By Next to take part in Road Racing News popular Manx GP top 6 series, is Oliver’s Mount Racing Director Andy Hayes.
An MGP debutant in 2017, a top forty finisher in the following year’s Junior, Senior races, his answers to the Mountain Course themed set of questions are as follows:
Q1: When you first competed at the Manx, what was your first initial thought of the Mountain Course?
“I first set off down Bray Hill following Jamie Coward with my pit limiter on, thinking my bike was about to die until I realised and flicked the switch.
By that time, Jamie and the other 4 newbies were long gone, so I had to ride the first few miles on my own to catch them up, which felt pretty awesome to be honest, to be on that amazing track you’ve spent the last year watching onboard videos of, to suddenly be on it for the first time with no one in front of you at all.
Those first couple of laps were unreal and all I could think was that I’m finally riding the TT course on a closed road.”
Q2: Most memorable Manx GP bike?
“I have only ridden my Kawasaki ZX6R there, so I would have to say that. A 1000cc must be pretty awesome to ride around the Mountain Course though.”
Q3: Most treasured memory from the Manx?
“Anytime you get a sequence of corners just right and anytime you finish a race, slapping hands with the supporters on the way into Parc Ferme and the inevitable beers in the paddock bar afterwards.”
Q4: Is there one specific Manx GP competitor that you look up to?
“Andy Farrell and Nick Jefferies both helped me out a lot at my first Manx. They both spent a few hours teaching me the course and the more you know that, the faster, safer and more enjoyable it all is, so I respect both of them a lot.
I started with some top lads in the infamous class of 2017 which included Darryl Tweed, Mike Norbury, Brad Vicars, Stephen ‘Trevor’ Parsons, Matt Stephenson, just a top bunch of lads that have gone on to enjoy much more racing success than me.”
Q5: Describe the Manx GP in one word?
“BestthingI’lleverdoinmylife.”
Q6: Finally, if you could race one machine from any series, championship around the Mountain Course, what would it be?
“Padgett’s Classic TT winning Honda RS250 as I think you could have a lot of fun around there on a good two stroke bike, without having to go at silly speeds on it.”
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
