Triple race winner, overall six times an MGP podium finisher, Irish Road Racing great Barry Davidson is next to take part in Road Racing News, rising in popularity Manx GP Top 6 series.
Ninth on the all time Irish Road Race winners list, 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?
“S**t what have I got myself into here. It was fantastic, the circuit was a challenge to learn but just special to ride.”
Q2: Most memorable Manx GP bike?
“RS 250 Honda.”
Q3: Most treasured memory from the Manx?
“Got to be my 3 Wins but the Newcomers win in 2002 is probably the most special, as for that day you thought you were Joey Dunlop or Mike Hailwood.
Then when I came back after missing it for 5 years after winning the Lightweight MGP in 2006 & went onto win the Lightweight Classic MGP.”
Photo by Tommy Vennard
Q4: Is there one specific Manx GP competitor that you look up to?
“Although I never raced against him it’s got to be Bob Heath. I remember watching him on Classic bikes while I was competing on Modern bikes, what a rider.
But of anyone that raced there while I was racing, the one that stood out to me was Tommy Clucas, he was a very special rider.”
Q5: Describe the Manx GP in one word?
“Fantastic”
Q6: Finally, if you could race one machine from any series, championship around the Mountain Course, what would it be?
“It would have to be one of the World Championship Grand Prix winning 250cc bikes, likes of Dovi (Andrea Dovizioso) Honda or (Max) Biaggi Aprilia. But now it would have to be a 500cc Paton.”
Words by Stevie Rial