The Suzuki GSX-R600 had
started every time prior, but when
the moment came to fire up on
Glencrutchery Road—crickets.
With cameras pointing and on-
lookers onlooking, all I could do
was sit there as Paul and Scott
from PRF began dissembling
the bodywork on the grid to find
some electronic gremlin hiding
between the Suzuki's frame rails.
Johnny Barton waited and
waited, but eventually, he and the
three rookies in his care had to
go, leaving me stranded on the
grid and the organizers telling
Paul to take the bike and all its
bits back to the pits. We were
thus informed we would miss out
on the whole day of practice,
which, for a rookie like me, was
devastating news.
The whole experience was
topped by a kid on a BMX bike
with his buddies who came ask-
ing for an autograph in the pits
about an hour later.
"Was that your bike that
wouldn't start on the line?"
"Yes, mate, it was."
"Gee, that's a bit embarrassing,
innit?"
All I could do was laugh. I'd been
totally owned by an 11-year-old.
Full send at
the top of sixth
gear through
the daunting
Molyneux's
right-hander on
the final night of
practice.
started every time prior, but when
waited, but eventually, he and the
Eventually, Paul traced the
problem to a throttle position
sensor and the switch block on
the left handlebar that held the
pit lane speed limiter, and thanks
to Milky Quale, I managed to get
my rookie lap in at the end of the
day and was thus allowed to start
Sunday nights' practice.
THIS IS F'ING NUTS!
That first lap behind Milky was
an experience I will never, ever,
forget. Going down the Sulby
Straight, pinned in sixth gear while
trying like hell to keep Milky and
his CBR1000 RR-R SP marshal
bike in sight, I remember yelling in
my helmet, "this is f'ng nuts!"
FEATURE I 2022 ISLE OF MAN TT: PART 2
P100
