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Maidstone rider Steve Mercer put together his best ever year at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, fuelled by Monster Energy, and couldn't hide his delight about it.
The Corless and Jackson Racing rider’s week may have finished on a damp squib with a third lap retirement in the blue-riband PokerStars Senior TT but his results until then were his best yet.
The 29-year-old, competing in his third year around the iconic 37.73-mile Mountain Course, had already finished 16th in the Royal London 360 Superstock race and an even more impressive 12th in the Dainese Superbike race.
And the Maidstone rider could scarcely hide his joy at those results, especially considering he only joined the team four days before the TT began.
“I was going to be riding for another team this year but that all went pear-shaped so with four days to go until the TT I didn’t have a team but these guys saved my skin,” said Mercer.
“We were playing catch up a little bit and the lack of practice time didn’t help us but everything fell into place in the end and the bikes went really well.
“Last year I had done 25 laps of practice before the races got started whereas this year I only had eight so of course that’s not ideal.
“When you consider how last minute the whole thing was, to then go out and get my best-ever result is just an amazing feeling.
“The bike was quick all week and we had some brilliant pit stops and it all came together in the end. Just to finish a race round this course is an achievement to be honest.
“After three years I’m starting to learn where I’m going now and our results have been as good as I have ever had, to finish 12th in the Superbike race is a great result, I’m over the moon.”
Mercer, who lives and works in Maidstone, has doubtless attracted the attention of a number of teams with his impressive results this year.
And the 29-year-old would relish the chance to test himself with the big boys of the paddock, although he admits that could be a while away yet.
“This is my event every year, my racing revolves around the TT and I just love coming here, I want to be coming here for many years to come, in my eyes there is no other race,” he added.
“I want to one day be up with the top riders so it’s a case of putting together some good results year on year and getting noticed.
“People say it takes three years to win a race round here, I don’t think that’s the case anymore, I reckon it’s more like five with the competition as stiff as it is.
“But this year has definitely been a breakthrough year, the only lads in front of me are the big boys so that’s a real boost for me and I’ll look to build on it next year.”
