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| TT News Scene - V&M Racing Take A Hard Fought Podium at the TT |
| V&M Racing Take A Hard Fought Podium at the TT | Submitted by: (V&M Racing) Jun 2, 2002
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After a week of practicing in dismal weather conditions, the V&M Racing Team
took a hard earned podium finish in today's opening TT Formula 1 race, when
Scotsman Jim Moodie took his V&M Racing 1000cc R1 Yamaha to a well-deserved
third place, despite suffering severe handling problems with his machine.
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In the contrasting near perfect weather conditions, the race was run at lap
record pace, and Moodie battled bravely to stay in touch with the leaders,
around the thirty-seven and three quarter mile mountain circuit. But the lack of
dry practice time on the 180bhp V&M Yamaha soon became apparent as he struggled
to stay in control of the bike through some of the bumpier sections of the
course.
The bike was OK over the mountain section of the circuit, but on the section
between Balacraine and Ramsey it was impossible to ride on the limit, he said.
That was the hardest six laps I've ever done. There was nothing I could do
except ride as fast as I could. It's frustrating because I know it could have
been a lot closer at the front.
Moodie's dogged determination was highlighted on the final lap of the six lap
Formula 1 race, when despite the bike's handling problems, he gritted his teeth
and lapped the famous Isle of Man circuit faster than he had ever done before.
The seven times TT winner circulated in 18min 7.9sec at an average speed of
124.85mph.
Unfortunately for fellow Scot Iain Duffus, the handling problems that plagued
his teammates machine were all too apparent on his own. And after two hundred
and twenty six miles of high speed wrestling with his high-powered machine, he
slipped down the leader board to finish in ninth place.
I'm disappointed, because after winning the North West 200 in Ireland a couple
of weeks ago, I was hoping for a good result in the Formula 1 TT, said Duffus.
I'm hoping we can find a cure for the problem before Friday's Senior race, and
then hopefully a podium position will be on the cards.
Despite his rider's disappointments, Team boss Jack Valentine was happy his team
had secured the third place on the podium. It was an amazing achievement and
no-one outside of the top racers can really appreciate how difficult these bikes
are to ride on the limit. Our bikes are making more horsepower than they've ever
done before, and because of the weather during practice week, we've had little
time to fine tune the handling to find the ideal compromise for all sections of
the TT course. I'm hopeful we can make a few adjustments that will work better
for Friday's Senior event, said Valentine.
Formula 1 TT Result
Rider Machine Race Time Race Speed
1. David Jefferies Suzuki 1hr 50m 05.1s 123.38mph
2. John McGuinness Honda 1hr 50m 41.6s 122.70mph
3. Jim Moodie V&M Yamaha 1hr 51m 09.6s 122.19mph
4. Ian Lougher Suzuki 1hr 51m 14.8s 122.09mph
5. Richard Quayle Suzuki 1hr 53m 05.6s 120.19mph
6. Jason Griffiths Yamaha 1hr 54m 02.6s 119.10mph
7. Richard Britton Suzuki 1hr 54m 02.6s 119.10mph
8. Simon Smith Suzuki 1hr 54m 06.1s 119.04mph
9. Iain Duffus V&M Yamaha 1hr 54.m 15.2s 118.88mph
10. Chris Heath Yamaha 1hr 54m 27.2s 118.67mph
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