THE verdict was unanimous when Jim Curry and Simon Andrews swapped bikes for yesterday's jaunt around Mallory Park, writes Mervyn Collins.

"It was great, said former British 125 champion Curry. "I thought Simon rode extremely well all things considered."

Teenage British Supersport Series rider, Andrews, was equally upbeat about the afternoon's session organised by Team Racing Unilock Construction, who are backing the Wickhamford youngster's quest for track glory.

"It was great fun!" Andrews exclaimed. "It was certainly different. The vibration shakes you up a bit at first and the gears took a little getting used to but I didn't miss too many."

While Andrews was on board the classic 350 Drixton Aermacchi, a superbike of its day, the 60-year-old former champion was given the chance to show his skills on a fuel-injected CBR600.

Both riders took the chance to warm up on their own machines before embarking on a whole new experience.

"There was no way we could have raced against each other," Curry admitted. "That was a bit of poetic licence!

"Simon's bike must be 30mph faster than mine but I have ridden race bikes before and I think it will be Simon who encounters the problems."

Andrews, who lives in Wickhamford, wasn't looking forward to the gear changes, while also revealing that, apart from a season in the Hornet class, he had only ridden CBRs.

"The gearbox is upside down on Jim's bike," Andrews said. "So to go to that will be difficult but it's just a bit of fun and we will both go out and enjoy it."

That was a sentiment echoed by Curry, who seemed to enjoy the chance to have a bit more power at his fingertips as he raced around at speeds in excess of 100mph.

"The handling was very similar but it was ever so quick," Curry revealed. "The brakes are so much more responsive and when you open the bike up I found it pretty hard to keep a straight course.

"I enjoyed it immensely and the day has given both of us a different prospective of the bikes and the standards that we compete in."

His 18-year-old prodigy concluded: "Hopefully I will still be racing when I'm 60 but it will be nice to get back on my machine at Thruxton this weekend."