By Overall eight times a top 12 MGP finisher, 2011 Junior race runner-up Paul Smyth is the next racer to take part in Road Racing News, rising in popularity Manx GP Top 6 series.
Fifth within the Newcomers A race of 2009, 23rd in the 2016 Lightweight TT, 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?
“First initial thought was when I was sat up there on the start line and there were no cars or traffic. Just seeing the leaves blowing across the top of Bray Hill thinking, “I’m going down there flat out in a minute”.
Obviously being born and bred Manx, doing laps in the car as a kid and learning the course as I got older, I was just trying to put all of the information together for my first lap on closed roads.”
Q2: Most memorable Manx GP bike?
“My own Paul Smyth Racing Yamaha R6 (2008 spec).”
Q3: Most treasured memory from the Manx?
“Most treasured memories from the Manx GP for me have always been racing in the wet! First one was finishing 2nd in the 2011 Junior Race, it was a very wet race with a few different leaders throughout.
I seemed to be quickest from the Grandstand to Glen Helen but it was Andrew Brady who eventually won once the course started to dry out.
Second memory would be when I first rode for PRF in the Senior (can’t remember the year), it started off a dry race but the rain came in halfway through!
Myself and Michael Sweeney kept passing each other but every time we did we would get spat out of the seat because we were on dry tyres! That was very memorable!”
Q4: Is there one specific Manx GP competitor that you look up to?
“Alan Jackson! Can’t believe his lap record stood for ten years! and obviously coming back from his spill at the Manx and setting up Jackson Racing. It’s all just a properly run, very professional setup.”
Q5: Describe the Manx GP in one word?
“Can’t in one word!”
Q6: Finally, if you could race one machine from any series, championship around the Mountain Course, what would it be?
“Mick Doohan’s NSR500 (Honda) 2 Stroke Grand Prix bike. I reckon that would be a right laugh wouldn’t it? Try and tame the beast!”
Words by Stevie Rial
