Rob had an incredible ride in both the junior and the senior although the bad communication of the officials robbed him of a bronze replica. The Triumph never missed a beat and was outstanding though out the NW200 and the TT. He wouldn’t hesitate on riding one again and would prefer it over the jap bikes.
The Junior was a disaster as the bike was first through technical inspection at 08:00am, but just before the gate was opened to the circuit Rob broke a clip on his visor. In a mad rush he ran to his caravan to replace it. His team not knowing the rules, as it was also there first time at the TT left the bike in the holding area, to await his return. Anyway James Mcbrides mechanics put them right and they got the bike to the line, all be it late. The officials informed them that Rob would start from the back and his time would be adjusted (As at the TT the time is started from number 1 and every number after increment’s by 10seconds behind). So rob started in 90 instead of 79th which is a 2 minute delay. By the time rob got to the grid he could have started in his position but the officials reassured him that his time would be corrected. So he set off and rode his Triumph hard instantly doing 114.3mph on his first flying lap which was 4mph up on his qualifying time. He passed 5 riders on his first lap and 7 in total. He was really flying, his pit stops where awesome. He finished the race was really up beat and felt fast. After collecting his time sheets he notices the times hadn’t been adjusted and that people he passed on the road beat him. So he made the error clear to the office officials. They notified the clerk of the coarse and he wouldn’t adjust the time as he says he wouldn’t because the bike was late out of the holding area gate. What a joke! Communication between the officials on the start and the clerk of the coarse need major improvement. What we believe where the really reasons why his time wasn’t adjusted is because the Clerk of the coarse forgot because he wasn’t a top rider and then he didn’t want be seen amending the time sheets ‘ to save face’ What makes it even harder is Rob would have received a Bronze replica which would have been an amazing achievement in a very hard race where the lap record was broken by 4 riders. Never mind everyone know what Rob achieved.
The senior race rob started from #71 his lowest start number. Again Rob rode the Triumph. He started ok but was thrown by the fog on the mountain as he had never experience this before so was unsure what the grip was like although he still managed a 113mph opening lap. His first pit stop was good but his second was a disaster as he changed his helmet, his ear plug fell out. So loosing time making sure it was back in. Any odds Rob still rode hard. On his last lap he was over whelmed by the amount of support for him all around the circuit. Rob finished 4th fastest Newcomer and the 5th fastest 600 and the only British bike to finish.
Please see attach pictures of Rob and the team reluctantly handing the Triumph back to Matt at Robinsons of Rochdale.
All in all Rob love the TT and described it as ‘the best circuit ever’ Rob would like to thanks Dave Dearden and Matt Walmesley (Robinsons of Rochdale), Dave Cottrell (Cross Lane MOT station), Andy & Nick White ( Kais Performance), Martin (MTC Exhausts), Mick (Warwicks Motorcycles), Phil (Dad), Phil Pilling, Frank, Anna Berry, and all the marshals and spectators at the TT.
Rob would like to pass on his condolences to the family of Mark Ramsbotham who died in a crash at the 26th Milestone on the 5th lap off the senior race. Rob was privileged to know Mark and remembers him as a top guy and a talented rider.
- 'Bullet' Barber
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