Richard Britton Racing
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12th June 2004
Abrupt end for Britton's TT
The 2004 TT races came to an abrupt end for Richard Britton on Friday with both the Production 600 and the Senior races plaguing the Enniskillen rider as he struggled to finish the grand finale in what has been a very frustrating week for Britton.
On the John Harris 600 Production Honda, Britton struggled from the word go with a very under powered machine that was only pulling 130mph at the start and finish line compared to the Suzuki's and Kawasaki's of Anstey and Farquhar, which were hitting in excess of 142mph.
A front fork problems on the last lap meant that Britton had to grab the breaks way to long before his breaking points just to get the bike stopped, and in the end, the 32 year old Fermanagh man lead the Honda over the line in 14th place.
The Senior TT on Friday was Britton’s last chance to shine in a rather dull week, and it did not happen as lady luck again jumped up and hit Richard right in the face. After a terrific start, Britton soon caught and passed Shaun Harris and was well up the pecking order at Glen Helen. But as Britton started the climb up through Sarah’s Cottage the bike started to loose power and by Quarry bends the big Suzuki stopped. Britton had to mount the kerb and eventually got the O'Kane Suzuki fired up again and away he went. However, all was not well as the motor seemed to go in and off a cylinder and as in the 600 race, Richard nursed the bike home in 18th place.
" What a day. Its been a bad bad week. Nothing has gone right for me and I just don't know why. Today, the 600 was just not up to it. I had no power at all. In the Senior the bike was really flaying out towards Ballaspur and then she went right of song. I don't know what has happened to the big bike, but I want to forget this week as soon as is possible. The North West was poor and I thought that the TT would chance my luck, but that's the TT for you. You never know what is round the next corner. Who would have guessed that McGuinness, Lougher, Myself, Farquhar, and Shaun Harris would have retired out of the senior. No-one. I will just have to put it behind me" said Richard...
