The TT, a place of pilgramage for bike fans from across the world, brought out the best in Williams who was passenger to driver, and Bradford postman, Conrad Harrison.

The pair roared around the 37-mile road circuit, clocking a top average speed of 111.5mph on the three laps to finish race one in fifth.

But their bid to improve their overall position was scuppered when race two was abandoned. Williams, from Hose, and Harrison were running fifth again on lap one at the time and were just 60 seconds down the road from a big accident which stopped the racing.

Williams said: "It was a very nasty crash. As we rode through the accident scene the driver was lying in the middle of the circuit, there were bits of motorcycle everywhere. We knew it was a big crash, but you have to keep your mind focussed on the fact the race might be restarted.

"In terms of adrenaline and apprehension, the TT is like stepping into the ring with Mike Tyson. There is nothing on the scale of it anywhere in the world."

The race one performance was enough to leave them as the highest-placed privateers. Remarkably it was their first competitive action on a brand new outfit which had given them engine problems in testing.

But despite this, Williams' arrived in great shape, having missed a round of the British Vintage Championships to direct all of his focus on the big event.

He added: "It was too close to the TT. You have to be very careful that if you get injured beforehand and can't ride you are going to waste a lot of people's time and money. But I was the fittest I had ever been going there."

Cheering Williams on were about 40 wellwishers from Melton, and there was more support back home. Clubmates at Freeby Kung Fu Club raised £60 from a whip round, while Lafarge Concrete, Harby Garage, Metaltek and Select Plants UK provided sponsorship.

The remainder of the season will see Williams team up with sons Lewis (16) and Daniel (23) who will passenger his Triumph sidecar in the last two rounds of the British Vintage Championships at Lyddon and Anglesey.

They will also take the Triumph out at Cadwell this weekend where they will have competition from Kerry's wife Jen who will be passenger aboard a scooter sidecar.