Next up was the 600 race and I was starting at the back of the second group so that was in my head get a good start and get the head down to make up time at the end of lap three my boys gave me a board that I was up to P3 so that was encouraging but by the flag I ended up 7th , I was happy enough with this, as it was a fair improvement on my qualifying time. The little 600 honda is the best 600 that I have ever ridden chassis wise , but its just down a little top end speed, so after the race we had arranged for young Ivan Linton, Yes, that’s the guy doing all the winning in the support class this year, that we would drop the engine out and he would drop it off with Guy Martin on Monday morning for Guy to do a little more work to it and bring it up to the same spec as his, so you can take it from me, Guy will be at Kells, cos he HAS to bring my wee engine back with him!!
Last race of the day was the Grand Final and the saying goes this is the one that counts, I got a good start and settled into third on the road ,with Roger Maher pushing me all the way, for some reason I feel a bit uncomfortable with Roger on my back wheel but it was good clean racing all the way I knew he would try me into the first corner so I had it worked out were to leave my braking on the last lap so that I could keep in front, sure enough he done what I expected and could not get stopped for the turn and went straight up the slip road, I then took no chances for the remainder of the lap cause I though no one was close, but Derek Brien caught me for third from the second group on corrected time by 0.2 of a second so I ended up fourth, I was gutted, but fair play to Derek he was there when it mattered, but it will not happen again, as Guy would say” ill be keeping them wire’s tight to the flag from now on!”
So that’s it for another week but Kells is only round the corner and it all starts again, from what I hear there is a big entry there so it will be tough going..
If any one is reading this and knows anyone that could lend Trevor Ferguson a 750 for the Manx could get in touch with my self or Baylon, it would be much appriciated…
JB #16
Pictures Baylon McCaughey and Geoff McElvouge
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