Phil Harman has vowed to return to next year's Manx GP after a successful week on the Isle of Man.

Harman was racing for the Motorcycle Workshop at Bolney in the newcomers and seniors races.

The 41-year-old from Newchapel finished 20th in his class out of 120 starters in the newcomers race. This earned him a finisher's medal but unfortunately he was two positions short of coming home with a silver replica trophy.

In this event, Harman's average speed was 101.81mph, including the refuelling stop, and in places he was racing in excess of 155mph.

In the senior race the Sussex ace left the start line with probably the best wheelie of the whole meeting and he finished 72nd out of 120 starters on his Aprilia RSV Mille, overtaking a quarter of the field on his way.

The notorious Isle of Man circuit claimed another life in the newcomers race, emphasising the dangers of competing.

However, Harman took plenty of plus factors from the experience and insists he will return next year.

He said: "My first impression was the sheer speed of everything. I think that I am a pretty quick road rider but the first time you go out you just get blown away.

"There is one section where you are flat out, the rev limiter bouncing in top gear, for more than three miles.

"I've ridden hundreds of laps of the island on open roads but nothing will get you ready for how different it is on closed roads.

"People say the track has been smoothed out but there are parts here that are just appalling.

"You are up out of the seat, you are getting huge tankslappers, you are getting slides, your feet are off the pegs and the bike is just generally unsettled.

"I keep getting told that it will take five years to learn the course and I can believe that. Each time you go round you learn something new.

"You also get lost because everything happens so fast you forget which corner is next."

While his team were pleased with the results, Harman insists they could have been better.

He said: "I am a bit gutted at not getting that silver replica. I honestly believe if I had not mucked about so much doing wheelies then I could have got one.

"The general opinion was I loved it. The atmosphere reminded me of club racing ten years ago. Most guys were there working out of the back of transit vans.

"Everyone was helping everyone else and genuinely wants you to do well. Not like short circuit racing today where it is all about money and people not willing pass any information or help on to others in case they beat you.

"Everything is light-hearted out there but the danger is ever present. I saw many nasty, nasty accidents and the guy that set off in front of me in the newcomers race died.

"I was unfortunate enough to see the carnage of that as I rode by. Maybe that is why all the riders party so hard when they get the chance. They just switch off to it all."

Tony and Jeanette Masters, who run the Motorcycle Workshop, travelled to the Isle of Man for the races. The team also included mechanics Bob Craft and Bob Masters.

Jeanette said: "Tony and I are delighted with Phil's performance. He certainly put the Motorcycle Workshop on the map.

"The whole week went without a single hitch, the bike didn't miss a beat, the re-fuelling stops went smoothly and everyone had fun.

"We shall definitely be entering next year's event with probably two bikes and riders. Phil Harman will ride in the senior race again and we're hoping to have Phil Hickey riding a TZ250 in the junior class."