Notes From A Really Small Island

It was quite a strange feeling inside as we flew across the Irish Sea to the fabled Isle of Man and the 2018 TT for practice week and the Superbike TT. Strange in so much as I had little idea of what to expect and what the three days on the island would have in store for me. As it turned out I witnessed the very best and the very worst of what those 37.73 miles of tarmac can offer; the ultimate highs, the ultimate lows and almost every emotion that resides in between.

This isn't going to be an all-consuming post about how the TT has changed my life because it hasn't - although I confess it has had a profound effect although I'm still processing why - nor will it be about how I now view every other other race series as inferior or less exciting, because I don't. Each series, whether it be MotoGP, World Superbikes or British Superbikes, retains it's own merits and levels of bravery and skill. I kept an open view on what I was to see, hear and experience on 'the rock'. I've been a fan of motorcycle racing for some forty years and seen every side of it, well, or so I thought...

Braddan Bridge, 30 May 2018 was the spot where I took my first view of the Isle of Man TT riders on circuit. I've followed the TT since the days of Joey Dunlop's 'V4 Victory' and ''The New Pretender' in Steve Hislop but I was wholly unprepared for the first-hand experience of being there. People will say there are 'better' places to watch than Braddan Bridge, however with a flight arrival time of late afternoon, it was the closest place to reach before the practice session got underway. 

One thing is absolutely for certain, anyone who's anyone who has been to the TT will take great delight in telling you the best places to watch from, and with around 200 corners and bends to choose from there is no clear winner of 'Best TT Spot to Watch From' 2018. With only 3 practice sessions and a race to witness, we were limited for opportunities but we gave it our best shot and Braddan was a good first spot to spectate from; a little churchyard fronting the road with a good view as the riders accelerate away up the rise.

The one thing that made the biggest impression on seeing the bike pass for the first time? Not the noise, as impressive as it was, or the speed, there are infinitely faster points to view from, no, it was the wind. The air displaced by 1000cc machines accelerating hard away from the bridge almost under the churchyard wall, kicking up leaves, dust and road detritus in their wake. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced at any circuit and nor will likely ever experience anywhere else. You FEEL the bikes as well as see and hear them. It's truly an assault on the senses.

With the first lap of practice underway, and just about managing to process just what the hell I was watching, the Red Flag was shown. At that point little did we know just what was unfolding a few miles further round the course. Information available in the circumstances proceeding any official announcement is scarce for very obvious reasons. You can look on Social Media and find possible names involved as sadly there will always be someone keen to be first with a name, or via the live timing as it becomes painfully clear that which rider hasn't reached a particular sector; it isn't hard to find out if you really want the information. All we knew as we headed up to the paddock was that there had been two separate incidents on circuit including a tree on fire at Churchtown, which the Fire Brigade were already heading to.

Arriving at the Paddock I greeted friends with a big smile, happy to finally get to see them in their alternate little world, which later I immediately regretted, feeling daft that I was unaware of the events at Churchtown. It became very clear something serious had happened on circuit. Awnings throughout the paddock were zipped down, conversations were held in hushed tones and the buzz I was expecting to feel on seeing our BSB friends disappeared with haste  

After a brief chat with a great friend it became all too apparent that a rider had lost his life. He didn't say directly that that was the case, you could see it across his face, neither did he say who was involved and I didn't ask, that's just not something you do. Later, after the official announcement had been made that Tyco BMW rider Dan Kneen had passed away, I received a text from the same friend. "This is the side we never talk about and you walked right in to the worst of it", he said with his apologies. My reply was as you'd expect, saying absolutely no apologies needed and passed our sincere condolences. His reply was profound and something that will remain with me, "we'll be ok tomorrow, we have to be, I have to send 'X' down Bray again so no choice". He was quite correct.

The paddock on Thursday morning was a hive of activity ahead of the evening practice session. A handful of flowers lay outside the Tyco BMW awning with the BMW S1000RR machines looking resplendent inside ahead of another night of laps around the incredible Mountain circuit. Watching the mechanics and team staff milling around the bikes it was as close to business as usual as possible in exactly the way my friend put it the night before, they have to be ok. Were they? Probably not, but they still had work to do for Michael Dunlop and Dan's memory.

