2005 is certainly the year of change for road racing on the Isle of Man, with many alterations to the format of the TT. Change for the better undoubtedly, with the Manx Motor Cycle Club now organising both meetings on the Mountain Course – but many competitors have had to make a difficult decision……whether to race in the TT or the MGP? New regulations don’t permit “Manx” riders an entry in the June event; it’s now one or the other, with no “grey” area. One such competitor who rode in both events last year is Northern Ireland’s, John Burrows, who has elected, in the short term, to concentrate on the MGP, improving his lap speeds, perhaps even securing a victory, before “moving up” to the TT. John’s thoughts are quite clear on the matter, “the Manx Motor Cycle Club has to do something to move the TT forward, so let’s give them a chance and see what happens. They may need the top MGP riders to make up the grids at the TT and, at the same time, move some of the TT touring riders back to the Manx”. The latter scenario might well prove to be a controversial necessity to guarantee everyone’s desire to start a race on the Mountain Circuit; certainly a problem looms if allowances are not made available for those travelling from far afield to compete in the August races.

Now one of the top MGP riders, John’s story is typical of many from the Emerald Isle…”I went over to the Isle of Man a couple of times with the assistance of the Hailwood Foundation and the late Davy Wood, so influential in the careers of young Irish riders, to learn the Course under expert tuition. However, it didn’t end there, as there were weekends where I’d fly over, hire a car and circulate the course on my own and then return home to watch videos, morning, noon and night.”

How did John first become involved in the Irish road racing culture? “I went to road events from the late ‘70s with my Dad, started moto cross in 1984, but the road racing bug really got a hold of me after attending road and short circuit meetings with North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix winner, Phelim Owens.” Thirty-three year old, self -employed engineer from Dungannon, John’s season is now well mapped out with an early short circuit meeting at Mondello and then the Easter event sat Kirkistown before the cat and mouse battles of the road season begin with the Cookstown 100 and the Tandragee 100. The high speed North West 200 follows and, then, sadly there’s a gap, as, due to MGP commitments, there’ll be no TT for John this year – withdrawal symptoms will soon be pushed aside with starts at Skerries, Kells, the Southern 100 in its 50th anniversary year and the Mid-Antrim. In fact, as John concludes “I’ll compete in as many road events as I possibly can, which will probably be all of them except the TT.”

John has risen through the ranks very quickly, after competing in three meetings only on the Mountain Course, to be one of the favourites for this year’s Manx. 2003 saw his debut, coming home fourth in the Senior Newcomers MGP at an average speed of 111.20mph for the four-lap race. John was certainly in fine company with three potential TT stars in front of him – Ian Hutchinson, Jonathon Ralph and Alex Donaldson. Even though he was a newcomer, John was allocated two entries in the MGP proper, bringing his 600 Yamaha home in 21st position at an average of over 109mph, before returning to his 750 Kawasaki for Friday’s Senior MGP, where he finished 17th despite a slipping clutch with a best lap at over 114mph , certainly impressive for a newcomer.

The priority for 2004 was, again, the Manx Grand Prix, but, like many potential victors there was the possibility of honing his skills at the TT, even more so as the MGP contingency, normally only allowed to race in the production based races, were, for the first, and probably only time, permitted to race in the blue ribband event itself, the Senior TT, albeit on their production machines. John certainly took advantage of this in securing three fine finishes…….35th on his Suzuki GSXR in 1000 Production at an average speed of 112.29mph, missing out on a Bronze Replica by about half a mile per hour, 31st on his 600 Yamaha in the 600 Production, this time well within Bronze Replica time and then in the four lap Senior TT, John brought his Suzuki home at an average of 114.07mph to take 34th place and a second “bronze” of the week. In beating many seasoned TT campaigners, John made a fastest lap of 115.79mph in the Senior, a fine achievement.

It was then on to the Manx; obviously rated highly by the organisers, John was allocated start number 6 for both the Junior and Senior events. Consistently in the top ten on the leaderboards on both his 600 Yamaha and 750 Suzuki during practice week, John was certainly in contention for top six placings in the final reckoning. He did not disappoint, seen prominently in the Duke Marketing MGP video of the meeting, contesting intense on-the-road battles, he finished 5th in the Junior and 6th in the Senior, raising his fastest lap speed to in excess of 117mph, taking home two Silver Replicas in the process.

As this is being written, John is gearing himself up for the 2005 season – what of sponsorship and machinery?….”the year looks set for me to be back riding for HM Sports Motor Homes, owned by Hugh Murphy, for whom I rode in ‘02 and ’03; I’ll be aboard a 600 Yamaha and a 1000 Suzuki. I also have sponsorship from Kelso Car Sales, Kronos Hi-fi, George Davidson and Matt Cooper, all of whom have been with me since the start of my road racing career” John’s plans are well laid out, but what are his goals?…. “it has to be a top three finish at the Manx and after that, do a full TT in 2006, as well as starting to lap in the 120mph+ bracket”.

Certainly realistic ambitions; it’s well within John’s capability to become one of the top Irish road racers of his generation, being of the right age and experience to handle the demands of the Mountain Course to secure many top TT placings as the event moves into its second century of competition. Without doubt, newly appointed TT Liaison Officers, Paul Phillips and Milky Quayle will see it this way and so be making the right moves to ensure that John Burrows will be on the Glencrutchery Road start line at the TT for many years to come

Graham Bean