Paul Owen wins inaugural PokerStars ‘Spirit of the TT’ Award TT rider Paul Owen, from Llangollen, Wales, has won the inaugural PokerStars ‘Spirit of the TT’ Award. The ‘Spirit of TT’ award is given to recognise a selfless contribution by an individual to the event’s success. The criteria for the award are based on key qualities such as innovation, leadership, teamwork, respect and integrity. The award is open to anyone who contributes to the event, such as riders, marshals and volunteers. The award is judged by representatives from the ACU, Isle of Man Government, TT sponsor PokerStars, Isle of Man Newspapers and Manx Radio. Paul was following close friend New Zealander Paul Dobbs on the track during the Supersport 2 Race. Following Paul Dobbs’ accident at Ballagarey, Paul Owen dismounted and assisted the marshals in controlling the incident. He took a flag and told the marshal waving it to go and attend to the rider and he would wave the flag. In doing this, Paul gave up his own race ambitions and also withdrew from the TT Zero Electric bike race. Geoff Corkish, MBE, MHK, The political member for Isle of Man Tourism, commented: “Paul’s actions typified the sense of community spirit that we value at the TT and on the Isle of Man and he is a very deserving winner of this inaugural award.” More, from a press release issued by Ryan Farquhar’s publicist: Farquhar ends TT2010 with brilliant runner-up spot in Senior TT Ryan Farquhar ended his 2010 Isle of Man TT campaign with a brilliant second place in Friday’s Senior race, the Blue Riband event of the fortnight. The first attempt to run the race was stopped after an incident involving Guy Martin who, thankfully, wasn’t seriously injured, and Ryan had retired at Cronk y Voddy but with the race declared null and void, he was able to take part in the re-start and grabbed the opportunity with both hands to record his ninth TT podium finish. It was a fuel pump problem that stopped Ryan in the first start but with the problem rectified, he was able to take his place on the line for the new, shortened, 4-lap race. A good start saw Ryan occupy fifth place at Glen Helen and he completed his opening lap at 129.613mph to hold onto the position, only 0.9s adrift of HM Plant Honda rider Keith Amor. On lap two, John McGuinness retired and Conor Cummins crashed, promoting him up to third although Cummins’ crash on the Mountain had delayed Ryan slightly, but the Manxman was, thankfully, reported to be conscious with arm and leg injuries. As the riders went into their fourth and final lap, Ryan was comfortable in third, 18 seconds behind Amor now but almost 50 seconds clear of fourth placed rider Bruce Anstey. However, there was more drama in store when Amor coasted to a halt in the identical spot to McGuinness so Ryan was now in a superb second with three quarters of the final lap left to complete. A final lap of 128.970mph saw Ryan duly cross the line in second place behind 5-times winner Ian Hutchinson and the celebrations could begin. Speaking afterwards, a delighted Ryan said; “This is absolutely brilliant and after sitting on the grass bank at the end of the Cronk y Voddy in the first part, to be sitting here now is unbelievable. The fuel pump had broken in the first race but the marshals let me ride the bike back and the boys in the team did a great job in fitting a new fuel pump and we were ready to go again. The changes we made to the bike in terms of slotting the Superbike engine into the Superstock chassis worked really well so I just rode as hard as I could throughout the race and I’m over the moon to finish 2nd.” “I got gifted a couple of places but I’ve led races and broke down in the past so with second in the Superstock race and second again today, I’ve had a good TT and I’ve got to say a big thank you to Nick Morgan, Kawasaki, Dunlop and everyone who helps and supports me as I wouldn’t be sitting here today if it wasn’t for them. It was great to stand on the Senior TT podium and meet Moto GP star Jorge Lorenzo’s whilst it’s a good job I didn’t get stuck into a beer when I retired in the first start!” Ryan now has a week break before his next race, the Bush Road Races, which take place on Saturday 19th June. More, from a press release issued by Keith Amor’s publicist: Amor’s Senior TT hopes dashed by final lap retirement Keith Amor’s hopes of ending his 2010 Isle of Man TT race campaign on a high were dashed when he was denied a podium position in the Senior TT with a final lap retirement. Riding the HM Plant Honda, Keith had recorded a personal best lap of the Mountain Course of 129.801mph which helped propel him to second but, with just 28 miles of the race to go, he was