racing | The Isle of Man TT

IOMTT: Hickman’s maiden victory

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Posted on Jun 7, 2018 by The Isle of Man TT

…and this was what followed the Supersport 1 race on Monday just an hour or two later.

After we had all just learnt the sad news regarding Adam Lyon, it was time to go racing again. There really isn’t much time to digest what had occurred in the previous race. I don’t really think it’s a good idea to have that time to digest if I’m honest. These racers, well, for some of them this isn’t just a hobby – it’s a job. They have a job to do and that’s to place their machine as high as they possibly can as well as grabbing some new PB’s whilst they’re at it. Sometimes your head just isn’t in it and that’s okay. It’s about recognising that it isn’t. That’s the key. Earlier on in practice week we saw William Dunlop pull out of this year’s TT due to his own personal reasons. I respect him for that as does everyone else. It was clear his head and maybe his heart just wasn’t in it this year, but he’ll be back. He’s a Dunlop after all.

They line the machines up from 1 – 20 along the start line one after the other. The teams run around like little ants shoving tyre warmers on, doing final checks and most importantly making sure there’s someone holding that brolly because it is majorly hot here. My TT tan is current at level Hizzy helmet pink, but I would probably guess that it will upgrade to the next level come Wednesday. Dressed in their leather suits whether they be RST or Alpinestar, Sidi or Daytona boots. They must be roasting. And then on goes the lid. It’s race time.

Off they go one by one with 20 seconds in between. Harrison led Dunlolp by 3.5s at Glen Helen on the first lap with Gary Johnson slotting into third. Michael Rutter, James Hillier and David Johnson completed the top six. Notably newcomer Davey Todd (who I will keep raving about because I honestly think he’s been bloody amazing round here to date) was up into 9th. Oddly Peter Hickman appeared way down the list in 10th and was not where he was expected to be. Later it was confirmed that Hickman had indeed run on at the Braddan oak tree and was told by a marshal he would have to do around a 6-point turn to go back round the tree the correct way. After the Superstock race Hickman stated he had mis-judged his braking point after finishing a four-lap race on a little 600. Clearly the braking points are very different between the Supersport and Superstock machines with the 1000cc out-the-show-room bike needing a longer braking period due to its weight and bhp.

By the time they had reached Ballaugh Harrison’s lead was up to 4.4s and at Ramsey he was up to 4.8s. Except for mechanical issues, this year it really seems like Harrison is the one to beat. He’s been pushing these lap times out quicker than anyone has ever seen before. He sounds and looks more determined than ever and he’s ready to increase his tally of TT wins. Another ‘H’ was now joining the party however. Hickman had picked up his pace after a rookie error and he was back up from 10th into the 3rd position – 6s behind Dunlop, 3.5s ahead of Rutter. Johnson had filtered down to fifth and wasn’t able to keep up the pace he had initially started from the Grandstand to Glen Helen.

It was getting exciting. The excitement was building on the grass bank and everyone was cheering as Hickman climbed up the rankings. I’m happy to cheer on every rider going – I think it’s spectacular what each and every one of them do whether they finish 1st, 34th or retire. They’re all insanely talented and world-class racers to take on this Mountain course. I for one, as always, couldn’t help but watch in awe as they flew past Kirk Michael filling station appearing on the left-hand side of the road less than an inch away from the curb right in front of me. A quick flick to the right-hand side of the road to kiss the long grass emerging from the hedge where the ’40’ speed limit sign hides. A little jump, a bit of an arse-end wiggle, and they’re gone. Onto Rhencullen 2, through the straight a Bishopscourt, round bendy Alpine and into Ballaugh quicker than you could say ‘what a race!’

At Ramsey it was still Harrison, Dunlop, Hickman. Harrison was slightly under the outright Superstock lap record with a lap of 133.073mph, but 4.3s ahead ahead of Dunlop. Hickman only a further 3.3s behind Dunlop. Then they were onto lap 2 – the lap with the pit stop. A lap where everything can be won or lost. As they got to Glen Helen, Harrison’s lead was up to 5.7s, Hickman was continuing his charge and slicing through the seconds that stood between him and the second place Dunlop currently held. By Ballaugh, second was his by 0.8s. The race was hotting up, so were the roads and my bare arms. We were in for a close race both time-wise and on the roads. We were ready. It was time to see what these boys could do.

