Greeves Racing

'LIVE' FROM THE MANX 2002

UPDATED 02/09/2002 - scroll down for practice & race reports

Practice Week: Saturday 17th - Saturday 24th August

Race Week: Monday 26th - Friday 30th August

Manx Grand Prix Preview

This years Manx Grand Prix will see a host of Greeves riders in action. In the Lightweight Classic class the confirmed entries are: 'super' Ted Edwards on his 1965 RCS Silverstone, Mervyn Stratford on his 1966 RDS and 1964 RBS (101) Silverstone's. Merv will be using both machines during practice week and selecting the best package for the race. Ted who was struggling to get a gearbox together for the event, after his exploded earlier in the season has now got Merv's spare gearbox in his machine.

In the Junior Classic class John Loder will be in action on his 350cc Greeves Oulton and if all goes well could be on for a podium position. George Ridgeon's Oultons will be in action in the Junior Classic class, although the rider is yet to be confirmed because the entered rider will not be fit. There is also a possibility of one of George's machines being used in the senior classic event.

Keep a check on this page at Greeves-Racing.co.uk for live updates during practice week and a full report after the races.

First practice session Saturday 17th August:

This evenings first practice session for the 2002 Manx Grand Prix began with a delayed and very late start, due to weather conditions. Three Greeves riders embarked on this first session, which was untimed and only 1 lap. Ted Edwards and Mervyn Stratford both completed the lap on their Silverstone's as did John Loder on his Oulton. The riders reported it was very foggy on the mountain, and said that you had to follow the white lines on the road to see where you were going !! Also so it was very windy on the open parts of the course, particularly on Sulby straight, where Mervyn said it lifted the bike off the road !!

Newcomer Steve O'Brien who is entered in the Newcomers class on board a 250 Cowles Yamaha is to ride George Ridgeons Greeves Oulton in the Junior Classic class. He will be replacing Emilio Toone. As previously mentioned George's other Oulton may be used in the Senior Classic, but we are still awaiting conformation of this.

Next practice session is scheduled for Monday morning.

Monday Practice Session's Am and Pm 19th August:

Conditions were good for this mornings session, with Merv completing two laps, and being the only Greeves out in this session. However tragedy marred the practice, with two riders sustaining fatal injuries after an incident at Ballaspur. Our condolences go out to the families of the riders involved.

This evenings session again saw Merv as the only Greeves rider to complete a lap, with two laps averaging around 85 Mph. (sorry no official times as yet!) Tonight also saw newcomer Steve O'brien get his first ride on George Ridgeon's Greeves, he went out late in the session but was not reported as completing a lap.

In addition to Saturday night, it was said that Ted Edwards completed a lap, but unfortunately as Ted confirmed today he did not get round.

Top five from Monday evening's Classic practice session [sorry still no Greeves times as yet :( ]

Classic Senior
1 Wattie Brown 99.90mph (Norton)
2 Bill Swallow 98.21mph (Tickle Manx)
3 Colin Breeze 97.55mph (Petty Manx)
4 Nicky Turner 96.54mph
5 Barry Wood 96.31mph

Classic Junior
1 Jason Griffiths 97.81mph (Honda)
2 Tim Johnson 95.43mph (Norton)
3 Bruno Leroy 93.66mph (Aermacchi)
4 Bob Millinship 92.01mph
5 Pete Swallow 91.01mph

Classic Lightweight
1 Roy Richardson 95.67mph (Suzuki)
2 Barry Wood 94.48mph (Suzuki)
3 Tom Jackson 93.75mph (Suzuki)
4 Bud Jackson 92.72mph (Suzuki)
5 Karl Hayes 92.10mph (Suzuki)

Tuesday Evening Practice 20th August:

Excellent conditions blessed Tuesday evenings session. Merv completed another two laps tonight trouble free with his fastest in a time of 25m 51.6sec, an average speed of 87.54mph, his other lap was in a time of 26m 22.2sec (85.84mph). John Loder also completed two laps this evening on his Oulton with times of 24m 14.4sec (93.39mph) & 24m 27.9s (92.53mph), however these two times were down on his usual pace. Further investigation after taking the engine down showed the reason, the top piston ring had broken up and embedded itself in the cylinder head !!

More disappointment for Ted Edwards in this session as he again retired with a piston melt down. Last nights problems for Ted were those gearbox gremlins at work once more, but they should be sorted now.

