Wake up, it's 1st Practice day of the NW200, the greatest Motorcycle Road Race! There's UK coverage on the BBC iPlayer, worldwide coverage on the BBCNI Sport Website. Practice starts at 9:30am BST. There's practice on Thursday, with 3 races on Thursday evening and Racing on Saturday from 10am-5pm BST.

Is this the first piece of Motorcycle writing? Anyhow, it's a description of a ride on his Brough Superior from about 100 years ago by TE Lawrence - better known as Lawrence of Arabia. Riders today will recognise the emotions. Although his writing is a bit flowery, I found it a good read.

Nice picture I took, spotted it in my downloads directory.

Since I fitted a GPS tracker on my bike, I've realised that it can keep track of my laptime going round the Tandragee 100 road racing circuit! For comparison, Michael Dunlop did it in 2m55s. I was very, very close with 6m46s. An average speed of 47.5mph. That's my average speed, not Michael's. FWIW It's a cracking bit of road, they call it the Mini TT for good reason. If you find yourself anywhere near it, it's well worth a lap or two. Next up, Dundrod Ulster GP circuit...

Spent the weekend with a few mates riding & camping around the west of Ireland. It was magic.

https://postimg.cc/gallery/d1pbLnN

Day 1 we met up and rode via Enniskillen and the Magho Viewpoint to Ballyshannon's Rory Gallagher Statue, then around Mullaghmore, the Gleniff Horseshoe, round the back of Benbulbin, Glencar Lough, then through Sligo to spend the night camping at Lough Arrow.

Day 2 we set out across Co. Mayo, through Ballina, to Downpatrick Head. The countryside grew wilder and more remote as we pushed on onto the peninsula of Belmullet, then on down to Black Sod Bay. By the time we stopped for food there was no way we could make it to Achill and make it to Clifden, so we had to go directly to Clifden. The run down, past Westport and through Ireland's only fjord (at Leenaun), was some of the best riding I've ever experienced. Jaw dropping scenery and just a great biking road. We camped just outside Clifden. Bring a midge net.

Day 3 we set off to Galway, again stunning scenery and wonderful roads into the big town. Then we headed south into The Burren's unique landscape and Fr. Ted's house. The view round the corner from there, across Lough Gaelan to Mullagh More was so photogenic it looked like a painting. From there we headed through Gort, Athlone, Cavan, Armagh and home. We managed to do this while the All Ireland Football final was on, so we had some lovely fast sweeping A-roads, pretty much to ourselves - although the scenery wasn't quite as stunning as it was out west. A little under 700 miles in total in 3 days.

Free, worldwide, livestreaming of the Armoy Road Race meeting, this Saturday 26th July. Starts 9:30am BST.

You'd think I was away to Punta Arenas in the morning! I'm just trial fitting luggage for a 3 day camping trip to Galway/Mayo in a few weeks time! The sidebags aren't fitted correctly yet, but I'm most of the way there!