At Ramsey Hairpin Hickman had eaten into Harrison’s lead which was down to only 2.4s. Hickman had managed to keep Dunlop at bay with a 2.2s gap back to third. Rutter was still hanging onto fourth, but David Johnson and Hillier were tearing up rubber and heading his way. It was announced over the radio the Cummins had retired at Ballaugh Bridge. Gutted. Truly gutted. The whole crowed at Rhencullen deflated a little bit. Whether you’re Manx or not, to come back and race this 37.73 mile course which spat you off 8-years-ago causing pretty significant damage is gutsy. It’s amazing and it’s brave. It’s fantastic to see how determined Cummins had been to get back on a bike and to race round his home course once again. He’s a pleasure to watch round here and a credit to the Padgett’s Honda team.

Back at the front Hickman was still on that quick lap… a quick lap which saw him smash the lap record put it in a 134.077mph giving him a 1.2s lead over Harrison with Dunlop 1.8s behind in third. Just three seconds covered the top three. Insane. These road racers were in another league, a league of their own, a race against the road, against the time, against each other. It was on and it looked as though Hickman was there to stay at the top of the timing. David Johnson had moved on up into fourth after hunting down Rutter, but this was only one second that stood between Johnson, Rutter and Hillier. Us spectators were in for a treat, a frightening one maybe, but they were all so bunched up on the roads – it’s nothing like I’ve ever seen before!

Then Davey Todd. 127.890mph. The second fastest newcomer ever to lap this Mountain course which saw him take 7th place on lap 2.

As I was saying, a race can be won and lost in the pits. We definitely saw some shuffling oing on as Dunlop hit the top of the timesheets at Glen Helen on lap three after a blistering pit stop. All credit to those who are involved in the pits. They have such a vital job, a job which is out of the racers hands and they rely so much on their team to ensure everything is present and correct. Hickman had slipped back into third with Harrison remaining in second. Johnson was hanging onto fourth, Rutter was down to sixth and Hillier in fifth. Gary Johnson was announced as a retirement despite seemingly having the pace at the beginning of lap 1. Gary – go visit those fairies and ask for some luck as all you seem to get is the shit end of the stick!!

Dunlop was still the race leader at Ballaugh, but only by 0.178s as Hickman had re-grouped, his head was clearly back on track. Harrison was still hanging on only 1s behind Hickman. The battle for fourth was still cracking as Hillier and Johnson were fighting hard – only 0.047s between them. Then we were back to Ramsey. Glen Helen to Ramsey appears to be a quick section for Hickman. He always jokes about being shit on the first lap, I think I would be to trying to get your head into speeds like that and still managing to pick out P1 +0.178. But seriously, that man is quick and he was back in P1 +0.87s at Ramsey. Up the Mountain and down. Round the creg-ny-baa pub, down through hillberry and sign-post corner into Governor’s and onto the start/finish… lap four – it’s gonna be a corker.

Half a second. That’s all. Only half a second between Hickman and Dunlop. Could you even imagine that? You would think not much could happen in 0.5s, but if you think that you’ve never been to the Isle of Man TT.

The sun was still blazing, but a light breeze had appeared. At Glen Helen Hickman had pulled another eight tenths of a second out, but Dunlop was responding and he was responding quick. The gap was down to 0.146s at Ramsey. That’s now less than half a second to think about… it takes me longer than 0.146s to change gear never mind grab some clutch, some brake, change gear, throw your weight to the left than back to the right ready to twist that throttle some more. I don’t know how they do it! With Hickman obviously catching a glimpse of a pit-board showing Dunlop’s pace increasing it was down to him to do the same. And so he did. Hickman set the fastest eever sector time form Ramsey to the Bungalow then for the Bungalow to Cronk-ny-Mona… followed by a new lap record on a stocker of 134.403mph.

