A really sad day, he was the best Brit in recent years.
2003 - 3rd in WSB
2004 - 1st and youngest ever WSB Champ.
2005 - 4th in WSB
2006 - 2nd in WSB
2007 - 1st in WSB.
His record speaks for itself.
I know I'm biased, as he was the biggest hero ever in our village of Kiveton.
He lived about 200 yds from our old house, down at the end of the road and my daughter went to the same Comp. School, (well it was the only comp in the village).
In 2004 the school got decorated with banners and posters, as did the youth club, the chip shop and the local pubs, especially the Lord Conyers, where he regularly came back to drink with his mates.
A real champion for the people, that moody Foggy bloke from Blackburn may have won a few more races, but JT was the real people's hero, and he never forgot where he came from.
Really sorry he has had to pack it in.
All the best to to you Jim, (and Katie), in the future, hope you can still manage the piano playing.
Thanks mate!
P.S. Only got one "local" biking hero now, Karl Harris from Aston making his comeback in Brit superbikes ............................. on an Aprilia!
