Welcome to the beta version of the new Women & Golf website. Our web monkeys are still hard at work and welcome your feedback.  

Advertisement

Gary Johnson's TT 2018 diary: part one

Well, after a trouble-free North West 200, it's been a problematic TT so far and whilst we arrived with good bikes, what worked in Ireland hasn't worked here around the Mountain Course!.

On the opening night of practice, I only got as far as Crosby on the opening lap when the bike let go and although I got back out on the Lightweight machine, I had to stop a few times and ended up with a 91mph lap! With the weather being so good, some riders got in six laps so it was a disappointing night for both me and the team.

We knew the Chinese bike wasn't ready to go as a few bits need to sorted but we've fed back to China and they're sending some bits over whilst the bike's been up to Ramsey to get a bit of welding done to the exhaust so we'll be ready for the next session.

Advertisement

On Monday night, I headed out on the Stocker first and when I hit the bottom of Bray Hill, the rear shock bottomed out which nearly threw me over the handlebars and the handling wasn't right over the Mountain so I just trundled back. I could have pushed harder but it was the first night and 126mph was an ok start. I jumped onto the Superbike but that wasn't running right which we later traced to a faulty fuel pump so I finished the night with two laps on the Stocker.

However, we had a bit of a breakdown in communication as the team only wanted me to do one lap, which I mis-heard, and I ended up running out of fuel at Ballacraine on my second lap....

So, as you can see, it's been a bumpy start but Tuesday was a bit better and the changes we'd made to the front end of the Superbike were definitely a step forward. Dean (Harrison) came by me and I stayed with him for three miles and he looked like he was pushing hard and, of couse, he was extremely fast. I'm not ready to push anywhere near as hard as I would normally so chipped away and although the clutch started to slip at Kirk Michael which allowed the riders behind to catch back up, it was a 126.5mph lap.

I did get two laps in on the 600 as well, albeit with a lot of traffic around the course, so that's qualified now. It wasn't pulling too strong though even though everything on the dyno looked good so there's definitely a bit of work to do on all of the bikes. The team are all working well and we're making changes and improvements all the time though and there's still plenty of practice sessions to go.

Away from the track, I'm getting looked after well in the paddock by Stuart Andrews, Simon's Dad, and we've all been enjoying some nice food down at L'Experience. 

Articles you may like

Advertisement

More TT and Road Racing

Advertisement
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram