McBride excited over prospects for season
Kettering rider James McBride is hoping for bigger and better things over "an interesting and exciting season".
He met up with ManTTXGP Racing at the weekend for early testing at the Jurby circuit ahead of this year's Isle of Man TT races.
Having recovered from a horrific crash in 2008, McBride stepped into the breach last year after local rider Dan Kneen had to pull out when he broke his leg earlier in the event.
He said: "Last year I wasn't used to the bike so the plan was to take it easy up to Glen Helen and get a feel for it.
"After that I picked up speed and was lying second in the race. Unfortunately a problem with one of the motors forced me to retire.
"We've made adjustments that would have improved it at the TT for this year.
"It's a lot slower but it performs best once you are above about 50mph, slower than that and it's a bit too highly-geared.
"Though it's good for 112mph it's quite slow getting there, but quick compared to some of the others.
"It's nice to be back on it. It's relaxing and comfortable and a bit like riding a 125 in terms of technique – not a lot of brakes and keep the machine rolling.
"Get up to speed then concentrate on keeping the momentum because it only has about 40bhp."
For the traditional TT races, McBride will be riding an ex-William
Dunlop Yamaha R6 and a new BMW1000RR sponsored by Downview Finance/Pazzo Racing. His new sponsor for the TTX class is the Green Insurance Company.
"Last year we had very little chance to do any setting up with James and it is a credit to him that he got on the bike and set off down Bray Hill after very little time on it," said team sponsor David Craine.
"To be lying second and running with the class leaders in the race
itself last year was brilliant.
"To do it in two months was an achievement and we learned a lot from last year too.
"So did everyone else, of course, so the whole thing is going to be better this year."
Having successfully organised a major zero carbon race in the Isle of Man last year, TTXGP took on board all the feedback from teams and
devised an international championship.
They already have three major events confirmed on the calendar – the Isle of Man TT and the Paris road race demonstration in June plus the grand final of the TTXGP 2010 series in partnership with the European Motorcycle Union in October.
TTXGP are also running UK and Italian championships across Europe plus the North America Championship.
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Weather for Kettering
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