Wednesday Evening Practice 21st August:

Another good evenings practice session tonight although the sun was causing a few problems for many riders, particularly on the run into Glen Vine.

Ted managed two laps tonight to put the previous evenings disappointment behind him. His lap times were 27m 29.4s (82.35mph) and 27m 27.8s (82.43mph) respectively.

Merv also got in another two laps tonight this time on his RBS which he was using for the first time this year. Lap times of : 27m 7s (83.48mph) and 26m 50.1s (84.36mph). We can now confirm Merv's official times for Monday evenings session. Lap times of : 26m 48.3s (84.45mph) and 26m 26.2s (85.63mph).

News from the Ridgeon camp is that newcomer Steve O'brien has now stepped down from his ride on George's Oulton, because of vibration problems. So George is now on the look out to enlist another rider for the Junior classic event, with three days practice remaining.

Thursday Afternoon Practice 22nd August:

This afternoons session continued with the good run of weather we've been having, so fingers crossed for next week as well. There was some speculation that the session was to be delayed because of a road accident at Lambfell, but luckily proceedings were only delayed by a few minutes. The practice saw both the Lightweight Greeves men out again, both Ted and Merv completed one lap each. Ted completed a trouble free lap in 26m 56.2s (84.04mph), and then switched machines to take out his senior mount the Weslake. Merv completed a lap in 26m 23.3s (85.79mph), which should have been quicker but he eased the pace on the last quarter of the lap after a slide at school house corner. This also made him abandon a planned second lap after further investigation showed oil coming from the chain case.

John Loder didn't take out the Oulton, instead concentrating on his senior mount, also a Weslake.

All the Greeves have now qualified for Wednesdays Junior/Lightweight Classic Manx Grand Prix, bar the Ridgeon machine. It was reported that George's Oulton went out for a lap this afternoon, with a presently unknown rider on board, but was not confirmed of completing the lap.

Friday Evening Practice:

Friday evenings session saw practices weeks good weather come to a close, with very heavy rain on the mountain. This forced many riders to only do one lap. However all four Greeves riders went out and completed a lap.

In the Lightweight Classic class Ted had a lap of 30m 23.2s (74.5 mph) Merv completed a lap in 29m 50.3s (75.87mph). In the Junior Classic class John Loder had a lap of 25m 49s (87.69mph). All the riders times reflected the conditions. Georges Oulton was out this evening with the confirmed rider being another newcomer Billy Lyle with a lap time of 31m 48.2s (71.18mph).

Saturday Evening Practice:

Tonight's final practice session for the Manx GP saw Ted and John both completing a lap. Ted in a time of 27m 40.8s (81.76mph) and John with a 24m 25.9s (92.66mph). Merv decided not to go out electing to save the machine for the race.

All Greeves riders have qualified for their respective events except Billy Lyle on Georges Ridgeon's Oulton.

Junior/Lightweight Classic Manx Grand Prix - Weds 28th August:

Good weather conditions graced the start of the Junior/Lightweight Manx Grand Prix.

First away was the Junior event with John Loder starting at no 8. At the end the first lap John was holding on to a good top ten position. However by lap 3 he was suffering with a slipping clutch and stopped at Sulby Crossroads where he borrowed a screwdriver to make adjustments. He then continued on to Sulby Bridge, but the clutch was no better! But he also found one of the exhaust pipes was broken so he was forced to retire. He then proceeded to Ginger Hall on foot for a pint!!!

In the Lightweight event which was running concurrently with the Junior, Merv was the first Greeves away at no 108 followed by Ted 20 seconds later at no 111. Merv completed the first lap with an average speed of 86mph. However there was no sign of Ted at the end of lap one, he having retired at the 33rd milestone and was due to get a lift back in the course inspection car. Lap 2 and Merv was still going strong as he came in for a quick clean pit stop to refuel for the final 2 laps. Merv got away after the pit stop O.K. although the machine was reluctant to fire up. He then went on to complete the race in 11th position. In a time of 1hr 45m 44.3s (85.63mph) to be the first non-Japanese bike home and also the first single cylinder machine. With the first 6 positions being a Suzuki whitewash, the only non-Suzuki in the top ten being Greeves owner Dave Smith on his Yamaha TD1C finishing in 7th place.

Hope you have enjoyed this years Manx Grand Prix coverage!!!