Morss claims first podium for 22 years
MOTORCYCLE racer Gordon Morss can probably lay claim to being Cheltenham's fastest pensioner after taking a superb third place at the Pre-TT Classic races on the Isle of Man, writes Mike Yiend.
Taking place around the demanding 4.25-mile Billown circuit near Castletown the meeting has become a popular curtain raiser to the TT festival and has grown to become one of the most significant events on the classic racing calendar.
Last year Morss' TZ350 Yamaha misbehaved badly and he failed to complete a single lap during the three-day meeting.
As a consequence he found himself in the support race this year, but it was an opportunity he was to make the most of.
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Two days of practice went without a hitch and Morss was ready for race day.
He said: "This was my first race of the year as the NG meeting at Mallory Park which I'd planned to do got rained off.
"We've got the jetting and gearing all sorted out and we've had no calamities at all."
The morning of the race proved to be warm and sunny, and in ideal conditions Morss got the best possible start but lap one proved to be full of incident.
"The old magic's still there," he said. "I always try and get off the line quickly but what happens after that is in the lap of the gods."
What happened this time was that halfway round lap one at the tight Cross Four Ways corner he was chased down by the following pack.
Morss said: "Three riders came under me and pushed me wide and then someone else hit my back wheel and knocked me sideways."
Now back in fifth spot Morss decided to bide his time and check where the opposition were slower so he could get past, but with the race being over only six laps there wasn't a lot of time for thinking.
"The last lap flag came out, so I had to abandon that plan and just point and squirt," he said.
"I caught the two in front but I thought someone had escaped at the front and I was running fourth so I was surprised to be ushered towards the podium.
"I haven't been on that podium since 1990 so you've got to admire my patience.
"I was happy at the pace we were running and I'm very pleased to get back on that podium again."
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