It was beginning to look too close to call, but after Hickman set a sensational lap of 134.403mph he took the chequered flag and became an Isle of Man TT winner for the very first time. Huge congratulations! Us spectators can only dream about what it must feel like to race around here let alone put in a new stocker lap record followed by a win. Incredible scenes and what a race it was to watch. A pleasure to listen to and, although I love a Dunlop on the top of the podium, so amazing to see someone take their first TT win after such a hard four-lap battle. Dunlop took second 4.4s behind and Harrison took third. Johnson won that incredible battle for fourth with Hillier and Rutter fifth and sixth respectively. Sam West had a mega race and finished in 8th as top privateer and it was newcomer Todd who rounded out the top ten. I can imagine he’ll be snapped up pretty sharpish by a team in that paddock this week.

That Superstock race was sensational. The crowds were wild for Hickman and I still think there’s more people on this tiny little island in the middle of the Irish Sea than I have seen in years. Probably the last time I remember it looking and feeling this busy was back in 2003. The atmosphere is just incredible and of course the weather helps, but I can’t help but feel that this year the Isle of Man TT has found its mojo again. Maybe next year, it’ll be even bigger than ever before with the likes of John McGuinness back to race the Norton and Hutchinson hopefully back to full fitness. I’d also like to mention a huge get well soon to Bruce Anstey who is currently undergoing treatment. I know there’s a huge amount of people who are missing the Flying Kiwi both on the roads and in the paddock. Keep on fighting!!

For now the racing will go quiet and take a day’s rest. The action returns on Wednesday for the second Supersport race followed by the Lightweight TT.

IOMTT: Supersport 1

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Posted on Jun 5, 2018 by The Isle of Man TT

RACE DAY, RACE DAY. EVERY ONE UP. LETS GO.

7am we were up. Packing our cool box with Monster Energy Rossi Edition, sausages, burgers and bacon. Snack box was overflowing, but we were ready. 7:30am we were in the van fully loaded for the day and heading 2 minutes down the road to Rhencullen where we were to plonk ourselves on the grass bank for the forseeable.

Our view just before roads closed – Rhencullen 1

The sun was baking. I’m very fair-skinned. I don’t tan. I turn a bright shade of tomato then return to my pasty self. I thought we had prepared for every eventuality, but nope. I’d forgotten my hat. Suncream was applied, but even at 8am the sun was already turning bald heads pink and I had resigned to the fact I probably wouldn’t make it through both the Supersport and Superstock races. Instead I would probably be sat in the back of the van with a sulk on because it would either be that or burn baby burn!

Roads closed at 10am sharp. Like clockwork. It’s amazing to see how quickly the roads are closed, how organised. There’s never (usually) any bother with getting motorists off the road. Just lately it’s been the spectators causing issues instead. After I’d climbed through the farmers fence, narrowly avoided a nettle to the face and escaped any injury, I was up on the grass bank with legs dangling. Now you might think that’s dangerous. Why would you sit with your legs dangling whilst motorbikes fly through at 150mph+ about an inch away from the curb you’re closest to? Actually, I can’t really answer that except for at least my feet weren’t touching the pavement! This truly is the closest you will ever get to racing and this is exactly why you won’t find me in a grandstand at a BSB or MotoGP in the UK because there is no way you’re sticking me behind a load of chicken wire so I can look on a big screen. Nope. I want to be right there. A stones throw away. (In fact one clipped my nose on Monday, but that’s another story.) The TT and road racing in general really does spoil you. So, I’m sat on the grass bank like a pig in muck. Sun is out, I’ve eaten by bacon bap and I’m just patiently waiting listening to the radio build-up. Roads are closed and there’s a nosher stood in his socks on the road. I just don’t understand. Clearly a biker with his leather trousers on, guessing his feet were too hot in his boots. I couldn’t smell the pong, but the sweat was showing. I’m tutting, shaking my head. There’s no way he didn’t know the roads were closed. It was bellowing out all through the field. Yet still he has to be told by a marshal to get off the road and even then it took him a few minutes to realise…

Michael Dunlop appeared to be the favourite before the race had even begun after his Superbike win on Saturday. Sure, he was probably still on a high from that too, but this is a different machine. It’s pretty much full throttle 80% of the time as opposed to a Superbikes and now it was time for the 600’s, it was time to thrash the nuts off them.

