Mark - we take all our bikes/cars to them too.
Last time Al was up there - at the end of Aug, they said they had to be 'bang on' with everything, particularly now that 2 other local bike MOT testers had their MOT inspectors licences 'removed'.
You'll find many places round here now are very stringent on passing.
Snellys failed a bike the week before last for the exactly the same thing - none of them are able to risk their business these days.
As Natty says - get the deflector plate, wont cost you too much, and bobs your proverbial auntie
C