Seventh Place for Steve in the Senior TT

Steve rode to his best result of the week when he secured a fantastic seventh place in the six-lap Senior TT on Friday. He has been declared best newcomer at the Centenary Isle of Man races and also put in the fastest lap by a newcomer at the TT.

Steve has gone from strength to strength this week and after finishing his other three races in 15th, 10th and eighth places was over the moon with seventh in his final outing. This result brings his silverware total to a maximum four out of four plus the honour of being best newcomer at the TT races. He also has provisionally won the fastest lap by a newcomer award with 125.808mph on the final lap of the race but this has yet to be confirmed.

As the race got underway Steve was on it from the start and had slotted into ninth place at Ramsey and up to eighth by the time they reached the Bungalow. He remained in eighth position all the way through to lap five when he reeled in Michael Rutter on time to secure seventh place. He looked really impressive at Ramsey and had the lines off to a tee, taking the same smooth route around the hairpin on each of the six laps to hold seventh place to the chequered flag after a gruelling one hour, one minute and 22 seconds in the saddle.

“That was a good race,” said Steve. “I put in some good times and got faster with each lap. I have had a really good TT and my lap times from the first practise night to the final race had improved dramatically so I am happy with that.

“But its not all down to me, I have a fantastic team behind me and they all have vast experience at the TT and that has helped me tremendously. I have to thank everyone at the Optoma Loans Yamaha team and team principal Alistair Flanagan for giving me the opportunity to ride at the TT this year. To pick up four silver replicas at my first attempt is amazing.”

The Senior TT brings racing to a close but there is no respite for Steve who travels straight to France where he will be testing at Magny Cours next week with the World Endurance Team Kawasaki France before heading over to Mondello Park in Ireland for the sixth round of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike championship on June 17.

Thanks to Double Red for the images.