One thing that hit home the hardest later that morning was as we passed the point of Dan's incident on a lap of the circuit by car. Flowers already lay in place as people were gathering to pay their respects to the fallen Manxman. It made it all very, very real.

Godspeed, Dan Kneen and Adam Lyon and also my very best wishes to Steve Mercer for a strong recovery.

Thursday evening was my first full taste of TT motorcycles at full chat as we watched from the churchyard at Sulby Crossroads. You hear them, you spot them in the distance, the noise builds and before you know it, they're gone. And there it is again... the wind, the leaves, the dust. Watching the machines rise and compress over the undulations of the road showed that even on the straights the riders have no rest whatsoever. Another wonder is machine reliability. How those motorcycle engines don't detonate with alarming regularity is beyond me, a testament to the manufacturers, teams and mechanics.

Walking the grid before Friday night practice showed me just how much camaraderie exists between the teams and riders. There are riders that will never get on, that's just human nature, however, taking the opportunity to observe the riders and their mechanics actions due to a delayed start it was clear that a healthy respect exists between the majority of the grid. And why not, after all these guys are united by a common desire; the desire to cover the 37.73 miles ahead of them in the slowest fastest time possible. Make sense? I thought so. While 'fast and safe' is a common pre-start wish to any rider, setting lap records must be secondary to coming home safely in the fastest time needed.

After the event I've tried to process just how I feel about the TT Races and the guys that ride there. As much as I half expected to be thrilled and excited, I wasn't surprised to feel almost the opposite. The human side of the TT is like nothing I've ever experienced in racing. Watching friends who are so focused in their work and so meticulous in their preparations of the bike, staring in to space unsuccessfully trying to calm their quite obvious nerves. I cannot begin to understand the pressure, emotion and nervous energy they feel as they push their man off down towards the start line. 

The looks and nods shared between rider and mechanic; the fist bumps, handshakes, hugs, leg or back pats that silently say 'bring her home'. It's a powerful ritual to witness, never more so than when a father hugs his racer son, looking him in the eye one last time before anxiously retiring to the tent to watch the timing screens, willing his boy to stay safe.

As for the circuit itself, I REALLY can't begin to understand just what it takes to circumnavigate those island roads at those speeds. I have the strongest of respect for anyone who takes on the challenge there, whether an experienced 130mph+ lap man or a newcomer chasing his first 120mph lap, they all deserve every respect just for having the determination and bravery to wind on the gas and ease the clutch out to launch down Glencrutchery Road. 

Whether Bray Hill, Black Dub, Kirk Micheal, Barregarrow, Rhencullen or up on the Mountain, wherever you choose to view from it's an overwhelming experience. I can't deny that it scares me. It really does. I take no embarrassment from that feeling and make no apologies for it. It's a raw and unforgiving place. We spectated at the Bungalow, the bottom of Bray Hill and Glen Vine for the Superbike TT and I'll take so many memories from all of those locations. I genuinely felt privileged to be there, not only to see the spectacle for myself but also to witness history as Dean Harrison set a new lap record from a standing start in the Superbike TT.

Courage. It's the word that keeps coming back to me to describe the essence of the TT. Every motorcycle racer everywhere has it, but at the TT it's tangible and abundant in everyone from racers to support crews to marshals and medics.

Will I go back? Of course. As soon as I possibly can. I want to return to support the friends who live and breathe this phenomenal event - that in modern terms would be a ridiculous notion - and once again witness the spectacle of man and machine versus time itself. 

Thanks to Chris and his team at Xpress Coffee for their hospitality and taxi services and to our friends on the island that made it so memorable for so many reasons.

Itsy Bisty Teenie Weenie Marquez Buggered Off, The Meanie

"Choose bikes. Choose MotoGP. Choose World Superbikes. Choose British Superbikes. Choose fucking speedway, choose Moto3, Moto2, World Supersport. Choose Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, or Brands Hatch. Choose camping in shit British weather. Choose a hotel down the road. Choose your paddock friends. Choose warm multi-layered clothing and a fancy cool box. Choose a massive caravan on hire purchase in a range of fucking colours. Choose no DIY and not wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning, waiting for Warm Up. Choose sitting on that banking watching watching endless Free Practice sessions just to get your bike fix, stuffing fucking picnic food into your mouth. Choose coming away on Sunday at the end of it all, all excited and happy as you head home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves as race fans. Choose your future. Choose bikes... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose to choose bikes. I didn't choose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got bikes?"
by Dave Neal, aged 45 and a bit.

