First, it's television. It's not real. They make it up. The producer has said "it's a program made by clever people, for stupid people. It wouldn't work the other way". Did he really? Yes.
(I once went to Pennan, NE Scotland, where the film "Local Hero" was filmed. It's exactly like in the movie, except that the pub has now closed. Where's the beach? I asked. It'll be a fair walk, was the answer. It's in Ireland.)
Clarkson is the star, so he had to win. Both car and bike were limited to 70 mph. They all left London at the same time. The car and train cruised in beautiful weather, the bike was in pissing rain. Amazingly variable, UK weather - they were supposed to be racing. Could it be the bike was filmed on the way back, when it rained? You decide. The bike would pick up about 45 minutes in traffic on the way out of London. Knowing Edinburgh well, I know it would pick up at least 45 minutes, more likely an hour, in the 12 miles of traffic on the way into Edinburgh. That's before you even consider where you could have parked the Jag in the centre of Edinburgh that wasn't a bus ride away from the hotel. And that's why the "breakdown" had to be invented, because "the result" was decided in advance and for an elderly Jag limited to 70, or even not limited, making up an hour and 45 minutes wasn't possible.
I saw it in Applecross - we (it was a Scottish VOC weekend) persuaded the proprietress of the Applecross Inn to switch on the box so we could watch. When Richard announced "I'm switching to reserve" we all laughed. Would you lend your bike to someone and NOT tell him reserve was good for less than 10 miles?
Me neither.
Poor Richard Hammond didn't stand a chance on the Shadow. He had to ride in some appalling weather and suffered a minor defect. The locomotive, Tornado, like most mainline registered steam engines, is officialy restricted to 75mph. Had it been allowed to run at it's potential maximum speed the outcome would have been much different. Anyway, like all things on Top Gear, nothing should be taken too seriously.I just wish they would stop burning rubber on some old airfield!