Five starts, five finishes, three replicas and lap speeds in excess of 120mph – a brilliant debut year at the TT for 26 year old Ben Wylie... a man certainly worth having a chat with…

I was sitting behind Milky wondering what I’d let myself in for, When I came to the IoM as a kid to watch the TT and Manx, it always seemed like something that you had to be a grown up to do and now here I was probably about to make a complete fool of myself. Then, as we

were almost ready to go a mate of mine who’s not a bad TT rider came over and said “you’ll be alright mate, just go to the bottom of the hill and keep turning right.” Funny enough, that relaxed me a bit and off we went; the speed controlled lap was great because it takes a lot of pressure off, easing you in slowly.

…and how did you feel on your return from that lap?

I came in amazed at what I had just been allowed to do; places like Kirk Michael and Ramsey, even at the steady pace we were doing, made me realise why this course is the best in the world. Following Milky was great because even two weeks later in the Senior I was still remembering things he had shown me and I’m sure I will be doing so for years to come. When I got back, the lads in the Wylie and Holland team were as buzzing as I was as it was the first TT for all of them; they loved every minute of it. After a quick chat we filled the fuel tank and set off again, I managed to do five laps in the first night so got off to a really good start. Throughout practice week I managed to do the maximum possible with the time available so that really helped with getting to grips with it.

How did you set about learning the course?

Everyone was really good with helping me learn, I managed to get over to the IoM four times in the six months leading up to the TT, doing plenty of laps in cars and vans with the guidance of some very experienced riders. I would have liked to have got over a lot more but the driving round, listening to people really helped a lot though and add in, probably 100 laps, watching DVDs and maybe 200 laps on the playstation it seemed to work well. I was really pleased after the first guided lap at just how much I could remember. It’s obviously a bit different at real speed and changes every lap at first because of the extra speed you’re travelling compared to the lap before, but I could remember all the corners so that was a great start. I also cycled a couple of laps with some friends one weekend; it was just an idea of something fun to do but it really did help me learn the way round. The IoM is a top place for cycling so I’m hoping to get there before the 2010 TT, but it depends on time and funds!

I first went to the Manx when I was a kid, loving it instantly. My dad raced in the Manx in the 70s with my parents lives revolved around it; I always knew it was something I’d do one day. When I was 16 and started racing my mum said she would help and support me but I wasn’t to ride bikes on the road and wasn’t to do the TT. When I was 17 I got my road licence and a few years later was frequently riding road bikes. Then in 2008 Paul Phillips contacted me about doing the TT and things went from there. My mum ended up coming over for the whole fortnight, loving every minute of it although I’m sure she was on edge when I was on track.

How did practice week progress?

To be honest, practice week went completely to plan. Although it looked like I was riding for a big team with the big truck and fancy set up, in reality it was a very different story. Wylie & Holland Racing still had the truck from 2008 and as it hadn’t sold I was able to borrow it. They also had a Supersport bike from 2008 so I borrowed that too; I brought a 2009 Yamaha R1 on a credit card so I could ride in all the races. I left the R1 standard except for suspension and silencers and brought a standard engine for the R6 (good old Barclaycard!). My plan was to keep both motors standard and just do as many laps as possible. A few mates who had come with me to BSB gave up their time and got themselves over there, keeping the bikes running smoothly. It worked brilliantly and I managed about 30 laps by the end of the week. We put our first set of new tyres in for the last practice and everything felt really good. On the last practice lap I nearly crashed going into the Gooseneck when running out of road. I toured for a minute to make sure nothing was damaged and still did my fastest lap of practice on the new rubber. Riding both 600 and 1000 in my first year was a good thing I think. To be honest I think I could have gone faster on 1000 if I had been able to concentrate on it during practice but I hope learning the course on two different bikes will make me a better TT rider in the long run.

Yeah after practice week going to plan, race week was just brilliant. I was so pleased with both Yamahas at just how much punishment they were taking and still not missing a beat; the lads ran everything so well. Once the decision was made to come to the TT I started to think about what I would like to achieve. I thought doing 120mph lap in my first year would be great, I also thought I would love to come away with a replica, but didn’t really think that was possible. Then, of course, there is the Best Newcomer Award which James Hillier won the year before and there were some good names on the trophy from previous years; this didn’t seem very likely though considering the newcomer entry list. Achieving all three was unreal, I really couldn’t have asked for anymore, and I had so much fun doing it too. It was the perfect first attempt; I can’t wait for my second.

…so, to the races

Our first race was the Superbike – I was so nervous; I’m not sure why really, but I just kept thinking, what have I let myself in for here and I’ve got to do six laps! It all settled down once I set off and I really enjoyed myself. To be honest after the first race I was really disappointed with myself. My best lap was about 4 seconds off doing 120mph and I missed out on a replica by a couple of seconds and was really down about both. All the boys were telling me not to worry and that I get four more chances but it didn’t really help.

Were you any happier after the second race?