All the hype, all the social media arguments that STILL bubble on preceded what turned out to be the most boring MotoGP race of the season so far - yes, I know we're only three rounds in but still... Even the undoubted three place grid demotion for Marc Marquez couldn't really add the necessary excitement to proceedings such was his advantage around the red, white and blue-bedecked dust bowl just outside Austin. "Not-a-maniac-just-a caravan" Iannone had one big attempt to upset the rhythm of the pesky Spaniard in the opening lap but, yeah, unsurprisingly it didn't quite work. Credit to Iannone though, he's really stepped it up since the Lorenzo-to-Suzuki rumours began. Can't think why...

The 'Horsepower Rodeo' was little more than a glorified procession for the majestic Marc Marquez and his Repsol Honda around CotA, and really, was it ever in doubt?! Not really. 11 races unbeaten on American soil before Sunday, turning left really suits the mercurial Spaniard. Texas was a glimpse at how the start to the season could possibly have panned out but for the Ducati-favouring Qatar circuit and the shenanigans in Argentina. 

MotoGP in 2018 so far appears to have flattered to deceive; other rider's misfortunes have opened up the championship battle for early flyaway honours before the 'regular' part of the season kicks off at Jerez next time out. But really, who is going to stop Marquez other than Marc himself because, to be fair to the fella, he's doing his best to give the rest a bit of a chance with time and grid penalties in successive races! The reigning World Champion has the bit between his teeth, determined to dominate the title race and looking at his form over the last two races, it has been a shot across the bows for anyone with even half an eye on a championship challenge.

I know it's a long 19-race season and we're only three rounds in but let's be honest (this isn't a #93 love-in, by the way), while there have been glimpses shown by the chasing pack that they're not THAT far away - well, apart from Jorge Lorenzo obviously, he's frikkin' MILES away - is it enough? The Yamahas of both Rossi and Viñales seem to have finally exorcised the demons of 2017 with a welcome return to the podium over the weekend for the precocious talent of the #25. Mav was as exuberant as I've seen him in a long time after the race and it's he who I think will take the fight to #93 as the season unfolds, not discounting Rossi completely or title challenger of last year, Dovi, I just think that a happy Maverick Viñales is a very fast Maverick Viñales and who's due more MotoGP glory after the that epic start to 2017 turned in to utter tripe. I feel he will have the measure of his illustrious team mate at most rounds. I'm probably wrong but we'll see. 

The Great MotoGP Seat Swap is proving a real conundrum this season. After the relatively average silly season of last year the line up for 2019 is anyone's guess... well, apart from Movistar Yamaha, anyway! The second seat at Repsol Honda is the main focus for most learned observers (so, not me - at least the 'learned' bit anyway!) and with it being reported that Johann Zarco signed for for the Factory KTM squad for 2019/2020 at CotA, that's one less rider to fill any gap that may arise with the HRC squad. There is too much to go in to in this episode of my ramblings, the permutations are long and protracted but nevertheless really, really interesting but they're for another day.

Speaking of really, really interesting - World Superbikes was exactly that this weekend. From a scintillating Qualifying session to a hard-fought race one and a runaway winner (but not the one you'd expect!) in race two with a mighty battle raging behind him, it was another good weekend for the seemingly rejuvenated series. A glorious first Pole Position for Alex Lowes to then becoming the unluckiest man in Holland (after poor Werner from Weisbaden who got his weiner wedged in his zip while window shopping in the 'Dam). It was a bitter pill to swallow for my fellow Yellowbelly (a what?! This...) but he'll bounce back. Just as in MotoGP, the Yamahas are really coming strong in WorldSBK - gotta call it that, they get a bit sniffy if you call it WSB) partly in thanks to the rule changes but I suspect mainly to the revised electronics package on the R1. One conundrum though, Tom Sykes can lead a race from the front in imperious style but appears to struggle when it's time to battle? Good to see a different Kawasaki on the top step, however briefly it'll be!

