£ Ian focused
on the Job in
hand
laps that I did on the Superstock bike and
the lap Michael did on the Superbike -
they were either standing starts or slowing
for the pits. We’ve basically already done
a 134mph average lap in all the sectors.
Weather-dependent I think there is
definitely a possibility of doing 135mph.
But last year was an incredible year with
the amount of time we got on track, the
weather was fantastic and there wasn’t
a single red flag in practice or stoppages
for bad weather. I don’t think that’s going
to happen again, which will definitely
bring the times back a bit from where they
were.
You talk about the speeds that you’re
doing around the TT course now - it’s
obviously a huge buzz - but is it still the
same enjoyment as when you first went
to the TT, or is it now a job, something
you have to do?
I still love it. The pressure’s a lot bigger
when it’s your job and you’re employed
to go win a race. It’s harder at the start of
a race, but once you’re in the race I just
ride around the place. The speed that
you’re doing is because you’re happy
with your setup more than anything, so it
never really changes. I remember when
DJ (David Jefferies) did 127 - everyone
thought that the world was going to come
to an end and it should all be banned
there and then. We’re doing 127mph on
a 600 now and it’s not because we’re
crazy – it’s just moved on. And the track’s
changed quite a bit obviously since DJ’s
time. There’s a lot of time gained just
from the changes in track. It’s always
going to keep going forward like that.
Who knows where the end’s going to be.
It’s got to slow down at some point, but
it’s probably not ready for slowing down
just yet.
Will you race the TT and roads all the
way to the end of your career, or will
you go back to just doing circuits?
Yeah, I think I’ll probably concentrate
more and more on the roads as I’m
getting older. That’s part of the thing for
me staying with Superstock. In Superbike
realistically, I was going to be fighting to
get in the points. That would have been a
good position for me yet I wouldn’t have
been happy with it - so I’d have been
miserable every weekend - whereas with
Superstock I can go out and fight for
wins. If I finish on the podium I’ve had a
good weekend, I’ve had fun, and I’ve still
stood on a podium. I think if I can keep
competitive in the British championship I’ll
keep doing the Superstock and carry on
with the roads as long as I’m winning. u