After a disappointing Saturday for Harrison, despite becoming the outright lap record holder, I was sure he was going to push for a win. Conor Cummins, a favourite being a Manxman, gives me a little laugh when I see him on a 600. He’s probably around 6’4″ and yet still manages to wrap himself round that Padgett’s Honda. It must be like some sort of origami! Still quick though and definitely one to watch especially since that number 1 plate he’s sporting seems to be suiting him well. That number 1 plate isn’t for everyone. It’s the road sweeper. You’re the first out onto the road. You find the wet patches, the little stones in the road. You disturb the little birdies in the trees with the roar of a Superbike/sport machine. You have a clear road ahead of you and John McGuinness always said it can feel lonely. If you’re winning a race you know because there will be no one in front of you. You could go a whole 4 or even 6 laps round the TT course without seeing a single bike on the road next to you unless you find a couple of back markers. No carrot dangling in front of you, no one to catch. It’s just you and the road – something Cummins appears to be gluing well with.

…and Cummins heads off over St Ninian’s and down Bray Hill with a full twist of the throttle, but it’s Harrison who took the lead through Glen Helen on the opening lap holding a 1s lead over Dunlop, James Hillier in third. It was a ‘watch this space’ kinda lap. Watching the live timing you could see that Dunlop was on a stonker of a lap which brought the gap down to just 0.2s at Ballaugh. By the time they’d laid their rubber down at Ramsey Hairpin Dunlop had taken the lead by a mere second. Hillier was now in the race for third as Peter Hickman started to pick up the pace drastically. He was 8s adrift of Hillier, but only 0.2s ahead of Cummins.

128.265mph was Dunlop’s opening lap average speed placing him 1.7s ahead of Harrison. Hillier was currently at the shit end of the third place battle as Hickman now had a 2.5s advantage and had taken that third position. 3 laps left, a lot of time to win or lose and Harrison decided he wasn’t having any of the ‘raging bull’ taking yet another TT victory. At Glen Helen Harrison had started to pull back the time ever so slightly and with Hickman 14.2s behind he didn’t have anyone breathing down his hump.

Harrison didn’t stand a chance. Dunlop had pulled another second out the bag at Ballaugh and by Ramsey the gap was 4.6s. It felt like Harrison was riding the arse off that Kawasaki, but Dunlop just kept pulling and pulling. His style of riding is so aggressive, but I actually think it’s what those 600’s need. You’re constantly throttle open, dancing on the pegs to pull the bugger from the right to the left and then up-right and back to the left and so on. They might be smaller machines, but they take some muscle.

End of lap 2 marks the first and only pitstop in the four-lap Supersport race… and there it was – another lap record smashed! Dunlop finished his second lap at 129.197mph breaking his own record which was set back in 2013. That aggression was so visible on the road. He was ready for this win, he was on it. A 6.4s advantage was something Dunlop could keep under control. Harrison remained in second with Hickman a whopping 22.7s behind. Hillier was putting on the pressure for Hickman with only a gap of 3.6 determining the third position… and Hillier was leading on the road. A mega pitstop by Hillier’s team and a longer than anticipated pitstop for Hickman meant the gap narrowed to only 0.2s at Glen Helen. By the time the pair were through Ballaugh it was Hillier in that third position, but only by 0.6s. At Ramsey that had doubled.

Going into the fourth and final lap there were no records broken. The third lap took the pit stop into consideration, but now they were all on flyers. Dunlop and Harrison were together on the road with the official gap being 9.4s. Watching those two together on the road was just magical… with a slight hint of fire. They both have very different riding styles. As I said before, Dunlop is quite aggressive. He literally looks like a bull in a china shop. Harrison doesn’t look so heavy footed on a bike, but he’s mainly elbows out with his head down. Harrison clearly had his carrot and he was ready to bite the arse end off it… but unfortunately just couldn’t keep up with Dunlop’s pace.

Harrison led on the road to the finish line, but being the gentleman he is let Dunlop through to take the chequered flag. Such an amazing show of sportsmanship – it really gives you a hint of what this road racing family is like. Yeah, they’re all competitors. There can be tensions in the paddock, although I think most of them have gone since a certain tea-drinker hasn’t been around, and they clearly all want to win and be on that rostrum. Yet they are the first people to congratulate each other whether that’s first, second or 30th. Everyone who finishes their race round this monster of a course deserves a pat on the back. It is ruthless on both body and machine. It is why we race.