The Bennett's British Superbike Championship - it still feels strange calling it that - continued it's rich vein of form at Brands Hatch a week or so ago. Shakey Byrne was really, really happy and Leon Haslam equally so as they took the spoils around the Indy circuit as tyre issues once again became a real bugbear for some, despite measures being introduced to retain a level playing field in terms of black round rubber. Hopefully the issues will be solved before Oulton Park in a couple of weeks time (there's an official test there on Thursday) and that the weather can be either one thing or the other in that leafy, affluent corner of Cheshire. Bright and sunny preferably! Even as a proud Lincolnshireman, Oulton Park is an equal favourite circuit of mine next to our own Cadwell Park and all I ask for is a dry, warmish (I burn easily; Snetterton seems to prove that every chuffing year!) weekend for some mega racing in every class as the series heads towards the Roads break.

Thanks for reading.

Back To The Future, It Seems...

Here I am! Back once again like some renegade master. (Google it, if you're not sure). 

And while we're on a musical theme, to quote DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince after Sunday evening, 'Here We Go Again'!

I won't delve deeply into the shenanigans of last Sunday as the more qualified luminaries of the MotoGP Press Room have covered them far more eloquently and with better knowledge here, here, here and here (courtesy of Neil Morrison, David Emmett, Manuel Pecino and Mat Oxley). Four exceptional pieces of writing, all united in their voices about arguably the most exciting and interesting MotoGP race in a number of seasons.

The biggest disappointment about last Sunday for me was the fact that the divisions set in 2015 and the weakly engineered patch-up of relations over the passage of time since have been widened exponentially by one errant 'pass' and subsequent actions from pit box to press scrum. The whys and wherefores from a racing and paddock perspective have been well covered by the links above, however it's the cursed platform of Social Media, that ever-growing harbor of the perpetually offended and occasional hard of thinking, that once again holds court to those spouting vitriol and responding with derision to those who offer a different opinion. Back to 2015 we go and the mildly dwindling catcalling and booing will now continue with renewed vigour. Also, I'd expect the 'ambient' microphones to be turned down in Texas should Marquez stand on the podium at CotA...can't have the watching masses hear that, now can we?

The not-so-small matter of a British winner and that same Briton now leading the MotoGP Standings, somewhat lost in the fire, fury and fallout because of the wayward actions of others. Bit disappointing, really.

Neither rider has apologised and I suspect neither rider will. No doubt Marc Marquez was over-aggressive when he didn't need to be and was completely at fault, however the contact wasn't deliberate. Valentino Rossi's comments post-race however were unnecessary, inflammatory and absolutely deliberate in their delivery. Rossi is a master of the mental game but Marquez is in his head and any opportunity that presents itself to discredit the Spaniard he'll take with both hands and quite possibly to the detriment of the sport unless the powers that be intervene behind closed doors and not with a bullshit staged-managed PR-friendly handshake that neither rider is remotely interested in. The CotA Press Conference will certainly be interesting and undoubtedly with a better attendance than the Argentinian post-race version!

On a more positive outlook, I'm reliably informed Jorge Lorenzo did finish the race. Bless...

The Bennett's British Superbike Championship reconvenes this weekend for Round 2 around the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. The opening races at a sodden, cold and thoughtfully revamped Donington Park brought a fresh new look to the title race in the form of the gangly, bespectacled Brad Ray. The Buildbase Suzuki man took a double win ahead of a strong, predominantly fully fit field over Easter Weekend, brilliantly carving his name in to the list of title contenders for 2018 with all the style and maturity of a seasoned pro.

While pre-season favourites Leon Haslam, Josh Brookes and Shane 'really, really' Byrne (just a bit of fun, listen to his interviews) had their issues over the weekend, it was BSB's own member of the Hair Bear Bunch that made those brave souls who risked hypothermia while entrenched under the approach path of East Midlands Airport sit up and take notice of his intentions for this season - wait, that's an unfair statement, UK race fans are, in the main, anoraks of the finest order and were already acutely aware of the talents of Kent's latest BSB race winner. Can he sustain it? No idea! It's a long season and only two races old but with a small matter of 10 podium credits already in the bag for September, there's no doubt he's made a perfect start.

