Bike_UK_July_2017

6.5 miles
about not being too aggressive. It’s the
same on short circuits: when you try
hard you think you’ve smashed the lap
record but then you look at the
stopwatch and you’re shit.’
Where to watch
Spectating on the Mountain takes
dedication, especially when the
weather’s bad. The Gooseneck and
Bungalow are popular because they’re
accessible by road but if you’re feeling
hardy, take a picnic to the Mountain.
Plater’s points
‘This is a fairly friendly section: it’s fast, the
surface is quite smooth and you can see
where you’re going. Hutchy is the TT’s
fastest guy on road tyres and it helps that
the BMW is a very, very fast bike in
standard form, plus in many ways a
superstock bike is easier to ride than a
superbike. You’ve got less power but it’s
more usable. A superbike, especially the
BMW, is much harder to ride for so little
gain on the stopwatch. I used to go pre-TT
testing with Honda and Dunlop at Castle
Combe, because it’s a bloody bumpy place.
I’d spend most of the day testing different
slicks, then I’d jump on the Superstocker
with road tyres. Within three laps I’d be as
fast because the bike was so easy to ride.’
Sector 6: Cronk ny Mona
to finish line, 1.4 miles,
Fastest time: 58.801s (144.58mph),
travelled at legal speeds: 3 minutes
Rider/ bike/race: Ian Hutchinson (BMW
S1000RR) 2016 Superstock TT, lap 1
You ride over a huge change of
camber at Cronk ny Mona, so the
bike feels like it’s taking off as you
reach full lean – a spooky feeling.
Then you bang down the gears through
the steep downhill entry into Signpost. If
you make it through here, you start
feeling like you might make it to the end
of the lap in one piece, because all that
lies ahead of you is Bedstead, the Nook
and Governor’s Bridge, but you still have
to beware…
Plater’s points
‘It’s so easy to overstep the mark down
through the Nook. It’s not blind, but it’s
hard to see anything because you’re going
from sunlight to darkness, there are damp
patches and leaves everywhere, and the
tarmac isn’t used much, so there’s not
much rubber down. Also, the Governors
Bridge hairpin is so tight, especially with
no steering lock on the superbike, which
may also help Hutchy be quicker through
there on a stocker. It’s one of those
sections most riders just survive through,
because you hardly lose any time and it
can easily bite you in the arse if you push
too hard.’
Where to watch
You’ll have fun watching riders lock both
wheels as they desperately try to scrub off
speed for Signpost. It’s so easy to go
straight on there. Governor’s Bridge is
good, but only if you want to see the bikes
at walking pace.
Plater’s predictions
Steve Plater reckons this year’s TT is the
hardest to call in years: Michael Dunlop
has traded in his BMW for a new
GSX-R1000, Ian Hutchinson has switched
from Metzeler to Dunlop and John
McGuinness rides Honda’s first new
Fireblade in years
‘Dunlop, Hutchy and John, that’s the
Senior and Superbike podiums right
there. If the new Suzuki is friendly like a
Fireblade you’ll see Michael up his lap
times again. People say he is really
aggressive but I don’t think he is. The kid
is switched on. He knows where to ride
hard and he knows where to ride sensibly.
Also, Dean Harrison is going from
strength to strength and Peter Hickman is
ready to raise his game, but as far as
winning goes, you’re a brave man if you
bet against Michael.’
‘People say he’s aggressive but I think
the kid is switched on. You’re a brave
man if you bet against Michael.’
PERFECT TT LAP
Where to watch
To appreciate the mad speed of the TT,
make your way to the 33rd, a short walk
from Windy Corner, a very different kind
of TT corner, which is accessible by road.
47
STEPHEN DAVISON / PACEMAKER