Ciao everyone

Quite a short column this month as we have just completed the second of two GPs back-to-back and now have another break in the calendar until the last two races of the year. One week before Lommel and the Grand Prix of Belgium I was in still in Italy.

Alice and I had a really relaxed couple of days at home where I did nothing apart from some training with a friend and some odd jobs around the house. I also spent time in my workshop cleaning or changing parts on the practice bike.

I went to Parma and made some tests with the team and a modification to the Yamaha that would help us in the last parts of the races. I spoke with Michele at his house after Sweden and we all seem to be set to be together again for 2010 which I am happy about because I wanted to stay with the team.

We packed up the camper on Friday and drove north back to our apartment just outside Lommel to be ready for an international race over the weekend which I won. I felt that after a two week break I wanted one more race-start before we had to go to the circuit at Lommel, which was being altered for the GP compared to the normal layout on which I have trained so much.

I raced with Nagl at the international and won all three motos; the prize money was also quite nice! During the rest of the week I went riding one day at Lierop, which is a sandy circuit I really enjoy, to get my mind ready for Lommel.

I also did some cycling and running and not much more. For riders, well for me anyway, being away from home in preparation for a race does not involve a very interesting lifestyle; just periods of preparation.

Lierop is an old-fashioned sand track, very fast and the sand itself is harder than Lommel where it is loose and fine. The bumps are bigger at Lierop and I prefer it if I am honest. I cycled up to look at the new track at Lommel on Thursday before the GP and it seemed pretty good, better than in 2008.

We parked the camper in the living area on Friday even though we were a few kilometres from our apartment purely because of the convenience.

I didn’t have the best GP last year and it didn’t turn out well for me again this time and it really made me wonder why I spend so many hours training and working around there if I cannot make it count at the right time.

The weekend started off badly when he had a technical problem with the ignition. I could not start in the gate before the Qualification Heat and when I finally got going I was far behind everyone else and the bike stopped on the second lap.

It meant I was last on the line for the motos on Sunday and at a disadvantage for the first left turn. On Saturday afternoon I presented the new Lazer replica helmet to the press at the nice promotional truck they have in the paddock.

The helmet is really light, less than one kilo, and it was positive for me that Lazer are pushing hard to use me at the front of their commercial projects. Sunday was difficult! My start in the first race was actually not too bad but I struggled on the last two laps and lost positions.

I also went down in the second moto. Overall it was an ‘off-day’. There have been a couple of those this season and it is something I am 100% determined to put right for 2010.

I was more angry than tired in the couple of days after Lommel. I lost points but had awareness that the next two tracks were good for me and needed to reverse the result in Belgium.

 The big news in Lommel was about Cairoli and his plans for 2010. It was a bit of a surprise. Before heading to Loket I went riding with the guys at the Ricci team on a hard-pack track and then started the journey to the Czech Republic where I had good memories of winning last year.

The track is very natural there. It is hard to pass and also slippery but quite fun because it is quick and usually involves some good action. I get-on with the track, and during the motos I was very busy! I had a nice fight with Josh for third in the first race and then a close battle with Cairoli for second in the next one.

Desalle was the best man on the day and for many of us it is not a surprise that he has won a GP this season as he has been impressive. It was hot and hard work in Loket but I was pleased with how I felt physically and it was nice to be back on the podium because the last one in France felt like a long time ago!

Cairoli was fourth overall and rode well in the second moto. He has had a good season and normally should be the champion in 2009. I am third and quite a few points behind and Nagl will also need a special result in Lierop if he is to win.

My mother and step-father were in Lommel and also travelled to Loket and it was nice having them around because I only get to see her properly four or five times a year. My sister also came along and it’s special to see how she is growing up.

My plans now are to get some more testing done in the break before Lierop and then go back to Italy where we will take the flight to Sao Paolo two weeks later. I hope to be able to ride the 2010 YZ450FM in the first weeks of September but we will see.

I haven’t seen the new bike in the flesh yet but I am really looking forward to trying it. The Yamaha for me is the strongest bike out there at the moment.

 The Grand Prix season finishes in Brazil but we do not have that much time when we get back as I am sure Antonio, Davide and myself will start to be very busy for the Motocross of Nations.

It is a massive race for us and there will be a lot of expectation but it will be an excellent way to finish the year.

Ciao for now DP19