Now Ping seems like a nice guy (and I still owe him $5 from a bet we mate before the 2010 MXoN), he’s just a little uneducated when it comes to Europe and that probably comes through him living in California, where the sun shines all the time, everything is at easy reach, be it McDonalds, Burger King or Pizza Hut (right Ping), and of course the woman are pretty hot.

Ping recalled his first ever trip to Europe for the Geneva Supercross. Seems Ping took a flight and was bothered by people smoking, and then on arrival in Europe was pretty disappointed that that part of Switzerland wasn’t like he expected (he was hoping more of the sound of music type countryside).

It’s funny how people have different perceptions of Europe. I know the first time I visited back in 1986 I hated the place. Spent the first few days in the middle of London in a backpackers and told me girlfriend at the time that I was heading back on the first plane to LAX. Having spent many a summer in America from 1978 until 1986 I was hooked on the American way of life. I just loved the food, the women and the weather, plus the beer was good as long as you kept away from Budweiser.

It didn’t take me long to get used to Europe though, travelling through cities like Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Venis, Munich, and Amsterdam on that first trip really opened my eyes to how diverse Europe was and how much fun you could have here.

So in 1986, 1987, 88, 90 and finally when I moved here in 1993 I changed my travel plans a little and visited both America and Europe. Often taking in the AMA Nationals and MXoN in the months of August and September.

Finally in 2005 after a very wet Anaheim Supercross I decided I had had enough of America. I’d travelled to the opening round of the AMA Supercross series for probably 10 years straight and was sick to death of the riders attitudes, and lack of possibilities in interviewing them or having to deal with their managers, who often ignored you, or had you run around in a circle 1000 times before you could actually have the feeling like it was the president of America you were interviewing instead of some scrambles rider. I did go back for the 1999 USGP at Budds Creek and the 2007 MXoN and had a ball, but it was on the East Coast which is a little more European than the West Coast and when I returned for the USGP at Glen Helen and my love of California was back as a spent time down on the beach.

My point is if Ping had the sense to maybe take a 30 minute drive up the road from his stadium/hotel he might have learnt something. Had he not just sat in his hotel talking about himself for a little while, maybe he would have realized that there is more to Switzerland than a hotel and a Supercross arena.

I know his editor Davey Coombs loves Europe and goes out of his way to visit places that have been etched in history, be it the old battlegrounds of Somme in the north of France, or maybe a visit to some cafe in Amsterdam, or Moulin Rouge in Paris. You see Coombs is a little more interested in the World around him, while Ping (bless his soul) seems a little too busy with himself, and maybe forgets to actually take a chance and look over his shoulder.

I was the same as a 24 year old in 1986 on my first trip to Europe. All I wanted was a hot shower and a newsagent so I could check out how my team back home was doing. It took me a couple of weeks to get the hang of Europe, but now that I live here since 1993 I couldn’t live anywhere else.

Sure Australia is home, but Europe has so much more to offer, the people are the most realistic you will find in the World, you won’t find too many fake boobs or that back slapping “I’m your mate” attitude that you get in so many other places. If you are into history like I am, then just walking the streets in places like Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona or some small village in the middle of the countryside is an eye opener, you get a feeling that you are walking back in time.

It’s a great place and I can’t understand how anyone could see it as anything but amazing. Still many people like Pings mentality, and like I said at the start, I am sure he’s an okay guy, just having a bit of fun, and we all love to laugh right.

At the end of the day there is no better place like home, be that for Ping for me or for you, be that in Los Angeles, Jeruzalem, Amsterdam, Istanbul or Sydney, as long as it's home.