By The times ticking, ticking down towards opening 2025 Manx Grand Prix practice, qualifying tilts and one rider particularly aiming to re-write his misfortune from twelve months ago, is JLG/NCE Racing’s Jamie Williams.
Ahead of this afternoon’s qualifying bursts, the twice MGP podium finisher, whose 2024 event exploration ended prematurely following an incident at Kate’s Cottage in the opening timed action quest, jokingly stated:
“I made it thirty-four miles on the first day of practice, so if I get further than that this year, I will be happy!”
Since last year’s tribulations, Williams has been leaving no stone unturned, regarding track-time, sampling IRRC, Belgian Twin Trophy, BeNeLux (Belgium-Netherlands-Luxembourg) races at a mix of purpose built, public roads circuits.
“We’ve come back from injury last year, we have tried to do as much racing as possible this year with the Belgian Twin Trophy, the IRRC and the BeNeLux Trophy and we’ve been riding that much this year, this last two weeks have been the most we have been off a bike, but it all bodes well for here.
I just want to get back into the groove of the job and just enjoy it and the results will be the results.”
Equipped for this month’s Mountain Course thrills with re-built CBR 600 Honda apparatus, a newly acquired RS600 Aprilia, last season’s Belgian Twin Trophy Road Race Challenge runner-up has a keen eye on claiming ‘Tommy Club’ membership.
“My ideal way surpasses; it’s just stringing it all together.”
Before focusing on what is possible in Supersport, Super Twin, Junior, Senior races, the No.1/No.2 plate holder just wants to simply go out and enjoy practice week expeditions.
“Just go out and enjoy it, it’s not won in practice week is it, I’ve not done a complete lap here since 2023, we have got a brand new Aprilia, I’ve been on a bike quite a lot this year but this place is completely different so just go out enjoy it, put a smile on my face and just build on it from there.”
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
