It was down the real stuff on Monday as racing started for the 2010 Manx Grand Prix. With a frustrating non-start in the Post Classic Event, Davy Morgan Racing were looking for at least a finish on the CSC Branson 350cc Honda.

The race started well and an opening lap at 93.589mph saw him move into tenth place on the leaderboard from his number twenty four start position so a lot of traffic to work through along the way. Davy increased his pace on lap two and had moved up eighth place at the end of the lap with his fastest lap on the CSC Branson 350cc Honda at 94.133mph.

It was proving hard work as Davy moved through the traffic and a lot of the machines he was catching were quicker, but he was making up for the lack of speed by riding hard and keeping the little honda singing around the fast, sweeping bends of the mountain circuit.

On lap three with the help of retirements Davy completed another lap at over 94mph and was up to sixth and a comfortable sixth at that. However his bad luck returned on the final circuit as he flashed through Glen Helen still in an excellent sixth it was looking good, but the 350cc Honda Engine cried no more and threw a rod and it was a retirement at Kirk Michael.

Speaking after racing Davy commented, "I am gutted for Steve (Caffyn) as i just wanted to give him a finish, but it was not to be. To make things worse Dave (Madsen-Mygdal) wrecked his bike as well so not a good day for the team. It started okay and i was really enjoying myself as i had to ride hard as the wee bike was not quick and guys that passed on the straight i was getting past them again on the twisty bits. I was riding round the outside of them and was flat out through quarry bends to get myself to sixth when it packed up. I just hope we have better luck on wednesday although the Senior machine has been giving us a lot of bother, but maybe all the bad luck is used up now."

(PS: After the race there was a practice session and a mix up in pit-lane with the fuel on the CSC Branson 560cc Honda caused some hassle before he eventually got away on a practice lap for Wednesdays Senior Classic Race, but he was only seven miles out when the clutch packed up on the Honda. Hopefully the last breakdown and pick-up of the Manx Grand Prix)

Pic: Martyn Parnell

Pic: Martyn Parnell