TT 2022: Rutter’s Diary - Episode Three

I was looking forward to going back out for the daytime practice on Friday as we had lots to try on the bike including the fuelling and also getting the bike to settle more over the bumps. The bike felt a bit loose and skitterish through the bumpy places and I wanted it to flow better from Ginger Hall to Ramsey.

Unfortunately, the weather delayed everything until the evening, and it was a shortened session than planned whilst I was a bit scared of the sunlight to be honest as it was so bad earlier in the week. Daytime practice would have alleviated that although it turned out not to be an issue on Friday evening.

The damp patches were the worst bits and although it was mainly dry, there was the odd bit here and there, so it was in the back of my mind, and you had to take some corners a bit wider than normal. To be fair, it was only really damp from Whitegates up to the Gooseneck and there were oil flags and lack of adhesion flags out.

I also got caught up in the aftermath of Mike Booth’s crash up on the Mountain where there was debris all over the track so obviously wish him a speedy recovery. I slowed down a lot for that although it was another session where I got caught up in things in the wrong places.

I was still stuck at the 124mph mark and with a six-lap Superbike race at the back of my mind, I was definitely feeling the pressure. Starting at number three, I thought I’d be really enjoying myself by the start of race week but with my speeds being down, I was just conscious of not getting in anyone’s way.

My mindset wasn’t the best to be fair and the biggest mistake I’ve made is not riding enough – I’m way off the pace and know it. I know I can go through some of the corners 20mph quicker but it’s not quite as easy