Make no mistake, Byrne, Haslam, Brookes, Ellison et al will soon find their stride despite the next round being on such a unique circuit. Luke Mossey took the double there last season and will be chomping at the bit to repeat that feat while fending off the marauding pack. The Yamaha R1 works around the Indy layout, James Ellison proved that by taking pole position last year so you can count him and Josh Brookes and with a reported new swing arm for Shakey Byrne's Ducati Panigale, it won't be any surprise to see him really, really pushing for his first win of 2018 (see what I did there?). Throw in both the strong-starting Honda riders along with Ray's team-mate Cooper, a former podium man around there, the Tyco BMWs, Glenn Irwin and an ever-determined Peter Hickman, to name but a few, and we have a Battle Royale on our hands! Just let it be dry. On track, at least! 

The Rambings of a Bike Racing Fan

I've no idea why I only seem to sit and do this once or maybe twice a year, it's not like I don't have the time these days. I'm regularly encouraged to put finger to keyboard but the motivation to do so has been lacking after an at times turbulent last 12 months on a personal level. Those turbulent times affected many things, including my love of racing, however for 2018 things are looking better and brighter on all fronts! So it's back to basics, tapping on a keyboard to make words that a few will read. I hope you enjoy it.

The 'Big 3' of British Superbikes, World Superbikes and MotoGP all reconvene over the next six weeks or so and at least one of those series has the potential to be the very best season in a number of years, which after the excitement of  recent years, is going to be some achievement. The other two series, or more to the point certain teams within them, have their own hurdles to jump before we see the absolute cut and thrust of racing return along with all the regulation celebratory pomp and back-slapping. Or is that stabbing? Who knows, it's motorcycle racing so there's always liberal doses of both in almost equal measure.

While WorldSBK undergoes changes in its rules with regards to rev limits, the teams are doing all they can to try and close the gap to the pretty much all conquering KRT squad. The first real look at the riders and teams at the recent test was the first time we've seen all WorldSBK protagonists on track together and there are no surprises on seeing who was fastest. Triple and reigning WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea topped the timesheets at the end of the final pre-season test at Phillip Island ahead of this weekend's season opener at the Gateway to Hypothermia, once again asserting his dominance on the field.

As I'll touch on later (I may be here for a while...) testing is testing, it's hard to gauge the true pace of man and machine and no matter how many race simulations they do, you can't replicate racing without, well, racing! Every year the unique nature of Phillip Island provides close testing times and sometimes even closer racing so it's tough to get a true perspective on the strengths of the teams battling Kawasaki for honours this year. There are the obvious ones, namely Ducati and Yamaha, that will constantly push for podiums and race wins however it's the ones who have not shown their full potential in recent seasons that may make the biggest progress. Milwaukee Aprilia finished the Test in positive form as did Barni Ducati while wholesale changes at Red Bull Honda saw visible progress in to the top ten. With the uniqueness of PI and the challenges of Buriram and the damage limitation required at both, I suspect it won't be until the circus reaches Europe that the true story of WorldSBK 2018 will unfold.

MotoGP testing has been in full swing these last four weeks with a sack-load of stories winding their way out of both Sepang and the Chang circuit at Buriram, Thailand. For almost every Factory  team Sepang, as is the law these days, was the first chance to get to grips with the 2018 machinery with their full-time riders after the final tests of last year and it was the contrast of Factory fortunes that really made the bulk of the headlines. Tip of the hat to the new boys of Morbidelli, Luthi, Syahrin and Nakagaami, who all made solid progress throughout testing.

Honda, Yamaha and Ducati were the main focus of attention as you'd expect and the fortunes could not have been more different. The HRC Holy Trinity of Marquez, Pedrosa and Crutchlow looked to have the consistency over the six days of Far East testing as they looked to refine the latest incarnation of HRC engine along with revised aero packages, that subject explored by pretty much everyone and with varying degrees of aesthetic pleasure.

Marquez wasn't always the fastest of the trio, that honour was shared between the triumvirate, however his race runs were somewhat ominous. This developing, maturing-thinking Marc Marquez will be a concern for the rest of the field, no longer a pure Pole hound, no longer a man chasing the fastest time, he's a man working in the same way we saw last season. Points per round is the target.  And points make prizes.

