Posted on Friday, May 20, 2016 - 08:39 pm:

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Just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to Joe Rocket Motorcycle Apparel for their continued support for 2016 keeping me safe and looking gorgeous <cough!>.

2016 TT leathers have arrived, I leave for the Island on Monday.- Mark

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Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 09:22 am:

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TT2016 update 02:

Right. So day two done and dusted, had a couple engines to break in on the Superbike and Superstock so steady away on both bikes and they felt strong and stable straight from the off, kinda a big deal.

The Superbike engine seemed to have a hint of clutch slippage so I left her with the guys and jumped on the stocker.

Interestingly enough the Superstock bike's clutch also starting slipping and very soon after completely stopped clutching, so that was me pulling over at the Hawthorne Pub at around Mile Marker I-don't-know to wait out the rest of our session and the sidecar practice which followed.

But they sell beer at pubs, don't they?

Heh heh.

So yeah not the most productive way to spend our second TT practice but alas four (4) pints later, several ciggys offered - all sponsored by the awesome ladies and gents chilling there to watch - thanks guys! And nice to meet you all. I love TT. I even ran into an old friend, a current MotoGP mechanic with his girlfriend and son, super fun.

"But boss I was still wearing my team leathers the whole time, that's kinda like working."

We think the engine oil which the clutches were originally soaked in didn't play nice with the very special nano-tech synthetic oil the engines eventually went out with, so hopefully tonight the clutch issues will be sorted and from there on out a non-issue - never had any clutch issues on the EBR in the past. There were no signs of metal or degrading crank bearings in the engine oil removed from the new EBR motors last night which is huge for us, being that a different oil manufacture was proved at fault last year, after elaborate post-TT lab testing, to cause us four ruined engines at the cost of about $150,000. So no hard-part engine issues seen with the new oil.

Bottom line is we don't need no stinkin' clutches, well we do, but thus far not having engines go BOOM on me around here (of all places) at 135mph and instead getting to share some beers with these amazing fans, I'll take it.

We're out tonight Tuesday in two waves; big bikes then small bikes. Bring it.

Truman our official team videographer and roommate from California has arrived, so please please lock up your daughters and medium-size farm animals.

Big hugs, weather looks perfect again today.

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Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2016 - 07:33 am:

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TT2016 update 04:

Got to take out the Superbike which had a strange but distinct vibration in the engine the day before. Turned out the gent who assembled this engine failed to torque down what I call the stator but the team calls the engine's rotor, the magnet I think which spins around the coil bolted to the end of the crankshaft. It was free spinning or even resting at the inside bottom of the engine cover.

Tony Pogue my main man found it, sorted it, and yesterday both the new clutch and the engine vibration disappeared. Happy days!

Suspension tweaks to continue but we've got two strong EBRs to race now in Superbike and Superstock, huge torque, big power, awesome handling when it's smooth just got to get them over the biggest TT bumps now. Not an easy task but we're confident we'll get there. Our first race is the six (6) lap Superbike race on Saturday.

Two practice laps on the big bike and onward to the new Supersport R6. Such a different animal the in-line 600cc Japanese bike to the 1200cc Rotax Twin. Couldn't be more different, really. One is low RPM but ludicrous acceleration with wheelies and black stripes of rubber, the other seemingly unlimited RPMs with a tiny power band so you're revving the piss out of her shifting constantly.

Will take a few more laps to fully understand how to profit from each scheme; what gear to be in where, braking points, turn in points, when you can hold her flat out threading through curbs and when you must lift. I look forward to the 2nd Supersport race and Senior TT later in the fortnight after all parameters get realized and we can push with true knowledge. Right now I'm just guessing and trying different things (on the 600 and 650 Lightweight), without doing anything stupid or in too large of increments that might bite us, like I did in 2009 destroying my motorcycle into four large pieces. Steady away.

There was an electrical glitch on the 600 last night which allowed me the opportunity to hang out with the fun and crazy ladies and gents at Windy Corner, thanks again guys for the laughs, hot tea, fags, and a lift back to the paddock in the main man's personal car. I even got an exclusive 2016 annual "Windy Corner" sticker to go with my 2015 Windy Corner sticker. Ha ha. Only for the privileged... (-:

Out tonight on possibly all four bikes, weather remains dry and sunny but with some serious gusts of wind in upwards of 30mph. Don't like heavy winds around here, if I'm honest. The irish boys don't seem to mind it one little bit, wish I wasn't such a pussy sometimes.