forced to stop with mechanical problems, a disappointing end to what had otherwise been an excellent week on the Island for the Falkirk rider. The first attempt at running the race was stopped on the third lap after an incident involving Guy Martin at Ballagarey but, thankfully, he wasn’t seriously injured although with the trackside bales having caught fire, the fire brigade had to attend to clear the scene. When it was re-started at 3pm, it was reduced to 4 laps in distance and although he was only in eighth place at Glen Helen, by the end of the opening lap he had fought his way up to fourth with a lap of 129.725mph. There was drama on the second lap when second placed John McGuinness retired at Glen Helen and Conor Cummins crashed at the Verandah and this promoted Keith up to second as he narrowly missed out on his first 130mph lap of the Mountain Course at 129.801mph. At this stage he was 27 seconds behind race leader Ian Hutchinson but on the third lap, Keith began to claw back some of this deficit and, aided too by a superb pit stop, the gap was 21 seconds going in to the last lap. However, as he approached Glen Helen for the last time, Keith coasted to the halt with a brake problem and his race was over, cruely denied another rostrum finish. Talking afterwards, Keith said: “I’m so disappointed that the week has ended like this as the bike was working so well and we were really ‘on it’ today. The boys at HM Plant have worked so hard this fortnight trying to improve the bike for me and the further adjustments we made for today’s race worked and the bike and Dunlop tyres were mega. The first start was going ok but I was only a few seconds behind Guy when he went down and as I crested the rise just before Ballagarey I saw a big puff of smoke in the air and the marshals running – I was so relieved when I got to the corner and saw him trying to crawl to the side of the road as I at least knew he was conscious and moving.” “I regrouped in time for the re-start and was ready to go and really got stuck in on the first lap. I made a couple of small mistakes but when John and then Conor went out, I was suddenly in second and all was well and looking good. However, on the final lap when I went through the traffic lights at Ballacraine, it felt like the rear brake was jamming on and the bike started to slow down. I tried to free it up and carry on but the bike kept slowing so I had to pull in at Glen Helen. I’m gutted, especially for all the boys at HM Plant. they’ve made me feel so welcome this fortnight and my crew chief Adrian Gorst is the most professional person I’ve worked with so I’ve learnt a lot and it’s been a pleasure to have been involved with the team. My own team have also worked incredibly hard and we’ve had some strong results so I’ll be back next year to try and get on to that top step.” Keith now has a well deserved break before his next meeting, the Skerries 100, which takes place on Saturday 3rd July. More, from a press release issued by Tim Reeves’ publicist: Reeves forced to retire from second Sidecar TT Tim Reeves’ hopes of a Sidecar win at the Isle of Man TT Races will have to wait another year as the Kent driver was forced to retire from Thursday’s second 3-lap race, his first DNF in three years of TT competition. Tim and passenger Dipash Chauhan had hoped to improve on the third place finish they had chalked up in last Saturday’s opening race but they were in trouble almost from the start with a overheating engine and they had to pull in at the Highlander. Although they were able to make adjustments and proceed, the problem returned and they retired for good at Glen Helen with a blown head gasket, their 2010 TT campaign over. With the race having been delayed 24 hours due to inclement weather, conditions were perfect for Thursday’s race, which got underway at 12.15pm, but Tim noticed on the start line that the engine was running at an unusually high temperature. The pairing set off but with water escaping from the outfit, covering Dipash on two occasions, a quick tap on Tim’s shoulder alerted him to the problem and he pulled in where they promptly tried to rectify the problem. However, it proved fruitless and although they were able to rejoin the engine continued to throw out water and they reluctantly pulled in. Speaking later, a disappointed Tim said: “I’m obviously gutted to have retired from the second race and, after third in the opening race, I was quietly confident on improving on that. The bike was running a bit hot on the start line, which I thought was a bit strange but I set off and got stuck in. I thought I felt Dips tap me on the exit of Quarter Bridge but carried on but when I felt