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Q.. Firstly Jim, you were over at the 2008 TT and I know you initially had no intention of going. So what drew you there and why….JM…I was there on a request, an invitation from Phil Plater of Dunlop. Basically, I was instrumental in helping them develop the road tyres they're using just now. Q..Can you give us some more background. ...JM…Well, around ten years ago Pirelli came up with a tyre that stayed round at any speed. In the past the big problem with Dunlop's, especially on the roads circuits, was they grew up to ten millimetres at high speed and that had to be stopped. So in 2004 I gave them some ideas to combat that and it was tested in 2005. They were pretty good straight away; yes John won straight away on them. They weren't perfect but he still won on them. But now I definitely think Dunlop have the advantage over Pirelli. When they first came out they were probably better in some areas and the Pirelli better in others. Now I would say they pretty much have it most of the way. Q..How long were you there…JM…I was there Thursday and Friday, mainly as a guest but I also helped John for the senior race, which he won.
Q..Did it bring back any thoughts that you would like to go round the Isle of Man again…JM…Not really no, not any more. Last year definitely, but now I've stayed away from racing for a year, it's a lot easier to go there. Q..So you're quite settled in your mind……..JM...I'm realistic. Today I'm not going to get a bike capable of winning a TT or a BSB race, so that's it in a nut shell. Q..Where do you think the TT is going and do you think the TT is a bit stagnant with it mainly being production based…JM…no, I think it's a good thing actually and as far as the way it's going, well, I don't think it's going anywhere really. They'll be another good year next year with Hondas 60th year, after that I don't know.
Q..So what have you been doing to make a living in the last couple of years…JM…I'm still importing motorhomes and building houses. I still exercise most days, just to stay healthy rather than train hard. I still get a lot of people up to train with me. I still get asked my opinion most days if not every other day. Q.Your motorhomes, is the BSB paddock your main clients…JM…Not really, it was at the beginning when I first started doing it in 2005, but now it's a small percentage, probably about 10 percent. Q..So how did this all come about…JM…well I went and bought a new one when I broke my leg in 2004 and I realised the opportunities and it developed from there. Q..Can you see yourself doing this for the foreseeable future…JM…I don't know, I'm still looking towards retiring properly. Q..Like doing a bit of hill walking…JM…Cycle across America. Seriously, that's what I want to do. Q..Have you been keeping in touch with what's happening in the BSB series…JM…Yes I speak to someone involved in racing most days, even though it doesn't look as if I'm involved, I'm still very much hands on with a lot of peoples life's. Q..Is there anything in particular that stands out in BSB, any particular rider…JM…It was a bit of a limbo year after Lavillia and Kiyonari left and the tyres became a one make series. I mean when Pirelli took over in WSBK it was definitely a limbo year and it seamed to go backward for a couple of years. I think BSB's in the same situation. I don't think its good Ducati being allowed 1200cc and I don't think it's good that Shakey's clearing off with the championship as he's taken some of the anticipation out of everything. Nothing against him, but in any championship, if somebody clears off, it takes away all the excitement. I mean you might still want the same person to win it right from the start, but the most satisfying championship has got to be the one's that look like they've work for it. Q..Do you think that rule might change…JM…the weight doesn't seem to be helping, you cant keep on putting on 10 or 15kg for example, although I don't know if it would have made that much difference anyway. CC might have been the answer; It's actual standard road cc, 1098, might have been the answer. Q..What about British supersport…JM…It's quite weak, apart from Glen and a couple others the championship itself is quite weak. Q..Do you think Glens took the Triumph to a different level……..JM….Yes, I think he's shown what the Triumph is capable of doing. I think at the beginning of the season it wasn't the best bike on the track. Now, it's a highly competitive bike. It's the same as the Ducati, the CC's doing it. You can't beat CC's. I remember when supersport first came out we were allowed to use maximum oversized pistons, which gave us 18cc more and that was the difference between the bike wining and loosing 18cc. That resulted from being allowed 1mm maximum oversize pistons. Everybody done it, on new bikes brand new barrels were bored out to get 18cc, but you're not allowed now. Any Scottish rider that catches your eye…JM…Mmmm there's a few, but no one's jumping out saying "I'm your man" at the moment. I think if Kev Coghlan had done supersport in 2004 5 I think he would have been well established, probably in World supersport. He's now doing well in Spanish supersport so we'll wait and see. ….Q …What do you think of the British riders going off to the world scene come 2009…JM…I think its great that British riders are representing us on the world stage. In my time it was American, Australian and Spanish etc I also think it's great that Moto GP is finally doing a 600 series, it's just 15 years to late as I would have loved it
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