It was a similar routine to the previous days as that's how practice week goes. There's always lots of preparation and organisation to do during the day time and because you don't get finished in the evening's until 10pm, dinner and everything else goes out the window. Luckily, Robin (Croft) has been keeping me fed and watered during the day so that's been good.

 
I checked in on the Penz13.Com/Bathams BMW boys and gave them a list of jobs to do whilst the SMT/Carbridge Racing guys were still sorting out the 600 for me as we needed to get to the bottom of the quickshifter problem. I was also going to be out on the Paton and we fitted a higher screen although the sprockets we needed hadn't turned up. I need a smaller sprocket as I'm in top gear half way down Bray Hill when I shouldn't be.
 
It was good weather all round the course - although the flies were some of the worst I've ever known - and I was in the first couple of groups away again. It's so important, especially for me, to get as many laps in as possible so I was away with Hutchy at the front. He was doing his press-ups and had his helmet on about 30 minutes before we were due away so I could tell he was on for a flyer. I didn't want to hold him up so shouted across to tell him to go first.
 
I did two laps on the Superbike and am really happy with the bike now, it's just down to me to ride it harder and find that last bit. Sixth fastest on the night was good and I told the Germans how good the bike was working. I went back out on the Stocker but there's still something wrong with the traction and it's a really hard bike to ride. I can be flat out in fifth and closing the throttle when it jerks and feels like the brakes are on momentarily. I keep bashing my head on the screen and it's unnerving to say the least, especially as it happens in weird places.
 
The plan was to jump on the 600 but with the session being red flagged due to an incident, I had to make a decision and opted to take the Paton out instead. The gearing was wrong which meant we were down on speed but 111mph was a good start and it sounded fantastic. Every bike should sound like that and I was smiling the whole way round.
 
I just hope Friday goes to plan and we get to race on Saturday. You need your days off in between races and it's a lot more fun as you can relax and unwind that bit more. Fingers crossed.