Below is a photograph of me heading down to the Creg Ny Baa pub, at 130mph and airborne.
For the past eight years I have been trying to get permission to participate in the parade lap of the
historic IOM TT course. This year, finally, I was supported in my efforts and was given a place at
the Classic TT Parade Lap. I was there to show that someone who is paralysed can still ride a
motorcycle, to demonstrate what is possible and to increase awareness of The Bike Experience
charity (which teaches disabled people how to ride motorcycles).
Arriving in the busy paddock I was met by Nigel the paddock manager who allocated us a spot
next to the Hailwood cafe and near to Technical Inspection/Collection area. Over the next four days
myself and my mechanic manned the stand and explained why we were there, the adaptions to the
bike and the plan for the lap. When the roads opened in the evening we would get into the van and
try to get at least one lap in, so I could improve my knowledge of the 37.7 miles. Watching onboard
videos is one thing, actually driving it was another, and I could imagine that riding it at pace would
be entirely different again.
There was a lot of interest in the bike and the challenge ahead. I managed a quick interview with
ITV4 and met with Phil Armes who was the first (and up to that point ‘only’) paraplegic to complete
the course on closed roads. He was an ex ManxGP racer, plus a race winner, and had taken four
attempts to lap the TT course. It wasn’t going to be an easy task for sure.
One of the first things to impact upon me was the steepness of Bray Hill! Television does tend to
flatten things out, and Bray Hill is properly a ‘hill’. I am still amazed at how fast the racers can take
the bottom compression and turn. Knowing I would be able to remember every corner, we focused
on those that could cause issues and the blind crests, so that I was at least going to be safe and
not arrive someone too fast and end up as part of the hedgerow.
When it was finally time to do the parade lap we were up on the starting area, close to the line.
There were a lot of people tending to exotic race bikes and some famous names: Agostini, Fogarty,
McGuinness, Nation, Plater, Parrish to name but a few. I was to head out at the back of the first
group - these were the top riders and machines who would not be having a traveling marshal (TM)
accompany them. One by one the racers headed off towards the top of Bray Hill. My thoughts
turned to the task at hand, it felt as though I was about to take a major exam rather than ride a
circuit. Finally I was edged to the start line, the starter put his hand on my shoulder and said - “In
your own time…..”. I’m not sure if he said anything else because he hadn't finished the word ‘time’
when I dumped the clutch and pinned the throttle. Holding it to the red line in the first four gears I
screamed off to the line. Apparently this was met with much approval, laughter and ‘knowing
nodding’ from the racers who were watching from the side.
Once on the course I simply tried to look as far ahead as possible. Quickly catching up the riders
who had set off ahead of me, I waited each time for a straight before washing past them. It was
heard work to keep my head steady to look forwards. The bumps we had experienced at 40mph in
the van turned into launch pads at 120mph on the bike. Knowing there could be an issue, we had
added an extra lap strap before setting off. The strap went under the seat unit and over my lap.
The main point of this was to keep me seated over the Ballaugh Bridge, some 17 miles into the
course. I had seen photographs of racers stood fully on their pegs with arms stretched down to
handle bars and backside way up in the air. If that happened to me I would not be able to re-centre
myself or even keep attached to the bike, and my lap would be over.
Through a section called Crosby the speedo read 142mph (this was seen later on from the
onboard footage rather than me looking at it!). The feeling speed was amplified by the strobe light
effect of the sun/shadow/sun/shadow, caused by the trees and buildings on the tarmac. It was a
bit ‘other worldly’ at times. The strap held on and kept me with the bike as I leapt over Ballaugh
Bridge and then downtime bumpy Sulby Straight. However, at the end of the straight under the
brakes I felt a bit of movement. Looking down I noticed the strap had finally undone and was
hanging over the side of the bike. Knowing that if I stopped I would not be allowed to restart, I
pulled the strap out, headed slowly over to a group of marshall and lobed the strap at them, before
tucking down again and opening the throttle.
The mountain section was incredible. Clear skies, hardly a breath of wind, dry road, no limits….
Despite the attention required to ride the lines, I did briefly or subconsciously appreciate the
amazing spectacle of it all. Before I knew it I was approaching my final area of concern, the very
sharp turn into Governors Dip. It is part of the track you can’t drive on and therefore the first time
you ride it is on the bike. Initial thoughts were to use the open roundabout, but as I got to it I
thought I had to compete the actual race course rather than take the easy option. Giving myself a
little more room than others, I trusted the bike to get me around and heaved on the bars. It felt as
through we wobbled around, but on the tv play back it doesn’t look anywhere near as bad as it felt!
The final blast to the line and then the lap was over. An emotional time for me; finally achieving my
goal after eight years, safely completing the course on my first attempt, proving all the doubters
wrong and having a truly incredible experience.
Many thanks to my mechanic for his help, and all those who support the team and the IOM TT
challenge.
Held UK are pleased to hold a long-standing
relationship with Talan and his racing team
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