Sincere thanks to the hard-working Splitlath team, big hugs to you,

Mark

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Posted on Friday, June 03, 2016 - 07:37 am:

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TT2016 update 05:

Sorry so brief but I'm a tad drunk after a solid day of two (2) laps on the Superbike which worked awesome after radical suspension changes which included some old advice from ex-teammate Chris Palmer about having the bits move more than dampen, had a try and yes got the big torquey EBR through the bumpiest sections much better.

Team and rider happy, lousy 123.8mph average lap in two but it's a start leading up to the Superbike race.

R6 was without electrical glitch tonight after Tony discovered that this brand new Yamaha's stock battery OEM 'holding' system could't contain the severe bumps that the TT course inherently demands. The battery came back upside-down heh heh.

Every bike worked today. Rode the Superbike, R6 Supersport, and 650cc Lightweight, felt a little like the first days practice but sans niggling teething problems.

After a few days of tip-toeing around the place I now feel at one with the race track. Carving through all the blind and fast bits I was dancing with my partner eventually; each individual bike, eventually. Such an awesome feeling.

Got to make an appearance at the paddock tomorrow early for a 'pit walk' which means signing team posters for smiling elementary kinda and their beautiful mothers and the occasional lads who simply wouldn't mind a signature from the riders they most identify with.

Personally speaking I'm happy to be here and am grateful to have a team to share this with and whom I consider family. At the end of the day racing is supposed to be fun and we are having some as things naturally ebb and flow.

The ultimate hope is that this all ends well on a high note which keeps us all wanting more. We all know what this feels like.

Off to bed, big hug,

Mark

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Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2016 - 08:59 am:

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TT2016 update 06, Friday final Superbike Qualifying:

Just got home from the paddock about 11pm so off to bed.

Another solid day riding the big EBR, front brakes sorted, suspension close, bettered our lap time from yesterday and starting tomorrow morning's Superbike race in a relatively okay position although I went faster today than several who set faster times a day or three ago. We'll see who gets the last laugh, or lap times, when the dust settles after about two (2) full hours of hard riding whilst keeping virtually any mistakes at near zero... or you die. I could fail as easy as I could do awesome so that's why we run the race. I aim to do fantastic as does my team during our two somewhat complex pit stops being we have a fuel tank under my arse as well as a hollow aluminum frame with fuel wrapped around my engine. So two fuel caps, windscreen full of bugs, visor change, drink of liquid, and rear tire change. We always try to minimize tenths of a second lost in the pit stops as they're much harder to gain on-track.

75 starters for the Superbike race tomorrow, anywhere inside the top 20 will be my initial goal and I'd also like to better my best ever lap around the TT circuit.

But yeah, steady away and let it come to us, no pressure and no worries, just absolute perfection will do.

Big hugs,
Mark

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Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2016 - 04:16 pm:

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TT update 07:
I lost my best friend in the paddock today nothing else matters.
Mark x

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Posted on Sunday, June 05, 2016 - 05:28 am:

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TT 2016 update 08 - Superbike race:

Family and friends, regarding Superbike the engine oil light went on after 5 1/2 laps of hard racing and the motor expired shortly after. We made up 11 positions on track before the mechanical failure despite some 20 second longer per pit stops due to our two fuel tank scheme. The EBR was working perfect seeing us eclipse our best ever lap time on the machine and the team did a great job. Needless to say we were gutted not to bring her home yesterday.

Regarding Shoey I'll only mention I arrived to the accident about 10 seconds after it happened and it was a heart wrenching scene. Paul was a true friend and this is a extremely hard thing to process and I truly don't know at this moment if I'll be able to race the remainder of TT with any real conviction, if at all. We will try, as he would want.

I'm a zombie today and I won't pretend that any words I might express here on Facebook would make anyone close to the situation feel any better. I will say simply that Paul was a unique human being who was very well liked by all and whom possessed a pleasant honest genuine intelligent caring nature that made him one of my favorite people on earth, I'm lucky to have been influenced by him.

