Race week aims vary for all Manx Grand Prix competitors, whether professional racers, semi-professional, high-level privateers, grass roots racers, event stalwarts.
For Market Rasen’s Phil Crowe, his specific main aim for Monday’s RST Classic Superbike race, is a top five finish.
Commenting about this topic on Monday afternoon, the Team Classic Suzuki pilot stated:
“Top five, that’s where I want to be, podium would be nice we’ll see.”
Enduring a challenging start to practice week, Crowe who yesterday set a best lap speed of 120.789 mph, was brutally honest about last Sunday’s practice stint.
“First practice wasn’t too good to be honest, H-T lead come off on lap 1, about ten newcomers on lap two then H-T lead come off on lap 3 and ran out of fuel on lap 3 but were all set for tonight, few changes, few improvements, should be good tonight.”
Alongside Manx GP themed chat, I also gained the 23rd fastest TT racer in history’s thoughts on last month’s Armoy Road Races.
Firstly, speaking about the inaugural Armoy Classic Superbike encounter, which he placed second in, he said:
“Armoy was good could have been a bit better to be honest, got held up behind Dave Bell, should have been past him earlier on.
Hadn’t ridden the bike for six months, was a bit nervous on it, didn’t quite got off the mark as fast as I wanted to.”
Crowe went onto speak about the Open A, Race of Legends encounters, which yielded top five finishes.
“Two seconds faster than previous year, so improving all the time, second year there so ready to go now, next year we should go straight out the box and get cracking.”
He went onto state that he will definitely be back on Manx shores for TT 2023, as he bids to join the coveted ‘130 Mph’ club.
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou