So, here I am, sitting in my hotel room, writing interviews and stories about this past week, as I await my boat from Senggigi back to Bali, where I spent a few weeks before the Lombok double header and will return home from. I can’t get enough of this place and while my original flight home on the 18th of July might be chucked in the garbage as I try and decide if I fly home tomorrow, for the Euro24 semi-final between my adopted country, The Netherlands vs my mum’s birthplace, England, I also reflect on what has been a truly awesome couple of weeks on Lombok.

Those media who didn’t come and continue to try and find reasons why we shouldn't come here, well guys, you missed out big time, because this island, the culture, the people, the event itself, well, first class and well worth the visit. Nothing negative to write about, just great experiences for everyone involved.

Being positive is easy, when you have a positive visions for life, and in return, being negative is easy if you want to spend time reflecting on the negatives of life. Give me the first option, because life is too good to be spent reflecting on the negatives.

A huge crowd attended yesterday, and while the first round the spectators arrived to watch just the final two motos of MXGP and MX2, this last weekend, they did come a little earlier and there was without doubt, a lot more here.

Something that also attracts the fans to the event is a typical Indonesian tradition of holding a concert in the evening of the event. Indonesians love concerts, picnics, karaoke and anything else that involved having a good time. I am not sure I know a nation that wants to spend their time doing really positive stuff, as much as the Indonesians and its refreshing to see.

The smiling faces, the warm greetings, I just can’t get enough of it, but will no doubt fly back to Europe, greeted by people a little more stressed and unhappy than the Indonesians, but hey, I am used to it, so bring on the negative energy of our great west.

This past weekend saw some great racing, both in MXGP and MX2 and the two winners, Jeffrey Herlings and Lucas Coenen are on a parallel race to the red plate. Amazingly, both well down on series leaders Tim Gajser and Kay De Wolf, but both making inroads into that points lead. Herlings needs to make up 51 points and Coenen 49 points, but both are winning a lot now and that is a good sign for the final eight rounds of their challenge to the red plate.

What the paddock people got to enjoy between the two GPs was epic and I haven’t spoken to anyone who hasn’t had a blast. Of course, most are ready to get home to normal life and I get that. As good as Indonesian is, there is nothing better than the securities of home and even for me, somebody who loves it here, I can’t wait to drink some cold tap water, have a shower with clean water and eat what I usually eat at home.

Travel can drain on you and being out of your regular system is a challenge at times, for sure when you are 63 and have travelled your whole life, but I still love it and can’t wait for the next fly-away in China in September.

We have a bunch of really cool races coming, from the old school circuit of Loket, to Lommel, Arnhem, Turkey, China or whatever else is on the calendar. The biggest race of all, the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin might just be one of the greatest ever and if it can match that Matterley event in 2006, when The King humbled “Bubba”, then we will all be winners. Lawrence vs Gajser vs Lawrence vs Herlings vs Sexton vs Prado vs Tomac vs Vlaanderen vs Febvre sure has a ring to it, doesn’t it?

Bring on the second half of the 2024 MXGP and MX2 championships, because the drama isn’t over just yet. It's Gajser vs Prado vs Herlings and De Wolf vs Coenen vs Langenfelder. Who wins, who knows, but the outcome should be worth waiting for.

Herlings image Ray Archer Coenen image Fullspectrum