Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Well, here we are at the NW200 for the first day of practise. The traffic has already started to flow as people begin to pick their spots for the race, and there's slight congestion building up on the roads on the way in. The buzz and the excitement build as you get closer to the track and see the programme sellers at the side of the road. Then, when you get to the "Magic Roundabout" and see the Kennedy Group flags and the painted curbstones, you know you're here.

First thing today is the very important briefing for newcomers - riders who haven't ridden the NW200 circuit before to make sure that everyone is well aware of the rules and regulations and the layout for the week's racing. With that safely over we put them all on a bus and take them on a full lap with a full running commentary from yours truly on how to get round safely the first night and, hopefully, be a potential winner come race day.

The next thing, at 5.30pm, is that the newcomers get a practice session to themselves where they are broken into groups of 6 or 8 with their own instructor. I've a group of Supersport 600 riders. I'm away to do some commentating now, but I'll be back with more from the paddock later on...