Jet-setter
By TMX Archives on 15th Sep 03
EVERY MONTH in my world is an adventure and this last month has been no exception - in fact, it's been more exciting than usual. In terms of racing and riding I've been less productive than a vicar with a vasectomy. EVERY MONTH in my world is an adventure and this last month has been no exception - in fact, it's been more exciting than usual. In terms of racing and riding I've been less productive than a vicar with a vasectomy. Let's face it, at the best of times you'll be lucky to see me grace events no more than twice a month and even then I'd hardly call you lucky. I'm only at the races these days to give Swordy something to shoot for (if he doesn't lap me at least three times in a race he goes home disappointed).But although I haven't been putting in the effort at the races I have at least been busy in other areas of the sport. For one particular week I felt like Alan Whicker, jetting off all over the place - now I've got enough air miles to claim my free cuddly toy.First on the destination list that week was a trip to Northern Ireland where the penultimate round of the KWS series was being held at Seaforde. I'd never been there before and I'll be surprised if I ever return. I really didn't enjoy it and I had a nagging problem on the bike that was incurable on the day.Still there was a positive outcome from the day - I will definitely be racing again next year because I shook hands on it. Jody Smyth has made a bet for an undisclosed sum that he will finish higher than me in the overall standings for next year's British championship. That's all the motivation I need to keep going for another year so it wasn't an entirely wasted journey.It was the first time I'd ever flown to and from a race in my entire career and man does it make life easier. By the time the Rybarn team, who were transporting my bike, had got onto their ferry to Scotland I'd had a shower, drunk my cocoa, watched The Antiques Roadshow and hit the sack. Well I needed to get my Zs in as I had to get out of bed at some god-forsaken hour on Tuesday morning for another flight, this time to France. Kawasaki were having their European launch and the dbr wrecking crew had been formally invited.Two demanding days in France, put up in some swanky hotel being fed top-notch tucker and riding the famous St Jean d'Angely circuit took it's toll - it's not all fun and games y'know. Highlight of the trip was Ray Archer's poo story...very, very funny!With the testing wrapped up it was a dash to the airport for the flight back to Stansted. Once I got there it was north west to dbr HQ at Lancaster in preparation for the Suzuki four-stroke test at Preston on Friday. The big chief had his Icelandic mates Thor and Reynir over for the weekend so the customary curry evening was on - although for once I was disciplined and didn't drink myself into a coma (or leave a pile of bright orange vomit outside my front door - SL). I was pleased because Sean is very persuasive when it comes to getting me wasted...he likes to see me suffer.The blast in the sand on the new RM-Z was fun and I wished I could've stayed longer but the joys of the M6 and the six-hour drive home wasn't going to be any easier the longer I remained. Not only that, I had to once again crawl out of bed real early the next day for a flight to Stuttgart for the GP. This was the journey I'd been looking forward to the most, purely due to its significance.I travelled out to Germany with the rest of the organising team from the Isle of Wight in the hope of bringing a GP to the island and, more importantly, back to Great Britain. After walking around studying all the positives and negatives of a GP we then met up with the FIM president Wolfgang Srb and Giuseppe Luongo of Youthstream for a spot of lunch. Silver spoon service by stunning women and drinking champagne is regular lifestyle for me so other than being in a field in Germany it felt no different. The journey was, as you should already know by now, more than worthwhile. I feel proud that we have managed to get the GP and cannot wait to get my teeth into it. There's major planning and effort to be made between now and the end of May but after the work we managed to get done in the short spell before this year's Maxxis I know it'll be good.After four years without a GP in this country I'd like to think that it's going to be a stonker. Most people I've spoken to in the industry are right behind it and hopefully will support it all they can. Let's hope everyone does and makes it a carnival atmosphere like I remember GPs used to be.For me though the GP will take a back seat - Jody Smyth is my new nemesis and I can't and won't let anything take away my focus! Right, I'm off down the Legion for a swift pint...Jeff Perrett