Yes it's true! A race report at long last... contradicting reports that my poor result at Brands caused me to lose the ability to type!

So, back on track last weekend at Knockhill after a six weekend lay off, and it all went like a dream for me, qualifying on pole and winning both races with fastest lap in both. Here's the (slightly abbreviated) detail:

Saturday 2nd August 2002:

Yes, I turned up on Saturday morning as I was so tired after work that I didn't go up on Friday night. Nearly lost my place in the paddock, but suspension guru Gareth Evans had kept me a spot next to his hire van containing all his suspension preparation equipment. The weather was quite nice, though overcast at Knockhill. It had been really sunny at home, and I foolishly believed the weather forecast, so turned up in shorts!

The bike was pretty much as I have been running it this season, except that I discovered at the last minute that the exhaust had been damaged when I was rammed at Brands in the first corner melee that ended my race. More importantly I had taken the forks to Gareth's workshop to be checked and rebuilt with new bushes which Gareth reckoned might cure the chattering problem that has plagued me since the second meeting this year. I was very keen to get out and test them.

We had to wait til after 3pm for our first session, but the first time I got round to the hairpin and hit the brakes I knew they were much improved, and by the end of the second lap I was ecstatic, the bike was back to being the way I remembered it - like being on a magic carpet even when lapping at race pace. I did some 53's in the session but it was stopped on only the second lap anyway after Magnus Houston threw himself up the road. Luckily without too much injury. Ian Willcox was helping me on Saturday, and had also lent me his excellent Sparco tyrewarmers and front stand which made quite a difference.

The second session was at about 5.15, it was still warm, and I was keen to put in some good times despite being on old and harder "Brands" compound tyres. I went out and did four flying laps, of which the third and fourth were both 52.78, so I came in quite satisfied. The plan was to try novice racer Ian Shelcock's 2003 model GSXR in the same session to help him set his suspension and also for me to get a feel for the new bike in comparison to my own. I easily got down to 54's, despite being obviously a bit cautious on his bike. The new model is better in some areas, but curiously didn't feel so composed as my own despite the stiffer chassis. The session was stopped anyway after (unknown to me) top Irish rider Marty Nutt had a huge highside coming out of the chicane, wrecking his bike and ruling him out of the races on Sunday.

I stayed at the circuit on my own on Saturday night, but had a few visitors in between getting the bike ready for Sunday and watching Robbie Williams on the box. I slept well, and got up in time to greet Dave Nicholson who would be helping me on Sunday as my main mechanic now that Neil has emigrated to Australia - more of that another time. We got scrutineered, and ready for qualifying. I went out with a new Dunlop rear tyre, expecting the usual amazing grip, but found the track a bit slippery. I had a few slides including one huge one coming out of the hairpin, so I pulled in before the end of the session, slightly disappointed with my 53.1s best, but that turned out to be good enough for pole position, from Les Shand having a one-off ride on the injured Simon Glennies bike. Skye's Norman McLeod was third, while championship leader Donald Macfadyen rounded out the front row almost a second behind my time, a good psychological advantage.

I had hours to wait until the race, but that seemed to fly by, so I was still getting a shave at lunchtime just to feel fresher on the bike. Unfortunately I forgot to put my contact lenses in after that, so went out for the first race without them! by this time Dave & I had been rejoined by Ian Willcox and my pal Hamish from Skye, who between them covered all the laptiming and pitboard duties during the races.

Sunday 3 August - Race 1

I got a fairly good start, about third or fourth into the first corner, and I followed the bunch to see what would happen. I picked off Les Shand at the back of the group, and came up behind Norman McLeod who was carrying ridiculous corner entry speed into McIntyres, one of my favourite overtaking places. I waited another lap, and did get him going into McIntyres, the on the same lap caught and passed Donald going into the hairpin. I just got my head down and put in a couple of 52's which opened a gap of about a second, just enough to allow me to be cautious passing the backmarkers. I glanced back and could see Donald & Norman having a scrap, but on the penultimate lap Norman binned it at McIntyres again. That's at least the second time he's done that there. I held on to win from Donald by 0.4s which was just enough. That put me back into the lead of the championship for the first time since I crashed in qualifying back in early May and missed two races. Magnus Houston made a good recovery from his Saturday crash to finish third.

Sunday 3 August - Race 2

I changed nothing on the bike other than Dave refuelling it, and I lined up on the left sided pole position again. Norman failed to make it out for the second race, but no matter, the pace was hotter still in this race, and once again I was third away round the first lap. I followed the leading duo, and had just taken second from Les Shand when leader Donald had a huge near highside coming out of the chicane. I still didn't pass him, but a lap later I almost ran into him at the chicane, he was so cautious. So I did pass him almost immediately, and upped the pace a little. But once again I seemed to catch every backmarker at a corner which held me up a little, and let Donald keep within striking range. I completed a relatively uneventful race (or so I thought), and was giving a celebratory "sign" to Ian and Dave as I came up to the finish line... only to see all the guys on the podium looking the other way down the track, and no chequered flag. I've been caught out like that before, so continued at full speed for another lap - and so did Donald - eventually crossing the line again, by which time they were waving the flag. Donald & I had a laugh about it afterwards, but it could have been serious if one of us crashed on what should have been the slowing down lap. The race time for 10 laps was within a second of the race record, so we were going as quick as I ever did while racing with Sandy Christie, and this time I beat Donald by 0.6s.

Even more of a laugh was that the organisers asked me and Donald to run our bikes on the dyno afterwards as there were mumblings around the paddock that they were not legal. I know for a fact that there are some illegal bikes out there, but both Donald and I run within the rules. However I agree totally with the idea, and though they couldn't get the bikes to grip on the dyno well enough to get a run this time, we'll do the same thing at the next meeting if need be.

So, a very successful weekend, and good to get back out on the bike after such a long lay off. My next race is this coming weekend at Oulton Park in the British Superbike supporting Superstock race, run as the last race of the day this time on Sunday. I'll be travelling down on Wednesday evening, leaving plenty of time to get set up and prepare the bike on Thursday for our first track time on Friday lunchtime.

I like Oulton a lot, my last race there was a 6 hour endurance race in October 2000 when I won, partnering Brett Sampson on an R1 that we'd never ridden before that day. The weather is forecast to be similar this weekend too - scorching. So I'll be making a big effort both to get a good result, and avoid ending up in the medical centre with dehydration like I did during that endurance race!

I'll be joined again this weekend by top mechanic Brian Goodall from Norfolk, and Ray Johnston and wife Bon, all of whom were involved in that last successful Oulton weekend. Lets see if we can put on a good show along with Sharron, Martyn Tony and the Computacenter crowd. Andy - I hope you're feeling better if you're reading this at home

This shows me accelerating up he main straight at Knockhill during practice on Saturday (I think - cos it's sunny!), but I'm still trying, and you can see how difficult it is for a tall person to keep tucked in out of the airstream	This was definitely during the races on Sunday, and you can see how I'm weighting the footrests and pulling the bars to steer the bike while the front wheel is off the ground.

Pics  by ace snapper Graham Lamb