Overbooking costs Watt GP semi spot (From Bournemouth Echo)

Overbooking costs Watt GP semi spot

7:00am Monday 7th July 2008 in

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DAVEY Watt admitted he felt "physically sick" after seeing his world title ambitions disappear because of an apparent overbooking on an aeroplane flight.

The Pirates star missed Grand Prix qualifier semi-final one at Motala in Sweden on Saturday when he was stranded at Amsterdam airport after claiming he was not allowed to board his morning flight to Linkoping with KLM.

Watt hastily fixed up another flight from the Dutch city to Stockholm which would still have allowed him to get to Motala in time to take part in the World Championship meeting.

But there was an unexpected delay in take-off, so when he eventually arrived in Sweden it was too late to reach Motala to line up in the event.

Luckless Watt, who had elected to ride for Poole Castle Cover at Coventry on Friday night, said: "I flew from Heathrow to Amsterdam and then ran from one end of the airport to the other. I got there in plenty of time.

"I was halfway through the queue but when I got to the front, a member of staff said you have to stand over there.

"They didn't really say why, so I stood there and waited. Time went by and the rest of the queue boarded the plane except me, and two other people.

"Then they said We have overbooked the flight and there is no room for you'.

"I still have my boarding pass and just can't believe it because I did everything I could to get on the flight, and felt physically sick when they wouldn't allow me."

Watt, speaking to the Echo from Poland where he was riding yesterday, added: "I just ran to the transfer desk and tried to get another flight.

"There weren't any more flights to Linkoping until 9.30pm. So I got the next flight to Stockholm but that was delayed because there was something wrong with the plane.

"I didn't land in Stockholm until 3pm and the meeting started at 4pm. Even if I'd driven like a madman in a hired car, I wasn't going to make it."

Watt, who even considered hiring a helicopter to fly him from Stockholm to Linkoping, continued: "To add insult to injury, the airline lost my engine.

"It was just one of the most depressing, worst days of my life.

"I don't think I've ever missed any meeting ever before through anything other than injury.

"I've never missed a meeting because of a flight. It was absolutely ridiculous.

"In the end, I didn't even bother going to the meeting. There was no point."

To make matters worse for Watt, his replacement Kenneth Bjerre, first reserve, qualified for the final with nine points.