S I T E   U P D A T E D  16 / 10 / 08                 J I M   M O O D I E   R A C I N G # 2 1

Being a fan of Jim Moodie isn't easy when things are not going according to expectations. This is the first season for a long while that Jim has gone without some form of top order finish. Of course there was the TT win for Bruce Anstey and the team award for Jim and John McGuinness, but I'm sure Jim would want better from his own high standards. We continually hear that Jim Moodie was brought into the Valmoto team for his development prowess and that goes without saying. It's arguable that Jim Moodie could be the best development and set up rider in the UK, but I don't believe that Jim Moodie wants to be known just as a development rider. He's still desperate to do well and its easy to forget he's twice British champion and won eight TTs. I know if the Triumph had a little more grunt he would be running up front and that's got to bode well for the future. Triumph have come a long way in such a short period of time, and when we consider this bike is only over six months old, it really has got to be put into perspective by everyone.

The last round at Donington gave me another good chance to see Jim at work, out on the track, in the garage and beyond.  Watching him over the years Jim excels in being smooth and consistent and I was paying particular attention to his corner speed and how the bike was handling, turning, changing direction, stopping and accelerating. It's easy to look at Jim's riding style and think he could do better or go faster. His smooth style alone lends itself to that thought. Jim is not a Glen Richards or a Craig Jones, at times backing it in.

Jim's style has always been high corner speed, and that he's still got in abundance. Like any true champion, when things are not going well, the body language tells it all and Jim is no exception, it's that inner drive to do better each time he goes out. Saturday morning's first qualifying session was going well with Jim high in the running order. He was on a flier when he got baulked and then to cap it, he had a gear linkage problem that restricted his amount of track time for that session. Jim was still upbeat and he knew it could have been better, although this is the kind of thing that's been dogging him more than usual this season. He took time to explain what happened and you could tell he was still raring to go. For anyone looking from the outside, it could be seen as an average performance. The facts are that Jim is riding as well as ever, and in fact, I think he's riding better and faster than he's ever done before and all on a bike that we know could do with more power. When you consider the incredible pace that this year's supersport championship has been run at, with lap records falling by margins that no one ever expected, then the Triumph effort really is remarkable for such a new bike in this, the most competitive class. 

Jim goes back to his motorhome and after a shower he puts on the team attire. Jim's next port of call's in the Valmoto hospitality unit. Jim and Craig do their pre race interviews in front of all the guests and Jim intimates that he's going to try and anticipate the start lights. After this time I basically stay out of Jim's road as he's getting into race mode and besides I was interested to see how Niall Mac would get on in the superbike race and besides I had some photos to do for Knockhill race circuit. I was inside the fence on the exit from the melbourne loop and it's interesting to hear what the knowledgeable crowd were saying. Mark Heckles was spinning up the rear tyre on the big Honda and although he wasn't running all that high in the order the crowd sure liked his antics. Byrne, Emmett and Reynolds were putting on a great show and someone said "what if Reynolds and the likes of Emmett were on it right from the seasons start". I wonder.

Later it was the turn of the Supersport guys and I was keen to find out what Jim's tactics would be. The race started and I heard Fred Clarke mention about some fallers going into Redgate and I was just hoping Jim wasn't tangled up in that incident. As the bikes got closer to the loop I was really pleased to see Jim running up front. Just like the thing, two other riders came down just as they passed me and the pace car came out. What a let down as I knew the field would bunch up. Still, it was only the first lap with the promise of more to come. With the pace car in, Jim was still with the leading group only for him to disappear after a few more laps. He then reappeared further down the order and I thought "something's not right", something that was confirmed later when he pulled in with brake problems. You couldn't write the scrip any better, team mate Craig Jones starts his push for the honours and although at times he looked on the edge, the youngster has got great control and skill. Jones finished third, a great result for the team and all the effort that's been put in. As it turned out, Jim got a ten second penalty for a jump start, and after all he did say he was going to try and anticipate the lights.

Watching it later on the telly I was thinking what a great advert for the team with Jim and Craig getting plenty of air time and views from the commentators. Jack Valentine was over the moon and quite rightly so...............end. Words and pictures by Harvey Thomson. Home Page