6 June: Rained off

Published: Saturday, 6 June 2009, 1:28PM

We are on a huge lump of rock in the middle of the Irish Sea. Bearing that in mind it was inevitable that the weather would turn from tropical to downright awful at the the drop of a hat.

This morning the hat was dropped, grey clouds filled the Manx sky and the rain started to fall. It is awful here today, pools of water have gathered on the course and racing has been postponed.

The Superbikes, the biggest baddest machines racing out here, were meant to go off this morning followed by the side cars in the afternoon. Both have been shunted on to next week. This has left us with a one hour highlights show to make with... well, no highlights.

Back in the day, they would race in the rain, but modern tyre technology means it is now impossible. On a short circuit such as Donington Park riders can use special wet tyres on the bikes, the problem with the TT course is thats its just too long, they tyres would get too hot and simply break up - not good when you are traveling at 180 miles per hour.

During yesterday's practice I got a true sense of the speed these guys travel at. Steve Parrish and Jamie Whittam, our commentators here, know all the best viewing spots on the island. So we traipsed through lanes and back gardens and found ourselves on a low garden wall, two feet from the curb at the bottom of the infamous Bray Hill. The bikes tore past us at up to 165 miles an hour - they were so close I could have put out my arm and touched them (not a good idea).

The sensation is unbelievable. It's not just the speed but the surroundings - this is a small road with houses either side of it. Your brain finds it hard to process what actually happening in front of you. My respect for these guys increases daily. It's not just the bravery, but the skill and physical strength it takes to deal with what the mountain course throws at them.

One mistake around here and the consequences can be quite severe, as Cameron Donald found out during last night's practice. The Australian, who recorded the fastest ever time around here the night before, crashed out at Keppel gate. There was a very tense atmosphere around the paddock as we waited to hear how he was. Thankfully news came back that he had ONLY dislocated his shoulder.

Now for you or me ( certainly me) that injury would require 3 weeks off work, in bed, watching box sets with my wife rubbing my hair telling me what a brave boy I was. Not for these guys,he announced this morning that he is still planing on racing in this TT. They are a different breed of sportsman.

Which brings me seamlessly to former political correspondent, now ball room dancer, John Sergeant. I spotted him in a pristine beige mac and panama hat, chatting to Guy Martin - Oh to be a fly on the wall for that one!