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| TT Website Interviews -
Geoff McMullan
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Geoff McMullan was sensationally disqualified from the 2000 TT
Lightweight 400cc Race, after being declared the winner, for using an oversized
motor.
We spoke to the McMullan from Banbridge in Northern
Ireland about the race itself, the time since the race and his plans for the
future.
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Geoff, there has been a lot said
and written about THAT race, but you have never really had your say. Go ahead
and tell me your side of the story.
Well first of all, the important thing to know is that it
wasn't the same bike I rode at the TT in '99. This bike was a 400, which had
been bored out with 600 pistons, but with a standard head, so where it was
gaining in one sense it was losing in another, whereas my 400 from the year
before was a fully tuned, legal 400. The press tried to make out I took a 600
bike out into the race, which was a load of nonsense.
My fastest lap
last year was 106mph throughout the fortnight, whereas the year before I lapped
at 108mph, close enough to 109mph actually on my own bike.
I finished
third in that race and the bike was checked. I can understand why people find
my story hard to believe because of the way the story was put out by the
media.
So why were you not riding your own bike?
Towards the end of 99, at the Leitrim Road Races, I blew my
own bike up so I used an engine from a friend in England for the remainder of
the season. It was going to cost £2000 to £3000 to fix my engine,
and because the only race I was going to do in 2000 on a 400 was the TT, It
would have been hard to justify the money.
I got the offer to borrow a
machine for the TT, which of course I did, and the people who say it was the
same machine as the year before are wrong. It wasn't.
What was the public reaction like towards you after the
race?
Well there were a lot of people starting rumours and writing
stuff about me, but I don't think any of them stopped for one minute to ask me
my side of the story or worry about how it would affect me.
I had to
ring Manx Radio, the BBC myself and the local newspapers back home to give my
side of the story, and when I explained to them they understood.
I still
have the odd person now that'll say things behind my back, but I know who my
friends are. The majority of people in the paddock who know me don't think I am
a liar and a cheat. I mean if anyone thinks I'm that stupid to go and win the
thing with a big engine in it, if I had of known. I could have led and then
broke down on Hilbary on the last lap and come home a hero, because I knew it
was going to be checked.
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So you are planning to comeback
to the TT next year. That must have been a difficult decision to make?
Well when I go back to the Isle of Man, I just don't know
what kind of reception I'm going to get, but whatever it is, I'm just going to
have to deal with it.
But, I'm looking forward to going back and I love
the TT course. I'm hoping to do the Formula 1 for the first time and the
Junior, plus the 400 race of course.
And what
machinery have you lined up for next year?
Well, I have a few irons in the fire for the big bike, so
I'll just have to wait and see what happens.
For the 400 race, which
I'm going back to try and win, but I realise there are higher profile riders in
the race compared to previous years. If I can lap faster than I did this year
on a 400 I think I will have proved. The machine will be another 400 Yamaha and
I will be riding it for Crossan Motor Cycle's Racing Team.
And where else other than the TT do you intend to ride?
I'll be doing all the roads at home, the TT and other rides
in England, and I might try and get to Mettet or something.
Is
there anyone you would like to thank for their support over the last
year?
Trevor Diffen and Gregory Croft who did a brilliant job for
me at the TT last year even though what happened happened and I'm really glad
the two boys are helping me again this year. I would also like to thank anyone
else that supported me over the last eight months.
Thanks for taking the time to speak to me, and best of luck for
the future.
No problem, cheers Paul.
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