Keith Stewart Racing

Race Day Sunday started dry, grey and cold. This was my first outing since the 2007 Skerries. We got the bikes scrutineered and got all the final preparations for the first practice session – the 600 super sport.

I was a bit edgy as this was to be my first time out on the new bikes. I went to the line in the first practice and switched her off to avoid overheating. When I went to start the bike again it would not fire up. I tried to get her going with a push but no joy. I took the bike of the line and running down the hill to the paddock, she started up but it was too late as the boys were all away. We decided that the next 600cc practice we would keep her running as we hadn’t the time to put the new battery in.

I went out on the big VRS Kawasaki ZX10R in the 4 lap 1000cc practice and it really felt really strange as my right leg movement has still not got the full range as it used to have, but I still was happy the way things were going and had a good run round, all the while getting used to the power of the 10R.

Next up was the 600cc qualifying and although I got away off the line the bike only got to the top of the hill and packed in. At the same time the rain had started to fall and I was thinking it was going to be one of those days. I got the bike back to the paddock and we worked out that the battery wasn’t charging so we and put the spare battery in decided to take our chances in the race with the fully charged battery. I then went out again on the 1000cc which was spinning a lot in the slippy conditions but all in all it was a good exercise in getting used to the bike and it also got me a few miles under my belt.

With all the battery problems I had with the VRS 600 Kawasaki, I had to start at the back of the 600cc B race. I just took it easy off the line and decided to see the way things were going to go as the last thing I needed was to get involved in anyone else’s crashes. Although I was last away I still made up about 3 places on the 1^st lap, another 5 places in the next lap and at the end of the race I had moved into 6th place which I was more than happy with. The wee 600 felt really good and I can honestly say is one of the fastest 600's I have ever ridden.

The next outing for me was the 1000cc heat and again I was starting from the back of the grid. With the confidence of the earlier outing on the 600, I made a really good start and was in about 10th place going into the first hairpin when another rider stopped in front of me. I found out later that he had hit the kill switch and could not get his bike started. I had to roll my bike back to get past him and by the time I got going, I noticed everyone was away up the hill and out of sight. I knew then all chances of qualifying were over. I still rode hard on that lap but coming down into the Farmhouse chicane under the brakes the back wheel came of the ground and I had to let the brakes off again and go through the chicane. I ended up doing the same thing again on the next lap so I decided to give it up as a bad job and pulled in to the paddock.

I know I previously said the 600 Kawasaki was the one of the quickest 600’s I’ve ridden but the big VRS 10R was equally the fastest big bike I’ve ever been on. It’s a pure rocket ship and will take a bit of getting used to but it’s definitely going to be fun to race.

All things considered, I really enjoyed my run around Scarborough and it helped blow away a few physical and mental cobwebs which can’t be bad. It’s all part of the gradual build up process to get myself race fit for the IOM TT.

Finally, big thanks to my dad, John and Stevie for their help this weekend. See you all at Cookstown next week.

Keith 92

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