Harrison finished in second 0.258s ahead of Hickman who had finally put Hillier into fourth by 1.8s. Cummins finished in fifth, Brookes sixth on the McAms Yamaha. Huge congratulations to newcomer Davey Todd who finished 12th – one of the road’s rising stars as you’ll soon see. He’s a little bit special in my opinion, he’s one to watch.

During the post-race press conference the top three finishers mentioned an incident on the Mountain section during the Supersport race. Nothing had been mentioned by the race officials. Everyone was buzzing after that race. We all sat on our grass bank. Some with sandwiches, some with their coffee. We’d cracked open the barbecue as per, beef burgers topped with bacon were on the menu and a can on Monster, listening to the radio whilst the crossing points were open. My other half was laughing at me sat in the back of the van munching on my burger – happy as larry – and then I hear the sentence I hate.

‘ACU Events Ltd have released a statement’

Shit – no. I run over to the fence to catch the announcement. Another racer was living their dream to the very end. The statement reads as follows:

ACU Events Ltd regrets to confirm that Adam Lyon, 26, from Helensburgh in Scotland was killed in an incident during the Supersport 1 Race today at the Isle of Man TT Races. The accident occurred at Casey’s, just after the 28th mile of the course, on the 3rd lap of the race.

Gutted. Heartbroken for his family & friends. Made even harder when you note he was a newcomer. It was Lyon’s first ever time competing on this beautiful island. The first night of practice he was shown round by Milky Quayle on a speed controlled lap, then not long after the 3 newcomers were released to go about their racing career on this amazing course. All week the newcomers had been fast. Not quite as fast as Hickman when he came over a newcomer, but they weren’t far off. It scared me if I’m honest. These were newcomers and they were doing the same lap times as someone just outside of the seeded 1 – 20. Are they just oozing talent, or are they going all balls out? Most likely both. You don’t get offered a newcomers spot at the TT if you hadn’t proved yourself somewhere else, if there wasn’t a spark. There are strict rules and ultimately it is down to the race officials as to whether you are ready or not to tackle this course. Lyon’s had qualified 24th in the Supersport race with a fastest lap of 122.261mph and on his opening lap of the race he’d managed a 122.636mph. In an instant, he was gone.

I don’t know what happened up on the Mountain. The red flag didn’t appear, the situation was obviously controllable through waived yellows. Hickman said that he and others had slowed down considerably due to the incident, but hoped that everyone was okay – that glimmer of hope so quickly taken away. Lyon’s along with Dan Kneen were both doing something they were passionate about, something they loved and lived for. Tonight I watched the red arrows over Douglas Bay. I winced more watching them cross paths at a speed I dread to think about. An accident could have so easily have occurred, yet you don’t see many people complaining about how dangerous the red arrows are and how they should be banned. People see the red arrows practicing, people don’t necessarily see our TT racers practicing. Hickman, for example, is in BSB. He races most weekends during the season. He’s accustom to his machines despite circuit racing being a different discipline. The Dunlop’s are born and bred road racers and they attend many of the Irish road races before and after the TT. Many of the racers are involved in circuit racing or other small road races during the season. If they weren’t they wouldn’t be granted their Mountain licence – it’s not an easy process. Just because you watch the Isle of Man TT, please don’t think this is purely what these racers do. Yes – it is most likely their biggest two weeks of their racing calendar. It takes months of preparation every year if not more and ultimately it takes years to learn this course properly. I won’t blabber on about how they all know the risks because we should be fully aware of all that from when we heard the devastating news about Dan Kneen. Just be thankful you got to see these men race, you got to see them achieving their dreams.

Adam Lyon

My thoughts are with all of Adam’s family and friends at this sad time. I hope it brings them some comfort to know he was doing what he loved, what he wanted and ultimately living that dream right to the very end.

…and then we went again because, as we all know, it’s what we do, it’s all we know.

Next up – Superstock Race 1.