By Yorkshireman Joey Thompson was embroiled in an all-time Scarborough racing classic last month, battling aside Peter Hickman, Tom Weeden, Rob Hodson and Johnny Stewart for Cock O’The North Feature Race success.
Ultimately, TH Racing’s Thompson the 2023 Bob Smith Spring Cup winner finished second, top Honda rider behind high-profile Scarborough debutant Peter Hickman. Summing up the encounter, which saw the first four finishers, covered by inside two seconds, he said:
“Didn’t think I was going to be able to lead to be honest because the Triumphs and the Ducati were so quick out the turns but when I got to the front, I had to change the way I was riding to avoid them passing me because they had a bit more power.
So, I was really slowing the pace up, breaking as late as I can so they can’t pass me but then not getting out the turns very fast, so that’s why my lap times were off in that race.
It’s a bit of a strange way of riding because you feel slow, you know your lap times are slow but if I was to do the lines which the Honda likes, which are the fast and flowing lines, it leaves the door open for them to dive underneath me and I knew that if one of them got in front of me I’d never be able to pass them back again because the bikes are too quick, so hence why our pace was a little bit slower.”
“There was nothing I could have differently to be honest in that race to try and win, I didn’t make a single mistake the whole race but Pete’s bike, the 765 was just an absolute rocket-ship, nearly took the stickers off the bike, passed me that quick down the straight and didn’t give me anything left.
I think If it would have been on the first lap, I might have been able to readjust the way I was riding, to try and go as quick as him but just was not possible.”
Looking to continue his prosperous summer form at the 80th Anniversary Gold Cup (3rd-5th September), Thompson beforehand aims to make his mark on IOM shores.
Absent from Lightweight 250 competition, having not been able to source suitable machinery, decided not to use his dad’s 250, the thirty-one times Oliver’s Mount race winner, 2026 Classic TT voyage, sees him take on a new 400cc racing project (EM Plastering Powered by Genertech – VFR 400 Honda).
“It’s been in the pipeline a long time, we should have started it sooner, but we didn’t think the task was going to be possible because it’s Eddy’s bike my mechanic and best mate, he bought the bike and then with sponsors and stuff that have come on-board we were able to turn it into a bit more of a race bike and get it ready for the TT.
It’s a joint effort from everyone, Eddy, myself, my sponsors and Team York Suzuki they are really helping out with their time.
They have been working on it since they got here but it was a last-minute thing and I just thought you know what if it doesn’t run properly this year at least, we will have it for next year and we have got a full year to get it ready.”
Yesteryear Classic Superbike wise, Thompson riding Team York Suzuki with Talk of The Town’s SRAD machine, was keen to point out a significant rule-change.
“This year they have brought a rule in that we have run their standard swing-arm, and everyone used to use the K4 swing-arm that came out of a Suzuki Gixer 1000 which is massively longer.
You can run the bikes fifty, sixty-mill longer which is massive, but we are not allowed to do that anymore, the only people that are getting away with it are the likes of Michael who can run a factory one.
But he is the only person that can get hold of a factory one, that’s a little bit annoying that we have to use the old parts and he gets to use the new parts because he rides for a factory team but that’s the way the cookie crumbles but that’s the way it is.
It is going to be a completely different bike to the one that I’ve rode for the last two years, which I am little bit disappointed about, but we-have to do the best we can.
I think we are adjusting the bike accordingly for the shorter swing-arm, suspension wise, we will probably have to drop the rear as well make the bike turn a bit slower because it’s going to be so agile and nervous but that’s all I can say until I get some laps.”
Although early to chat about 2027 plans, Joey ‘Yorkshire’ spoke of his intention for a seventh TT Races odyssey.
“Definitely be back at the TT, like to continue as we are, similar set-up, pretty sure everything will be likely the same.”
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