Mark

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Posted on Monday, June 06, 2016 - 01:49 pm:

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TT 2016 update 09, Supersport 1 of 2:

Oy there, set out for this mornings Supersport race one. Head was clear and light after a nice day off from racing, spending time with the Splitlath family which now includes my best friend from high school Dave Schlotthauer. Super fun to share our •••••• little world of racing with a childhood mate who's never been to the Isle of Man before. It makes me grin to watch him see everything for the first time, he can't stop grinning.

Set off with a decent first launch, never rode this bike before a couple days ago so never raced it before.

At the end of the first lap I moved up to what looks like (we're waiting for official conformation) about 20 positions. The little girl was flying and smiling and we were together carving up the mountain course under perfect weather conditions.

There's no more beautiful place on earth than this island on a sunny day.

Nearing the end of the first lap I had a huge moment on the front tire, then through the final couple slow corners the steering seemed sluggish to turn.

Then cresting the top of Bray Hill she also wobbled in a strange way so it dawned on me I might have a front flat tire.

I paid extra closer attention through Quarterbridge then again through the next few bends, the front dint feel right.

Remembering what happened to Simon Andrews after he blew a tire then crashed then again Paul Shoesmith a couple days ago seemingly having an issue with his front tire, I pulled over to have a look.

At a glance the front tire appeared more squished than it should, not flat however.

That was me done, no chance risking anything that's not 100% certain.

Got a ride back to the paddock on the back of a marshals person street bike again. That was fun, again under perfect weather.

Superstock up next today, the sorted out suspension from the superbike has been moved over to the superstock chassis which effectively is an identical motorcycle.

Wish us luck, four laps, big hugs,

Mark

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Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2016 - 05:22 am:

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TT 2016 update 10 - Supersptock race:

Hi all, as it turns out the front tire on my Supersport bike yesterday was indeed losing air. So happy I pulled over, the very next corner was to be the ultrafast 150mph Ballagary kink. Phew.

Superstock was fun, came up 20 positions from where I started but above all we finished. Over some time it's become clear that racing our big 1200cc EBR twins around the Isle of Man is no mean feat. We don't see Ducati or KTM ballsey enough to give this monster of a racetrack a go, it's just so fast and violent and our pistons are the size of coffee cans.

On topic I keep hearing from fans photographers and marshals that our wee girl can be heard coming from miles away and sounds the dogs bollocks when gnarling past by their toes. Heh heh. Proud to be riding something different, true story.

So yeah, day off today. Might show my friends something new around the island even if I'd rather just sit on the couch for 16 hours and do absolutely nothing. There are worst fates, I suppose.

Big hugs around the world, Wednesday see's us again on Supersport and I think Lightweight then Senior on Friday. Time's flying, holy shit!

- Mark

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Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2016 - 05:22 pm:

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TT 2016 update 11 - Supersport 2:
Hi all, real quick as we're running out the door to meet up with the Macau GP peeps here on the island.
Supersport 2 went well, smooth quick steady away. We moved up about 20 positions from our starting position, last lap I was finally understanding what she needed as I'd only done a lap or two on the R6 before that.

Went out on the big EBR for a single lap of Superbike qualifying and she was flying. So fun.

However, when I got to Parliament Square in Ramsey I got black flagged. Pulled her over and holy shit there was oil 2mm thick all over my rear fender and swing arm. Had the Marshals not noticed my predicament when they did I could have soon after high-sided ten feet in the air at a buck-fifty landing 1/4 mile away from any living soul. F**k me.

Looking forward to the six lap Senior race on the morrow weather permitting.

Big hugs!
Mark

PS- Shiny boot soiled in synthetic nanotechnology racing oil.

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Posted on Friday, June 10, 2016 - 01:00 pm:

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TT 2016 update 12 - Senior:

Our motor had a vibration didn't sound right and lacked power so pulled into the pits after one lap. I revved it a few times for our lead mechanic and he agreed it didn't sound right. I rode the first lap hard but with my left hand over the clutch lever which had me missing braking markers and turn-in points which also made it difficult to concentrate.

Super gutted for the team which worked very hard and wisely, they deserve success. I think this race track is just extremely hard on twin cylinder engines.

Sigh, was really up for racing the six laps flat out, she was handling perfect and just aching to be man handled.

13th TT fortnight finished and we're safe and sound which has to count for everything.

Couple days off on the island than will head back to LA. I feel like I could cry.

Won't lose sight of those special friends we left behind.

Big hugs, sorry guys,

Mark

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