BILLINGTON bike ace Nigel Rea overcame the odds to score a top 10 finish in the 2010 Manx Grand Prix.

Rea, who is sponsored by the Rocket Centre in Blackburn, brought his Suzuki 750 home in eighth place despite a multitude of problems – starting with practice.

“We broke down in all three sessions!,” said Nigel.

“We stopped on the Mountain with an electrical fault, and in the second with fuel problems. I had to beg a lift from a spectator to get back to the grandstand and take my other bike out.

“Third time out and it broke down again with fuel problems, although at least I got further round and made it as far as Ginger Hall before stopping.

“However, we were encouraged when we saw the speed trap figures from Sulby. We were sixth fastest at 120.9 mph, which was quicker than TT stars Michael Dunlop and Maria Costello.”

Rea then faced a nail-biting qualification. He lost the first day having a new fuel tank fitted to the bike, and headed into the last session needing two laps to get onto the grid, Under Manx GP rules, all riders have to have to average over 87mph on a lap, but a combination of a wet track and diesel spills on the section from Bradden Bridge to Kirkmichael made that seem a big ask.

But with gritty determination, Rea pushed his Suzuki over the magic 87 mark onthe first lap, and clocked 92mph – fourth fastest in the session – on lap two, only seven miles an hour off eventual winner Michael Dunlop’s time.

And things didn’t get any easier in the race.

“The clutch wouldn’t disengage and the exhaust had melted the internals, which had all but dispappeared,” said Nigel.

“The bike was losing power and speed because of the exhaust, but I knew I’d been trying hard as the needle on the rev counter had snapped!

“In the end I was just happy to have made it to the finish and get in the top 10. It was great feeling when I was the chequered flag.”