From a MotoGP pilot's diary:
Harriers and sick bags!!!!!!
This may sound like a **** excuse but the other day, well last Tuesday I was sat on the plane and I’d been saving my diary in word and adding to it after every session during the weekend, well I sat on the plane on the way home and typed out this massive diary that I was going to post when I got home that evening, even now as I’m sat here at Assen typing this I can see the file from before but do you think it’ll let me open it!!!!!!!!!
Well, there’s been a fair bit going on since that terrible weekend that was Barcelona, Randy Mamola rode the bike on the Monday after the GP and told the guys what he thought, which was basically exactly what I’d been telling them so that was good, he said to me that he didn’t think from an outsider looking in that I’d been trying very hard but after riding it he said I’m doing a real good job and that I have no idea what I’m up against so whilst I was a bit miffed that anyone would think I don’t try when I’m on the bike I was made up when he said about how well I was actually riding it.
Since Barcelona I’ve been back to the UK for a few days, I took Wag flying for a couple of hours when I 1st got back. I’ve been doing a bit of cycling and running to. Sunday just gone me and a few of my mates went motocrossing up at Elsworth which was real good, I met up with Frosty and his girlfriend, Frosty as in Rob Frost who I used to do the fastbikes stuff with and it was amusing riding with him because he tries so hard the whole time that a crash is almost inevitable the moment he swings his leg over his bike although to be fair to him I didn’t actually see him fall off at all, the dipstick did run his bike out of fuel though and bearing in mind it was something like 32 degrees on Sunday he had to push it back from the bottom of the track!!
Yesterday was one of the most amazing days of my life………….
Why I hear you ask, well yesterday I flew my helicopter all the way up past Peterborough to RAF Cottesmore and got taken up in a harrier jump jet, F**************CCCCCCKKKKKKKK, what an experience, I have never felt anything like it, I got taken up by a guy called Miles Garland and what a star he was, infact the whole squadron were absolutely spot on, I went on a training mission with Miles and his wing commander down through the valleys in Wales, we flew that low that at times there were roads and houses above us, it was the most awesome thing I’ve ever done, I must confess though all the low level aerobatics made me throw up about 4 times and I hadn’t even eaten so nothing was coming out!!! We did near on vertical climbs spinning round as we climbed, real step descents, loop the loops you name it. I’d like to say a massive thankyou to Miles and the boys for sorting it for me and can honestly say that I’ll never forget that day as long as I live.
After a mars bar and a cup of tea to perk me up a bit it was time to jump back in the helicopter to head home, only problem was that it would’ve been real close to running out of fuel by the time I got down near Manston so I had to stop off at Southend for fuel, I’m actually quite proud of myself for getting there and back in a day, it was pretty much my 1st time away from Manston landing away since my solo cross country qualifier flight and it went perfect so I’m looking forward to flying away from base more often now.
Other than that it was the 1o’clock flight over to Amsterdam today to get to the circuit, it seems real strange being here this late, I’m riding tomorrow!!, usually I have a couple of days to build up to it but not this time, although to be fair the Harrier thing kinda makes it ok!!! The track ‘s been changed from what I remember from last year and I only got 1 lap on the scooter so there’ll be a couple of steady laps 1st thing tomorrow!! I’ll let you know how it goes.
