| Cameron
Donald - Senior TT
There were a number of contenders for the ‘Ride
of the Year’ award with two front-runners being
Steve Plater’s awesome performance in winning
the Macau GP and Guy Martin’s winning rides at
the Ulster GP. Robert Dunlop’s victory at the
North West 200 was also stunning whilst who can forget
John McGuinness’ record-breaking ride in the Senior
TT. In the end, we decided the Senior TT did provide
the Ride of the Year but not by the man from Morecambe
but from the latest Wizard of Oz – Cameron Donald.
Having previously made his mark at the Macau GP, Cameron
was invited to the Isle of Man TT races in 2005 and
immediately impressed in the Supersport races, his 11th
and 15th place finishes and 119mph+ lap earning him
the much coveted Newcomer’s prize. He arrived
12 months later with Uel Duncan’s impressive set-up
and a formidable reputation having already swept to
glory at the Tandragee races. However, he arrived on
the Island with two broken heels, the legacy of a pair
of North West 200 crashes and although he scored some
good results at the Triangle, the TT would be a whole
new ball game.
Despite the injuries, Cameron was determined to get
some good results on the Island, a place he identified
as the number one of all the road races and 5th in the
Superbike race showed he was on fire. He achieved a
similar result in the Supersport race but could only
manage 13th in the Superstock, largely due to the uncompetitive
nature of the Fireblade in Superstock-spec. However,
he saved the best until last and what a ride it was.
With his heels healing all the time, Cameron came to
the line fitter than he had been all week and straight
from the off he was flying. At the end of the opening
lap he was lying in third place and his lap of 127.668mph
not only made him the third fastest rider from a standing
start but it was also the third fastest lap ever! More
importantly, he was only half a second adrift of his
good friend Guy Martin in second and only a further
four behind the man to beat, John McGuinness. On the
second lap, Cameron caught Ian Lougher on the road and
promptly overtook and as he came into refuel he was
up to second. His cause was aided by Martin slowing
with an oil leak but a lap of 128.445mph was simply
sensational and he was most definitely second on merit.
Normally, that lap speed would have put him in the
lead but McGuinness was putting together an equally
special race and his lap of over 129mph left him way
clear. However, Cameron was comfortable in second and
in the closing stages he even had the audacity to start
reeling his fellow Honda rider in! However, he needed
to keep his pace up as Bruce Anstey was coming through
the pack from a sluggish start but he had left his charge
too late and he had to settle for third. With two more
laps in excess of 127mph, Cameron remained in second
and he crossed the line in a brilliant second place,
in just his second year or racing on the formidable
Mountain Course. He was only 26 seconds behind the mighty
McGuinness and four clear of his fellow Antipodean,
Anstey.
Cameron averaged 125.680mph for the six laps and, putting
that into perspective, only 12 riders have actually
lapped faster than that. His second lap speed of 128.445mph
has made him the third fastest rider ever and with his
bike working brilliantly he was able to ride a fantastic
race. Senior race day saw perfect conditions on the
Island and Cameron took full advantage to capture the
imaginations of the public, his fellow riders and team
managers even further.
There’s no doubt that Cameron Donald is a special
talent but, refreshingly, his feet are also very firmly
on the ground and he’s very modest about his success.
He knows he has more to learn and if he can maintain
his progression, and not get caught up in the media
hype and pressure cauldron that exists, he can go on
to be the very best. A win at TT2007 is at the very
top of his agenda and after his polished performance
in the 2006 Senior TT, the 2006 Ride of the Year, who’s
to say that won’t happen?
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