The Superstock Race made up for it all though, despite a near miss with Guy Martin and Hutchy on the Mountain I really enjoyed the race and was loving the course more and more with each lap. I was finding myself going through sections thinking this is my favourite part and then doing the same again later in the lap; I still don’t know which bit I like best, they’re all good. The race went without a hiccup and I’d managed to crack the 120mph lap doing about 121.8mph. I also won a bronze replica. I was well chuffed and felt good that I’d now started and finished two TTs. I’d done my 120mph and won a replica, I felt I could go home a happy man. There was just a matter of three more races!

Two races in one day – a tall order?

Supersport Race A was brilliant – awesome riding the 600 round the Mountain Course after the 1000 because it’s so slow in comparison. Corners that I’d back off at, having doubts about on the big bike I was able to just go through flat, which in some ways makes the 600 more scary and more of a buzz. I got off the bike after the race and was told I was 29th and best newcomer which shocked me a bit because there were some fast guys on 600s in practice. I felt pretty fresh too, considering I’d just done eight laps of the TT Course in one afternoon.

After a race average of nearly 117mph, presumably you were hoping for a repeat performance in Race B?

Yes, but the race was a damp one; never before have I been sunbathing on the start line whilst a race is delayed due to snow on the course! Once it got underway I rode like a novice through the wet bits and couldn’t seem to get my head into the dry bits, either. I was really tired as I’d hardly slept the night before. and was just thankful when the race was finished. Still, 40th position, a race average of over 109mph and, most importantly, more TT experience – four out of four can’t be a bad thing!

A day of before the Senior – time for reflection?

The day off on Thursday was a good thing as I’d not raced all year on short circuits so my bike fitness wasn’t where it should have been and I was physically worn out. It also gave me chance to look through all the data and timing sheets for the four races. I learned that I was losing a lot of time on the first lap of every race, so I decided I needed to push more on the first lap of the Senior.

Sat on the line I was telling myself to do just that, but the first time into Quaterbridge is scary because the tyres are cold and shiny and the fuel tank is full. The organisers had moved me and Steve Mercer up the starting grid after our performances during the week and he was starting 10 seconds behind me. The last thing I wanted was for him to catch me so I had to pull away. The plan worked perfectly and I think I pulled 8 seconds on him on lap one. I managed to do 121.3mph from a standing start – only a few seconds off my best. A few miles into the second lap though my lack of bike fitness and the amount I had put into the first lap caught up with me, my right wrist went numb and I was struggling to work the throttle and front brake, It had never happened to me before on a bike but it was that bad I

nearly retired at the first pit stop. Steve had done a great lap on the second circuit, catching me so we came into the pits together; we then did a couple of laps together which was lots of fun because we were both fast in different place. I think we learned a lot from each other. Steve rode brilliantly over the last couple of laps and pulled away from me only to run out of fuel at Governors Bridge, I was catching him going over the Mountain, wondering what was going on and then he stopped. I finished 25th, my best result to date but more importantly had completed five out of five, so was really pleased. Massive thanks to the lads who came to help me; both bikes did the whole event with no more that the odd oil change and check over, some fuel and tyres and all without missing a beat. The lads all worked hard, enjoying every minute of it as much as I did.

So, you were pleased with your first TT experience?

When we turned up behind the Grandstand for the awards, Paul Phillips told me I’d won the Best Newcomer – my first response was “do I get any money”, “no” was the reply! Then it started to sink in, I’d done the lot – a 120mph lap, five finishes, four replicas and the Best Newcomer, I wasn’t expecting all that, I wasn’t expecting any of it really. On the return boat journey I sat there thinking how good it felt even to have made the boat, many people haven’t over the years and I think for a rider who races at the TT that fear is part of the excitement and the adrenalin rush, something very hard to put into words. I was so pleased to maintain the family involvement in road racing on the IoM, also, that of the company as the Holland part of Wylie & Holland is Cliff, who had many podiums as a passenger in Sidecar TTs and won the world championship in 1977. The TT was a brilliant experience. The organization was excellent and Id like to say how impressed I was with the marshalling, it really was world class and made me feel really safe riding at 170mph into blind areas.

Presumably a return is planned for 2010?

Doing the TT and Ulster have made me want to concentrate on the roads, I’ve lost some interest in circuits to be honest. I want to win a TT one day so I’m delighted that I’ll be a  member of the Phase One Racing Team along with Carle Rennie at the NW200 and TT this year. Securing sponsorship has always been difficult for me, I don’t know why. For 2009 TT Silkolene sponsored me with oil and Chipbusters painted my bodywork and that was the lot, I didn’t receive any sponsorship money and I did the whole TT on under 3k which was paid for by my Visa Card and will probably never be paid off the way things are going! The economy doesn’t help but I’ve never really had any luck with finding sponsorship money, it’s certainly not through lack of trying…so, I’m absolutely chuffed to bits that this problem has been resolved for this year. I’ll have backing from a thoroughly professional team for whom I have ridden before, in their Shell Endurance Academy Team of 2005 and be able to compete at a high level in all five solo races around the Mountain Course and, of course, have a fantastic mentor in Carl Rennie.

An outstanding TT debut for Ben – we know he has so much potential; his determined, thoroughly professional approach and strong back-up team will surely stand him in good stead, enabling him to fulfil his ambitions. Thanks to Ben for answering our questions; we wish him well for his continued experiences with the TT.