By Lead Mountain Course newcomer of TT 2016, a former Dundrod 150 Challenge race rostrum finisher, East Yorkshireman Michael Booth is the next racer to take part in Road Racing News, ten questions challenge.
His answers to the popular series of questions, are as follows:
Q1: Favourite National Roads Meeting?
“I haven’t competed in any national level road races yet but I have done quite a few laps round the Southern 100 course, which looks ace, so I’m looking forward to doing that one day.
And I probably ought to have a go at Oliver’s Mount too, seeing as though I only live half an hour away!”
Q2: Favourite Racing Bike?
“I’ve done hundreds of races on my 2012 Kawasaki ZX-10R, so I love riding it and feel really comfortable on it, but it’s not the fastest thing in the world.
Hopefully at some stage I’ll have the opportunity to jump on something a bit quicker, but whilst I’m still only wobbling round and finding my feet on the roads, I’m sure it will do me just fine.”
Q3: What’s the best part of competing on the roads?
“I just love how chilled out the whole road racing scene is, everyone takes the racing seriously, but when it’s all finished everyone enjoys beer together.
I’ve spent years on the short circuits where you couldn’t even eat a Twix in public without being made to feel bad, never mind have a beer.”
Q4: TT, North West 200 or Ulster Grand Prix?
“The Ulster Grand Prix is an absolutely incredible circuit, and being a mass start, is closer to what I’m used to but the ultimate road race has got to be the Isle of Man TT.
Words can’t describe how awesome the 37 and three quarter miles long course is, or how tough six laps round there are, but even just to finish a race there is the best feeling in the world. It’s an iconic event that people all over the world have heard of, so its honour to have competed in it.”
Q5: Most Respected Rival?
“For me, John McGuinness approach is brilliant both on the bike and off it. He is one of the smoothest riders I’ve ever followed and always hits the same line, without it looking like he is even trying.
Off the bike, I have never seen anyone, in any sport, with such a good balance of personality and professionalism. He always seems happy to have a laugh and a joke, without ever being disrespectful to his rivals, which is more than can be said for some of them!”
Q6: Best roads moment thus far?
“That’s easy, being the fastest newcomer at the 2016 Isle of Man TT. I had no intentions of being the fastest, I just wanted do my own thing under the radar.
But I kept chipping away at the lap times, and by the end of the event I’d managed a 123 mph lap, which was enough to get my name on the Vernon Cooper Trophy for the best newcomer.”
Q7: Is their one place or country in the world, where you would like to see a roads meeting held?
“I love it in Britain, but the weather is a bit hit and miss isn’t it, so how about we have a road race over in Hawaii or somewhere like that.
Leathers and petrol by day, grass skirts and piña coladas by night, I think most people would go for that.”
Q8: Who’s your road racing hero?
“I think John McGuinness is a fantastic role model for anyone wanting to do well in sport, and the fact that he is still going strong now, after so many years and last season’s injuries, just shows how committed he is to the sport.”
Q9: Supersport or Superbike?
“I’ve ridden 1000cc bikes for years now, and although they are a bit more of a handful than a Supersport bike, I’m definitely more suited to them.
I’m hoping in time I’ll be able to get the hang of riding a 600 again, but it’s not going to be easy because to ride one fast, you have to be so committed.”
Q10: Pole position or fastest lap?
“I’m pants at qualifying so you will never see me on pole position! It’s the race that counts anyway isn’t it so I’ll take the fastest lap any day.”
Words by Stevie Rial
