By Thirteen years a Manx GP, TT, Classic TT competitor, twice Baja International Tourist Cup Champion Eric Wilson is now passing on his Mountain Course racing knowledge to three American racers, Richard Kay, Stuart Clotworthy and Dave Thomas.
As in 2024, the stateside trio are benefiting from his words of wisdom, help with getting their machines ready for qualifying, racing.
“Been good fun, we had obviously Stuart and Rick, this is their fourth Manx and then Dave Thomas, it’s his second although the amount of laps he did last year wasn’t really- big, so he looked at this as a newcomer sort of thing.
But they all got more laps in on Sunday then they did last year so, that’s a positive then just built on this throughout the week.
A few mishaps Stuart slipped off at Waterworks to on the Sunday afternoon, the second session then took us till Saturday morning to get the bike re-built for the first race, the Super Twins and then Dave out-braked himself at Sulby on Friday afternoon but managed to get it repaired in time for Saturday morning’s race.
Then somehow in the melay the radiator cap got knocked so when he came in after the first lap, it had fallen off over the mountain so that was his first race over on Saturday unfortunately.”
“Stuart and Rick had good runs on Saturday afternoon on the 600’s and then Stuart sat out the second Twin race, Rick and Dave went out in Monday’s Twins race, 106 I think Dave got, 31st position.
106 on his last lap and Rick’s Super Twin, had a little electrical gremlin played up so he stopped at the end of the first lap and then Stuart and Rick were out on the 600’s then, 109.8, 109.9 respectively in the Senior race on Monday.”
Full of praise for the revamped MGP/Classic TT schedule, which remains for 2026, he stated:
“Back to what it should be, two weeks and two races per class if you can because this is what the guys are paying for, they just want track time.
The Manx lads starting off on the Sunday, so you’ve got Sunday, Monday and Tuesday dedicated one session per class, plenty of track time, plenty of laps then obviously a night off which is nice on the Wednesday when the Classic boys are out only.”
“Then back to what is used to be the mixed sessions on the Thursday and Friday especially if you are running two or three bikes, it’s a case of you’ve got to choose which ones to ride but you’ve had three days weather permitting red flags permitting of track time.”
Wilson will not be taking in racing adventures later in the year in North America, instead alongside good friend Dave Hewson and already featured Dave Thomas, he’s focusing on participating in the revived Transpacific Match Races in New Zealand which finalises on Boxing Day at the ‘Southern Hemisphere’s Isle of Man’ the Cemetery Circuit Races.
“It’s a big commitment four weeks away and obviously the bikes are gone for six months but it’s a chance of a lifetime I’ve always wanted to go there and to go there and ride a bike and get the opportunity to race will be good fun, looking forward to it.”
Between them Wilson, Hewson and Thomas will be aboard six bikes due to be shipped soon over to New Zealand, Superstock BMW/Twins – Wilson, Superstock/Twins – Hewson, Supersport/Twins – Thomas.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