Yamaha are in trouble. There are no two ways about it. As I said before, testing is testing however there are glaringly obvious issues when a Factory team of Yamaha's standing are so far off the pace on Day 1 and Day 3 at Sepang but 1 and 2 on Day 2. Confused? So are Vinales and Rossi! According to Rossi in Buriram the problem is obvious but difficult to fix whereas after Buriram Vinales was almost at a loss as to what to say to the waiting Journos. It may well be a difficult start to 2018 for Movistar Yamaha, the only positive in the early rounds being a contract extension for the grid's fluorescent yellow-clad elder statesman. Which will keep a few bums on seats in the stands for another season, at least.

At Ducati things are also not as they may have appeared to be after the Buriram test. A stunning lap of Sepang on the final day saw Jorge Lorenzo take the fastest ever lap of the Malaysian circuit. It was a  suitable end to the test after both he and team-mate Andrea Dovizioso had, apart from an 8th position on Day 2 for the Italian, consistently run well inside the top 5 over the three sweltering days. If Sepang was a triumph then Chang was a tragedy for the Mallorcan, even out-paced on the final day by Tech3 new boy Hafizh Syahrin. Dovi fared somewhat better, the story of last season all over again, by posting top ten times on all three days of the test. With just the Qatar test to go before it all gets serious, there are some searching questions that need answering amongst the MotoGP elite.

The Bennett's British Superbike Championship is building up to the start of the season with various teams cutting laps around the circuits of Spain where many are gearing up for the Pro-test at Cartagena at the beginning of March ahead of the annual Test Day at Donington Park on 20th March. So far as comparisons in times go, there aren't any apart from Honda and JG Speedfit Kawasaki who attended a WSB Test at Jerez.

So what do we know ahead of the 2018 Season? The usual suspects will all be a force, that's a given. Reigning champ Shane Byrne along with Josh Brookes and Leon Haslam will be strong from the first lights-out, there's not a doubt about that. The Honda duo of O'Halloran and Linfoot finished the season on the front foot and they'll be looking to continue that trend from Round 1 after the difficult start to 2017. The Tyco BMW duo of Christian Iddon and a returning Michael Laverty will have a firm eye on podium positions as will Luke Mossey and Glenn Irwin. James Ellison, in what will be his final year in BSB, will be as keen as ever to put a strong, consistent season together aboard the Anvil TAG Yamaha vacated by Josh Brookes as he in turn takes the McAMS seat from Ellison.

Youth will play a big part in the series this year. Expect to see BSB race winner Jake Dixon to carry on his form of last year on the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki and Brad Ray to make his mark fully on the top ten on the Buildbase Suzuki alongside Richard Cooper after his impressive showings last season. Alongside Brookes will be former British Supersport Champion Tarran Mackenzie, returning from a torrid time in Moto2, who I suspect will challenge for top ten honours before mid-season, lining up on the grid alongside his Moto Rapido Ducati-mounted brother Taylor. Team WD-40 have put their faith in their STK1000 rider of last year, Mason Law and the youth emphasis continues with Kyle Ryde joining the ranks from WSS along with Northern Irishman Carl Phillips who steps up from STK1000.

After plying his trade on the European and World stage, Gino Rea will make his BSB debut this year aboard the OMG Racing Suzuki as will Sylvain Barrier, the twice European STK1000 Champion joins the multifaceted Peter Hickman at Smith's BMW. FS-3 Kawasaki have signed STK1000 Champion Danny Buchan for 2018, after two previous attempts it could be third time lucky for Buchan to get to grips with a Superbike and finally transfer that obvious talent to the big class and Tommy Bridewell returns to the bosom of Martin Halsall and the team which brought the Wiltshire rider much of his BSB success.

I suspect the top six places of the Showdown will be the most hotly contested (good English? Not sure) positions since the format's inception back in 2010. Byrne & Irwin, Brookes, Haslam & Mossey, O'Halloran & Linfoot, Hickman, Iddon & Laverty, Ellison, Dixon and Brad Ray all stood on the podium in 2017 and quite possibly will all do so again across the forthcoming season. If a Rookie can score a Top Ten this year he'll certainly have earned it as the competition for points is stronger than I can ever remember. As for who will win it, I'm not brave enough to predict, however, on last season's form alone it's difficult to see past a Haslam/Brookes/Byrne title fight once again come October. There are a lot of laps and a lot of stories to unfold before then and as Larry Carter regularly reminds us, we should expect the unexpected once again.

In true Motopod style, this could be "the best season ever", well in BSB, at least.

Thanks for reading.