Well - I was happy that my earlier prediction was coming true. A scorching 131.457mph lap on Thursday night (after being held up twice!) showed that Cameron Donald really was going to be the main threat to everyone else.

And then ....... final practice and unfortunately he slipped off at Keppel Gate. Luckily it seems not too badly injured with reports of a dislocated shoulder but it looks like he's ruled himself out of next week completely. So the win is there for the taking and any one of five could take it but I'm keeping quiet now - don't want to tempt fate again.

Not that we will see a Saturday race anyway - far too wet for that and from the way McGuinness talked in 2007, and Cameron after that lap last night, then just maybe you won't see that 131 mph lap again this year. On both occasions they said that because of a prolonged period of hot weather with no rainfall at all, the road surface had loads of grip having built up rubber in a similar fashion to a short circuit and that grip level was helping those lap times to happen. So the weekend's deluge will wash all that away and unless we see a few toasty days next week then John McGuinness will leave the Island with the official lap record still in his name.

A glorious evening at the Gooseneck. Lets hope we get two more weeks of it. And I won't drag on again about the previous post's subject but have you seen the spectator area at the Gooseneck? Don't get me started .........

So here we go again - TT 2009 starts tomorrow and the powers that be have been out with their sinister yellow tape trying to anticipate where the next potential accident will take place (got to keep the insurers happy) and in the process turning more and more spectators away from the TT by preventing the major draw for most - close proximity to the action. With all due respect to those involved in the tragedies that have occurred in recent times, by its very nature these things will always be random and unpredictable. And unfortunately because you can't easily argue against those who insure or run the event, or those affected by such occurrences without sounding insensitive or ignorant of the organiser's task, then we will all fall in line and slowly watch our beloved event strangled by the modern, litigious world in which we live.

So make your decision to be present or not at the roadside to watch some of the world's greatest unsung sporting heroes do what so few can, and what so many admire. Who will stamp their authority on the fortnight this year? I have a suspicion that Mr. Donald above has every chance of consolidating on last years unexpectedly mature performances and really dominate the meeting, with Messrs. Plater, Anstey & McGuinness snapping at his heels. Enjoy.

Fast Women

This may be a little controversial for some, but you can't read anything about Maria Costello (above in the 2004 Proddie 600 race) without the phrase "fastest female round the Isle of Man TT course" being included. Now I've nothing against her in the slightest and would love to see her continuing to get good results. And I obviously can't argue with the fact that she has actually done the fastest lap by a female - 114.73mph. But just have a think for a moment about the second person in that list.

Sandra Barnett's best lap as far as I can find out (and I stand to be corrected) is 114.63mph. This was done in 1997 - seven years beforehand - in the Junior TT on a 600cc machine. Admittedly a tuned 600, whereas Maria's 1000cc was a stock bike. But we're talking 400cc difference and 7 years development! Sandra was also holding her own in the top 15 of the most competitive TT class of the time and her lap time was a lot closer percentage-wise to the class record than Maria's. With the exception of Julia Bingham in sidecars Sandra was the most accomplished female of all time.

Now as I said I have no wish to knock Maria, and the "Guinness World Record" is a fine achievement in terms of sponsorship attraction, but I'd like to see another two or three mph average on that lap before I'll accept her actually being faster than Sandra - and watch out this week because Carolynn seems to be on it as well!

Mr. Smooth

I was trawling through the portfolio the other day and noticed something about virtually every image I have seen of John McGuinness - although its not a new realisation. It was just brought home to me when going through a lot of images of all riders.

Wherever he is pictured, practice or race, record lap or not, he always seems relaxed on the bike whereas a lot of others, even top men, seem tense and fighting the machine. John seems controlled and smooth, almost slower than others. This is the mark of the greats - Hailwood (although I merely remember the comeback, not fighting the '67 500!), Dunlop, even DJ. Viewing in one spot you couldn't tell if it was a fast lap or not. In fact in the case of Jefferies in the 2000 Senior I remember saying to my wife while watching him at Quarry Bends on the last lap "he's knocked it off now cos its in the bag". And of course he proceeded to put in the very first 125mph lap! It just didn't look that fast.

Its the same wherever I see McGuinness, including that 130mph lap where others were far more untidy. The mark of a true great and deserving of being in the company of those mentioned above.

Tommy

I know - another from the same spot. Although the weather wasn't as bad as this most of the time, the Southern did suffer a bit this week. This is another from that race in 2004 and was done as a tribute to Tommy Clucas after his tragic loss while leading the Junior MGP a month later.

Rain Gods

As its Southern 100 week in the Island this week I thought I should post this shot first (they might get this sort of weather). Southern 100 is a national road race meeting run in the south of the Island on an insane 4 mile long square course. This is from 2004 and shows Guy Martin leading Ryan Farquhar through Church Bends. Pure luck as I'd decided to get some shelter under a tree in the cemetery and see what shots from behind were like, when I realised from the commentary that they would be close together coming past me - luckily I got the timing right and I count this as one of my best shots ever.