Making the most of his experience on the magical Mountain Course, hugely popular Czech road racer Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil enjoyed a solid start to race week at TT 2019, by claiming a very creditable 21st place finish within the opening Monster Energy Supersport encounter.
Established amongst his nations most successful roads exponents of the 21st century, Monday evening’s Supersport race alongside an aforementioned top 22 placing, was the 12th time he has secured a top 25 finish or better at the TT Races.
Piloting this week his own teams older spec, Das Trans Racing supported YZF R6 Yamaha, ‘Indi’ when reflecting today on last night’s Supersport encounter, candidly stated:
“I have to say I was well pleased with the result, I was pleased with the ride, with the bike. The bike is a superstocker 122 BHP in it, so it’s not really the fastest one.
I still managed to proceed to go faster and faster, I was very happy, the conditions suited me, of course there was a little bit of rain from Kirk Michael to Ramsey apparently.
Photo by Tommy Vennard
So I thought this could be a tricky sector on the 3rd lap, and I thought about it already on the second lap, so it was a good decision though that they stopped the race.
But all what surprised me there, was that the marshals were not showing any flags in that place, so I thought maybe if they’d put the flags out earlier, then riders could have slowed down a bit, eased up their pace.
And there would maybe be a yellow flag in that part, could still maybe keep going for one more lap, but the weather wasn’t improving since then, it was raining more and more, so it was a good decision by the Clerk of The Course.”
Looking overall back on what’s been an ultra challenging two weeks on Manx shores, for all competitors, with track time at an extreme premium, the ever cheerful, hugely respected racer who prior to TT 2019 powered to 125 GP success at Horice (Czech Republic), stated:
“You know if I can compare it to the last one, last years one, of course you cannot compare it by the weather, if you can compare it by the expenses, of course because of the weather we haven’t had to spend that much.
I always look at things positively, I never look at it negatively, all I said to myself was look listen everybody’s playing by the same cards, there is no one having practice, lets use the experience you have got here over 10 years, and that’s what I’ve been doing so far.
We had the first practice session, I done similar lap times in the race, so I’m just now trying to use, again since the last practice the experience I have.
Because I know the circuit well, we are still using the same bikes, I never thought we would have an advantage with using the old bike, but now we can find out why.”
Dokoupil, who is planning to compete next week at the reincarnated Kells meeting, went onto add:
“I’ve spoke to many riders here, and everyone has a problem with a new bike, not set up for the TT, so they are fighting with the set up for their bikes.
Apparently I have an old bike from the early 2010’s, so we came here, we set the suspension how it was before, everything’s set the same and it’s working perfect for me.
So I’m actually enjoying it, and having a good time of it, there’s been not many outings of course, but using my experience against it, and that helps me a lot to sort of not think about how much practice we have done.
Also the other thing is, last year there was everyday practice, many days practice, so when the race week came, everyone was a bit tired physically. So that doesn’t happen now, nobody is tired, everyone is in good shape, so I always try to find a positive about it, it’s the same for everybody.”
Weather permitting, Dokoupil’s next race action at TT 2019, takes place today from 12:45 PM, as the second Monster Energy Supersport race, with a new race distance of two laps, takes centre stage.
Words by Stevie Rial