a tap again on the exit of Union Mills, I knew something was wrong so pulled in a couple of miles later. It turned out the engine had chucked out water over Dips down Bray Hill and again at Union Mills so we got the fairing off and bled the bike to make sure there wasn’t an airlock in there, eventually being able to rejoin the race although we’d obviously lost a lot of time. However, it did the same thing again a bit further down the road so I stopped for good at Glen Helen.” “It’s a real shame for everyone concerned with the team and I’m disappointed to have had my first non-finish at the TT but that’s how this place can be sometimes. I’d just like to say a big thanks to Mark Middleton of Double M, the Haith’s, Dips and all the boys in the team for getting us out there on the grid this year and for all their hard work during the fortnight – I’ll be back next year to try again that’s for sure.” Tim will now turn his attention back to the World F1 Sidecar Championship with the next round taking place at Rijeka in Croatia next weekend. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Relentless by TAS Suzuki posted their second Superbike podium from the 2010 TT when Bruce Anstey fought through to third place in Friday’s re-started 4-lap Blue Riband Senior TT. It was Anstey’s 20th career TT podium and after a torrid week on the Isle of Man, the Windsor based Kiwi was delighted with the result, making the most of his good fortune after retiring from the first encounter, which was red flagged after an incident involving Guy Martin at Ballygarey on lap three. Cameron Donald was forced to retire at the end of lap 1 with an intermittent electrical problem, which was very disappointing for the Australian, as he had been within two seconds of early leader Ian Hutchinson at Glen Helen on the opening lap. Bruce Anstey: “I got a second chance and grabbed it with both hands. I’m happy for the team who have worked hard all week making many changes to the bikes for me; I’m also delighted for Suzuki which is here celebrating 50 years of racing and I think today we proved – like Cameron did in the Superbike TT last Saturday – that the GSX-R1000 Superbike is a strong and reliable machine. I just kept chipping away; it is the Senior TT after all and to get a podium in the main race of TT fortnight is very pleasing.” Cameron Donald: “I’m obviously bitterly disappointed not to have finished the race, as I was fired up and ready to have a go today. For the Senior, we decided that my first lap pit-boards would show the deficit to the leader and not the man in front of me. So when I saw I was only two seconds back on my first signal, I knew we were on the money. I was catching Keith Amor in front of me on the run to Ramsey when the surging started and it gradually got worse over the Mountain. The bike just didn’t feel right and I didn’t want to take any chances. The boys did all they could for me today and I gave it my best shot.” Philip Neill – Team Manager: “It has been a rollercoaster TT for the whole team, but as I said earlier in the week, we have been coming here long enough to understand the pitfalls. We struggled with set-up this TT, and when riders start to swap back and forward trying to find the perfect set-up it doesn’t help their confidence. In saying that, we have come away with podiums in the two main races, again demonstrating the pedigree of the GSX-R1000 Superbike, and I have to say I’m proud of the effort from both riders today. “Cameron had an electrical cut-out problem that is one of those horrible little things that can halt such a good run, and but for that, he was right in there with the leaders as we saw on lap 1 of the re-start. Bruce rode his luck a little, but stuck with it, and as he discovered, perseverance pays off. “We are delighted to be able to close the TT with a podium for Suzuki, Relentless and all our sponsors, and I’m sure we will re-group and come back to the 2011 event as a much stronger team.” Senior TT Results: 1 Ian Hutchinson [Honda] 1hr 10min:24.59s; 2 Ryan Farquhar [Kawasaki] 1hr 11min:02.36s; 3 Bruce Anstey [Relentless by TAS Suzuki] 1hr 11min:38.08s; 4 Ian Lougher [Kawasaki] 1hr 12min:0157s; 5 Michael Rutter [Honda] 1hr 12min:10.74s; 6 Dan Stewart [Honda] 1hr 12min:33.57s. More, from a press release issued by Isle of Man TT organizers: SUZUKI CELEBRATE 50 YEARS IN GRAND STYLE AT THE TT The 2010 Isle of Man TT races finished in grand style today – quite literally, as the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Team came to town to celebrate Suzuki’s 50th anniversary of International Racing, with Italian legend Loris Capirossi and the GSV-R 800 MotoGP machine. With Capirossi making