Wins for Browne and Jordan at weather affected Classic TT.

The weather; that had been perfect throughout the Manx Grand Prix; continued to wreak havoc with the Classic TT race programme. Overnight rain and slow drying of the roads due the full leaf canopy on trackside trees led to the first of the delays forced upon Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson. Later heavy showers on various sections of the course caused the programme to be decimated and we only saw The Historic Senior (essentially four stroke engines up to 500cc) over 2 laps and the Historic Junior (up to 350cc) over a single lap. This meant that the Formula 1 machines never turned a wheel in anger. This is the second year in succession that fickle weather has ruined the best laid plans of the organizers. Cue keyboard warrior angst.

Vantage point for the day was at the exit to Parliament Square on the outside of the course. It was sunny when the race began, but after lap one darkening cloud began to collect overhead. It was good to ascertain that Alan Oversby and Mike Browne would be starters having escaped with just bruising from their offs at Brandywell in the Lightweight Race.

John McGuinness had the number 1 plate on the Winfield Paton; cutting the race distance meant no pit stops which played into his hands and made him favourite to win. Last year’s winner Shaun Anderson had a troubled practice; two engines failed and were combined to make one good unit for the race. He felt that it was not right on Quarter Bridge Road; it was no better on the gentle climb into Union Mills, so he parked it to prevent wrecking another engine. McGuinness used his experience to good effect; he knew where it would be safe to push hard; he led Norton ES2 mounted Mike Browne by 4.82s. Paul Jordan on a Davies Honda TX was 0.395s down on Browne in 3^rd.  Adam McLean, Dean Harrison and Ian Lougher completed our top 6.

McGuinness was first to Ramsey on the beautiful Paton; it sounded wonderful as he powered it out of the square. He was about to suffer a rear wheel puncture that ended his victory chances; he rode the machine cautiously back to the Grandstand to retire from the race. Paul Jordan suffered a mechanical problem that caused him to park his Yamaha TX in the square. The action was good for the spectators who had gathered around the square. Adam McLean and Mike Brown head down as they accelerated out of the square and away towards Cruickshanks. McGuinness led by 8.74s; Browne; on the all black Norton held 2^nd 2.925s ahead of McLean; his Enfield sounded superb. Harrison, Lougher and Joe Yeardsley held 4^th to 6^th. Yeardsley was soon to retire his Enfield at Brandywell.

McLean was fastest over the mountain, and he was now the race leader, 2.836s ahead of Browne as they began the final lap. Harrison was 3^rd, 16.29s down on McLean. Yeardsley’s misfortune had promoted Baz Furber into 6^th on his CB500. McLean had increased his lead to 4.783 at Glen Helen; could the bruised and battered Browne respond? The answer was in the affirmative; he had cut McLean’s advantage to 2.4s as they hopped their mounts over Ballaugh Bridge. At Parliament Square they were both on the ideal line; head down and going for it. Browne had erased McLean’s lead on the run towards Parliament Square. With 14 miles of racing left he led by 1.335s; would that be enough, given that McLean had been the faster over the mountain on lap 1?

At the Bungalow, McLean was only 0.868s behind McLean; this was shaping to be as close as the 1992 Heath / Swallow finish. With 1.1 miles to go the gap was a mere 0.316s; a real nail biter. McLean finished then had the agonising wait for Browne; who started 20s later; to do likewise – the watch stopped at 19.732s; Browne had won by 0.268s; his final lap was at 110.737mph; McLean’s was 110.457mph. Dean Harrison secured the final place by 5.213s from Lougher. Furber and Sweeney retained their leader board positions to complete; separated by only 0.002s. The race may have been short, but it was exciting. Browne gave the Peter lodge Racing Team the best possible reward for the time and money that they have invested in the bike; hopefully they will return to defend the title.

Classic TT Historic Senior

1. Mike Browne           Lodge Norton                                   110.142mph
2. Adam McLean         Flitwick Enfield                               110.130mph
3. Dean Harrison        Craven / Woof G50                        107.645mph
4. Ian Lougher            Winfield Paton                                 107.423mph
5. Baz Furber               Martin Ireland Honda                   105.875mph
6. Michael Sweeney    CSC / IMS Yamaha                        105.875mph

The weather granted a brief window that allowed the Historic Junior to be run as a one lap dash; at least the class had its own race; last year it had to be run concurrently with the Senior. John McGuinness had the number 1 plate on his Steadplan Honda; however, the practice times suggested that he would not be a major player in this race.  This was confirmed when Joe Yeardsley was first to arrive at Glen Helen; with McGuinness and Dean Harrison right behind him. The practice form was confirmed; Mikey Evans was the leader of the race by 7.52s at the Glen Helen timing beam. Paul Jordan held second, 1.76s ahead of Harrison. Jamie Coward, Joe Yeardsley and Dan Sayle completed the leader board.

For Mikey Evans the race ended at Ballaugh; the machine throwing in the towel. Jordan saw him pulling off the track and knew that he was now leading the race. He was 1.796s ahead of Harrison. Mikey’s ill luck promoted Davey Todd to 6^th. Harrison, Yeardsley and Coward were the first riders to reach, a briefly sunny, Ramsey. Jordan had increased his lead 3.122s; with Harrison 9.8s ahead of Coward. Yeardsley, Todd and Sayle completed the leader board.

Jordan’s lead was 8.494s at the Bungalow where Sayle was up to 5^th and Adam McLean 6^th. Jordan duly came home to much acclaim; having secured his first race win on the Mountain Course by 9.012s from Dean Harrison. Coward secured the final podium position by 14.671s from Dan Sayle. Yeardsley and McLean completed our top 6. Todd coaxed his machine to the finish; he was 1.978s ahead of last year’s winner Harley Rushton. Alan Oversby claimed his second 10^th placed finish; quite an achievement given his fall at Brandywell in the Lightweight Race and subsequent ride in the helicopter to Noble’s Hospital.

Classic TT Historic Junior

1. Paul Jordan           Davies Honda                                    103.890mph
2. Dean Harrison      Craven / Woof Honda                     103.179mph
3. Jamie Coward       Craven Honda                                   101.502mph
4. Dan Sayle               Chapman Honda                              100.401mph
5. Joe Yeardsley        Rutter Honda                                    100.290mph
6. Adam McLean       Flitwick Honda                                100.072mph

The return to a more normal; less compressed programme of events was universally welcomed. It worked well until the weather intervened. Hopefully this format will encourage more visitors to come to Ellan Vannin for next year’s offering.

My thanks go to Victoria and Phil for their input during the last two weeks.