his maiden visit to the Island, the MotoGP rider, who started his 300th Grand Prix in Qatar at the start of the season, arrived on Thursday to acclimatise himself with the Isle of Man before riding the 37.73 mile course. On the final, Dainese Senior Race day, Capirossi lead away the Suzuki parade on a Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 for his first ever lap of the famous TT course and afterwards commented, “This place is incredible. I’ve seen the TV footage before, but nothing prepares you for the TT course. The surface is much bumpier than I imagined and when you see the speeds that these guys run at, it is simply amazing. It’s a fantastic event that you could never replicate anywhere else in the world.” As the final race of the week concluded, Suzuki signed-off the 2010 racing fortnight, with the first ever lap of the TT course by a MotoGP machine, with Relentless Suzuki by TAS TT racer Cameron Donald riding the GSV-R and setting a fastest top speed down Sulby straight at 202mph. Donald commented, “Man, that was just amazing. I thought the bike would be really difficult and twitchy to ride, but it was great. I was expecting to ride a steady lap, but it was so good that I was able to get a great rhythm going and pick up a fast pace. In fact, it was so good, I reckon we need to get some regulation changes for next year as this thing with a few more laps on it, would really fly here.” Despite not looking to smash any records, Donald still managed to set a highest top-speed, with 202mph recorded on the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R down Sulby straight. More, from a press release issued by John McGuinness’ publicist: McGuinness denied Senior TT glory John McGuinness was denied a 16th win at the Isle of Man TT Races on Friday when he was forced to retire from the Senior race, the final race of the 2010 event. The HM Plant Honda rider was leading the initial race before it was stopped due to an accident and was lying in second in the re-start just half a second shy of eventual winner Ian Hutchinson. However, an electrical problem on the second lap meant he had to stop at Glen Helen and, for the first time since 1996, the year he made his debut, he failed to grace a TT podium. The initial 6-lap race got underway at 12.30pm and John led at Glen Helen on the opening lap but by the end of the first 37.73 miles he was back in fourth with less than four seconds covering the leading quartet. On the second lap, John really got into his stride and a lap of 131.135mph saw him take over the lead although it was still very close, his advantage over second placed Guy Martin just under a second. However, on the third lap, Martin crashed heavily at Ballagarey, fortunately escaping serious injury, but his machine set fire to the protective hay bales and the race had to be red flagged, ultimately declared null and void. The race was re-started at 3pm but cut to 4 laps and it was almost a carbon copy of the first race, John, Ian Hutchinson and Conor Cummins running at an almost identical pace, only Martin now missing from the equation. Hutchinson led on the opening lap with John in second as the gap between the two fluctuated at each timing point, Hutchinson leading by 1.25s at Ramsey. A lap of 131.410mph by John saw him cut the gap to 0.61s but as he swept through Glen Helen on the second lap, the bike cut out and he coasted to a halt just past the first timing point, the problem later diagnosed as a broken kill switch. Speaking later, a disappointed John commented: “The bike was running faultlessly throughout but as I took the last left hander through Glen Helen, the bike just stopped like someone had switched the engine off. I started pressing buttons and clicking things but it was all to no avail and it’s probably a 10p wire that’s broke and cost me today. I’ve had no luck at all at this year’s TT and I’ve now been forced to retire from the last 3 Superbike races through no fault of my own so I’m gutted that I haven’t been able to take a win this year.” “The pace was red hot and there was nothing between any of us but I felt really good out there and the conditions were getting better and better so it was going to be a fantastic race. It wasn’t meant to be for me this year I guess and I feel for the team as they’ve all worked so hard to give me a bike to do the job. That’s the TT for you though and, as we all know, anything can happen so I’ll move on and look to put it all right next year and get back to winning ways.” It’s now back to short circuit action for John with the next round of the National Metzeler 1000cc Superstock Championship taking place at Silverstone next weekend, June 18-20.